Frequently asked questions

How does somatic trauma therapy work?

Research on how it works is hopeful. One way to describe what happens with somatic trauma therapy would be this: When our body is convinced that it is under threat it will trigger a stress response to increase its chance of surviving. Whether the response is low grade and drawn out, or high intensity and brief, the energy that gets generated needs to be spent. If we never get the chance to spend that energy, it rattles around inside our body contributing to problems that look less and less like a response to the original threat.

If we are safe enough, and feel aware of our safety, we can turn our attention to the uncomfortable messages coming from inside the body. At a certain point the body takes control of itself. This idea can seem fanciful if we grew up in a world oriented toward living life in the mind. The body has a wisdom of its own. The minds of most animals don’t interfere with its processes. A mouse has no need for special training in somatic trauma therapy. It could be attacked by a predator every day and recover every day.

The work that a somatic trauma therapist does is to first make sure a participant is safe enough, and feeling safe enough to give control of the body over to its instinctive wisdom. From there the job is to gently let go of the mental brakes. This part can be uncomfortable but should never be overwhelming. Strong emotions, involuntary movements and sounds are common. We might not even know why we are shaking or crying. The key is to let the physical part of the process play itself out until the stored survival energy is spent. It is also extremely important to ensure that the level of intensity of the experience does not outweigh the sense of safety during the experience.

What if I don’t want to be touched?

Physical touch is a complex and nuanced part of any human interaction. The same touch that is soothing or healing for one person can be scary and overwhelming for another. There is no more important part of a session than making sure you and your body feel safe. That can look very different from one person to the next, and can change from day to day. It’s all acceptable. If you show up and your body starts to feel anxious or unsafe, that has to be respected, and we can talk about it.

In many cases supportive touch can be very helpful. The truth is that somatic trauma therapy can be done without any physical touch at all.

How do I access this type of work?

Currently Winchester is working with Sto:lo Nation and Cheam First Nation running small group programs. There is not a way for the public to access these programs, they are for community members and/or staff in those places. There are a few clinical counsellors working the Fraser Valley who incorporate a somatic approach into their practice. Psychologytoday.com provides counselor profiles and there is an option to search for therapists that use somatic approaches.

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