What Is Somatic Trauma Therapy and How Do I Practice It?

Published On: November 17, 2025Categories: History of Psychotherapy, Therapy Process, Trauma, Treatments
Discover how somatic trauma therapy helps heal the mind and body. Learn Valeriya Bauer’s holistic approach to trauma recovery using TRM and somatics.

What Is Somatic Trauma Therapy and How Do I Practice It?

By Valeriya Bauer, Psychotherapist

There’s such a big hype in our world today about somatic therapy and somatic trauma therapy. I wanted to take a moment to talk about what it means, what it means to me personally, the different ways of practicing it, and provide some context so people can make a more informed decision about whether somatic therapy might be right for them.

A Brief History of Somatic Therapy

Somatic therapy emerged from the understanding that trauma is not only psychological—it is also physiological. The body remembers what the mind often cannot put into words. This idea was popularized by pioneers such as Peter Levine, the founder of Somatic Experiencing®, who explored how animals naturally discharge stress responses after threat, while humans often become “stuck” in survival mode.

Another influential voice is Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, whose book The Body Keeps the Score brought this perspective to mainstream awareness. He demonstrated through research and clinical practice that trauma is stored in the body and that true healing must involve reconnecting with bodily sensations and emotions.

More recently, Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory added a powerful framework for understanding how our nervous system regulates safety, connection, and threat responses. His work highlights how trauma can dysregulate the vagus nerve and keep us trapped in chronic states of fight, flight, or freeze. Together, these thinkers have shaped what we now call somatic trauma therapy.

Different Modalities of Somatic Therapy

When people talk about somatic therapy, there are many different ways to practice it. Some of the most well-known approaches include:

  • Somatic Experiencing (SE): Developed by Peter Levine, SE helps clients track body sensations to release trauma energy stored in the nervous system.

  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Integrates somatic awareness with attachment and cognitive processing.

  • Hakomi Therapy: Combines mindfulness and somatic awareness to access core unconscious beliefs.

  • Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM): Focuses on building body-based skills to regulate the nervous system and restore balance after trauma.

There are also other integrated approaches such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Internal Family Systems (IFS) with somatic focus, and mindfulness-based somatic work—all of which can incorporate the body into the healing process.

The Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM)

I am trained in the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM) Level I and II, and it’s one of the core modalities I use in therapy. TRM was developed by Elaine Miller-Karas at the Trauma Resource Institute. It draws inspiration from Peter Levine’s Somatic Experiencing and other body-based approaches but simplifies these concepts into practical, teachable skills that can be used directly in session and by clients outside of sessions.

TRM teaches clients how to notice body sensations connected to well-being, resilience, and distress—and how to shift toward balance through gentle, mindful awareness. It helps process trauma, regulate the nervous system, and restore the body’s innate capacity to heal.

How I Practice Somatic Trauma Therapy

In my practice, I integrate somatic approaches with other trauma modalities, such as EMDR therapy, depending on the client’s needs. Some people respond well to EMDR’s structured, active processing, while others find somatic work more grounding and helpful. Many benefit from a combination of both.

When we practice somatic trauma therapy together, we often start by simply noticing the body. As we explore memories, emotions, or activating experiences, I guide clients to observe what sensations arise—tightness in the chest, heaviness in the stomach, warmth, or tingling.

We don’t rush to interpret or change these sensations. Instead, we stay with them while using TRM regulation skills, such as grounding, tracking pleasant sensations, or orienting to safety in the present moment. Over time, this can help the body release stored stress and allow emotions to move through instead of remaining stuck.

Why Somatic Therapy Matters

Traditional talk therapies like CBT focus primarily on thoughts and behaviors. These are valuable, but they often overlook the body—the place where trauma also exists and lives. Somatic therapy bridges this gap by acknowledging that healing must involve both the mind and the body.

We’ve all experienced how stress shows up physically: tight shoulders after a long day, a stomachache before a big meeting, or a lump in your throat when you’re holding back tears. For trauma survivors, this connection runs even deeper. The body may carry memories of threat, pain, or helplessness, long after the event has passed.

For example, children who experience trauma often report stomach pain or headaches without a medical cause. These “somatic complaints” are the body’s way of expressing distress. Through somatic therapy, we learn to listen to these signals instead of suppressing them—and to bring the nervous system back into balance.

Bridging the Mind and Body

In trauma therapy, we often talk about top-down and bottom-up approaches. Top-down approaches (like CBT or DBT) focus on the mind—changing thoughts to change emotions and behaviors. Bottom-up approaches (like somatic or mindfulness-based therapies) start with the body—regulating the nervous system to support emotional balance.

I believe true healing comes from integrating both. Somatic trauma therapy gives people a deeper understanding of themselves, helping them tune into their bodies, recognize early signs of dysregulation, and learn how to self-regulate outside of therapy sessions.

Final Thoughts

Whether in individual therapy, trauma therapy, or relationship therapy, somatic approaches offer a compassionate and evidence-informed way to reconnect with yourself after trauma. In my practice, both in-person in Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Oak Park, Ventura, and Los Angeles, California, and through online sessions, I’ve witnessed how somatic trauma therapy can help clients not just talk about healing—but truly feel it.