Somatic Experiencing in Vancouver
Some experiences are held more in the body than in words. You may notice chronic tension, a sense of being on edge, shutdown or numbness, or strong reactions that arise without a clear story attached. Even when you understand why you feel the way you do, your body may still respond as though something isn’t safe.
Somatic Experiencing is a body-based approach to therapy that supports nervous system regulation and recovery from stress and trauma. At Head & Heart Counselling, we offer Somatic Experiencing in Vancouver in a supportive, paced, and collaborative environment that respects each client’s capacity and lived experience.
What is Somatic Experiencing?
Somatic Experiencing is a therapeutic approach developed to help people recover from the effects of stress and trauma by working directly with the nervous system. Rather than focusing primarily on thoughts or detailed narratives, Somatic Experiencing attends to bodily sensations, impulses, and physiological responses.
Stressful or overwhelming experiences can disrupt the nervous system’s natural ability to return to balance. Somatic Experiencing supports the gradual completion of these stress responses, allowing the body to regain a greater sense of safety, stability, and flexibility.
This approach is especially helpful when distress feels physical, automatic, or difficult to articulate in words.
Who is Somatic Experiencing for?
Somatic Experiencing may be a good fit if you notice that stress or past experiences show up primarily in your body. People often seek Somatic Experiencing for concerns such as:
Chronic stress or nervous system overwhelm
Feeling constantly on edge or hyper-alert
Emotional numbness, shutdown, or dissociation
Difficulty relaxing or feeling safe in the body
Physical symptoms linked to stress or trauma
Startle responses or heightened reactivity
Trauma responses that don’t shift through insight alone
A sense that your body is “stuck” in survival mode
You do not need to have a clear memory of a traumatic event for Somatic Experiencing to be helpful.
How Somatic Experiencing Works
Somatic Experiencing is a gentle, structured process that emphasizes pacing and regulation. Sessions focus on increasing awareness of bodily sensations and supporting the nervous system’s natural capacity to self-regulate.
At a high level, Somatic Experiencing often involves
01. Building awareness and safety
Therapy begins by establishing a sense of safety and helping you notice bodily sensations in a way that feels manageable and grounding
02. Tracking nervous system responses
With the therapist’s guidance, you learn to observe physical sensations, movement impulses, and shifts in activation without becoming overwhelmed.
03. Supporting regulation and completion
The therapist supports the gradual release and integration of stress responses, allowing the nervous system to settle and reorganize.
The process unfolds slowly and collaboratively, with ongoing attention to consent, comfort, and readiness.
Benefits of Somatic Experiencing
Somatic Experiencing may support a range of changes over time, including:
Improved nervous system regulation
Reduced physical tension and stress-related symptoms
Increased sense of safety and presence in the body
Greater emotional resilience and flexibility
Reduced reactivity to triggers
Improved ability to rest and recover
Increased capacity to tolerate emotions without overwhelm
As with any therapy, individual experiences vary, and change tends to unfold gradually.
Somatic Experiencing at Head & Heart Counselling
At Head & Heart Counselling, Somatic Experiencing is offered within a trauma-informed, client-centered framework. Our therapists work carefully with pacing, ensuring that sessions feel supportive rather than activating.
Somatic Experiencing may be offered on its own or integrated with other therapeutic approaches, such as EMDR Therapy or parts-based work, depending on each client’s needs and goals. The emphasis is always on safety, collaboration, and respecting the body’s timing
What to Expect from Somatic Experiencing Sessions
Somatic Experiencing sessions tend to feel slower and more spacious than some forms of talk therapy. Early sessions focus on building awareness and regulation rather than processing difficult experiences directly.
Clients can generally expect:
A calm, steady therapeutic pace
Gentle attention to bodily sensations and nervous system responses
Ongoing check-ins around comfort and consent
Sessions guided by curiosity rather than pressure
Support for grounding and integration throughout the process
There is no requirement to relive or retell traumatic events in detail.
Somatic Experiencing FAQs
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Somatic Experiencing includes conversation, but the primary focus is on bodily awareness and nervous system regulation rather than analysis or narrative alone.
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No. Somatic Experiencing does not require detailed recounting of traumatic experiences. The work focuses on present-moment bodily responses.
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Sessions are carefully paced to stay within a manageable range. The goal is regulation and integration, not emotional overwhelm.
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The length of therapy varies depending on individual goals, history, and nervous system capacity. Some people notice changes relatively early, while others benefit from longer-term work.
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Yes. Somatic Experiencing can be adapted for online sessions, depending on individual needs and circumstances.
Interested in Somatic Experiencing?
If you’re interested in a body-based approach to healing, Somatic Experiencing may be a supportive option.
Take the next step with Head & Heart Counselling in Vancouver.