SOMATIC-INFORMED THERAPY

Listening to the body,
as well as the story.

Sometimes you notice tight shoulders or a knot in your stomach before you know what you’re feeling.

With Angelica Esposito, MA, MSW, RSW · Adults 18+
In Burlington & online across Ontario · English & Italian

What does “somatic-informed” mean?

“Somatic” means relating to the body. Alongside talking about thoughts and feelings, we might notice tight shoulders, a racing heart, or a knot in your stomach. These can add something useful to our understanding of what you’re experiencing.

Somatic Experiencing (SE) is one body-oriented approach I’m currently training in. Somatic-informed therapy also draws on a wider range of ways to include body awareness in our conversations.

Understanding stress responses

Your nervous system helps you respond to stress and danger. You might tense up, want to leave, go very still, or feel disconnected. Sometimes a response keeps showing up even when you wish you could react differently.

We’ll be curious about what you notice, without assuming every sensation is connected to trauma. Physical symptoms can have other causes too, so therapy doesn’t replace medical care.

Grounding and awareness, without forcing calm

We may notice support from a chair, look around the room, or identify a sensation that feels neutral or comfortable. We can shift attention if focusing on the body feels too much.

You don’t have to make yourself relax. We’re getting to know what you notice and what helps, including when it feels better to shift your attention elsewhere.

What might happen in a session?

While you talk about a difficult conversation, I might ask whether you notice anything in your body. You could name it, stay with the conversation, or choose not to explore it. There is no correct sensation to find.

Body awareness can be part of verbal psychotherapy. You don’t need to agree to touch or hands-on treatment to take part.

How this fits with other approaches

During EMDR, bodily sensations may be part of a memory or help us notice when to pause. In IFS-informed work, sensations may help us become curious about a protective response. In ACT, noticing sensations can support present-moment awareness.

We’ll pay attention to what helps you feel more connected to the present and gives you more choice in responding to stress.

My training and approach

My Somatic Experiencing training is in progress. I bring somatic-informed practices into psychotherapy while continuing to learn and develop my skills; I’m not a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner.

See my complete professional training record.

Further background: Somatic Experiencing International: SE 101 (opens in a new tab).