Why Therapy Helps: Talking And Body Made Simple.

Somatic Trauma Therapy gives you two toolkits, one for your mind, one for your body, so you can feel calmer, clearer, and more in control. Here’s what’s happening and why it works:

Talking: What Happens & Why

What happens

• You put jumbled thoughts and feelings into words, so they make sense.

• Together we spot repeating patterns (like “I always mess up”) and find new ways of looking at things.

• Feeling heard builds safety, when you trust the space, you can go deeper.

  
  

Why it works

• Calming the “emotional brain.” Talking uses your thinking brain (the prefrontal cortex) to soothe the upset, “fight-or-flight” part (the limbic system).

• Changing old stories. Naming unhelpful beliefs (e.g., “I’m not enough”) lets you challenge and rewrite them.

• Healing relationships. A kind, non-judgmental connection here teaches your brain that closeness can feel safe.

  
  

Body Work: What Happens & Why

What happens

• You notice where stress lives in your body: tight shoulders, racing heart, clenched jaw.

• You learn simple moves, deep breaths, grounding (feet on the floor), gentle stretches to ease tension.

• Over time, stored stress in muscles and tissues softens and releases.

  
  

Why it works

• Rest mode switch. Slow, belly-focused breathing turns on your “rest-and-digest” system (parasympathetic branch), slowing heart rate and easing stress hormones.

• Teaching safety. Each time you notice and soothe a body sensation, you strengthen the message, “I’m okay,” throughout your nervous system.

• Finishing stuck reactions. Trauma can lock your body into fight/flight. Gentle movement lets your muscles complete those old reactions so they don’t stay activated.

  
  

Why Sometimes It Hurts (to Feel Better)

• Brain chemicals shift. Sharing and crying first bumps up stress hormones, then floods you with endorphins and oxytocin, the “relief and bonding” chemicals.

• Rewriting memories. Talking about painful events in a safe space lets you change the emotional charge attached to them.

• Correcting old hurts. Experiencing care and understanding here repairs old relationship wounds.

• Stretching your comfort zone. Feeling uneasy means you’re at your “growth edge.” We go slow so you don’t get overwhelmed, widening your tolerance over time.

• Building lasting change. Small “aha” moments may feel fleeting, but repeated over weeks and months, they form new habits and stronger mind-body connections.

  
  

Body-to-Brain & Brain-to-Body Regulation

Body-to-Brain (bottom-up)

• Calming your body first, through breath or grounding sends an “all clear” signal up to your brain.

• This helps racing thoughts settle and emotions soften.

  
  

Brain-to-Body (top-down)

• Shifting a stressful thought (“I can’t handle this”) into a helpful one (“I’ve survived hard things before”) sends safety cues down to your body.

• Your heart rate slows and muscles relax in response.

  
  

Why use both?

• When your body reacts before your mind can catch up, bottom-up tools help you land in safety.

• When your mind ruminates faster than your body can relax, top-down tools give you steer­ing control.

• Doing both creates a positive loop: a calmer body helps clear thoughts, and clearer thoughts help calm your body.

  
  

By talking and tuning into your body together, therapy becomes a full-spectrum experience. You gain insights in your mind and real-time relief in your body, so the changes you make here actually stick in your everyday life.

Example (Not Real Client But Common)

Emma’s Background

Emma grew up in a busy household where her achievements were never celebrated and her feelings were brushed aside. She learned to keep quiet, believing her thoughts didn’t matter, and carried a constant knot of tension in her shoulders.

What Happened in Therapy

1. Talking:

   • Emma began by sharing a memory of her parents praising her older sister but ignoring her art projects.

   • Together, we noticed her recurring self-belief: “I’m not worth attention.”

   • Simply naming that belief felt like a weight lifted, Emma realized it wasn’t an unchangeable truth and it wasn't her fault or flaw.

     
     

2. Body Awareness:

   • I invited Emma to place her hand on her shoulder. She felt a hard, aching tightness.

   • We practiced a gentle shoulder roll and 4-count breath, noticing the tension soften.

   • Emma connected the physical relief to the idea that her needs could be met.

     
     

Why It Worked

• Naming the Invisible ; Talking about being unseen brought the hidden belief into the light. That “aha” moment started shifting Emma’s inner story.

• Rewiring with Words ; Each time Emma challenged “I’m not worth attention,” she built new neural pathways, teaching her brain to see her value.

• Body Signals Create Safety ; By slowing her breath and easing her shoulders, Emma’s nervous system moved out of “stuck guard” mode. Her brain heard, “It’s safe to relax.”

• Corrective Experience ; Feeling genuinely heard in our sessions rewrote her attachment story: Emma learned that closeness can be safe and caring.

  
  

How Emma Rewires “I’m Not Worth Attention”

Rewiring a deep-seated belief means using both mind and body, in small, repeated steps, to build new, supportive pathways. Here’s how Emma did it:

Catch & Label the Old Thought

Emma learned to notice the moment she thought, “I’m not worth attention.” She simply paused and named it: “There’s that old story again.”

Why it helps Bringing a hidden belief into awareness weakens its automatic hold.

Gently Question & Challenge

She asked herself: “Is that always true?” and “What evidence do I have that I matter?” Emma listed small counter-examples: a friend’s thank-you note, a teacher’s praise.

Why it helps Each challenge nudges her brain to form new, more balanced connections.

Create a Positive Replacement

Emma chose a simple, believable new thought: “I deserve kindness and attention.” She repeated it aloud during sessions and quietly to herself when the old thought popped up.

Why it helps Every time she practices the new phrase, she strengthens its neural “highway.”

Anchor with Body Practice

When the old belief arose, Emma did a quick body scan, hand on her chest or shoulder to notice tension. She paired that with a slow, three-count breath in and out, saying her new phrase on the exhale.

Why it helps The body scan calms her nervous system (bottom-up) and links relief to her new thought (top-down), cementing the change.

Repeat & Reinforce Daily

Emma kept a simple log, whenever she noticed the old thought, she did steps 1–4. She celebrated each win, no matter how small, by writing it down or sharing it in session.

Why it helps Repetition over days and weeks rewires synapses. Small wins add up into lasting change.

By noticing her old story, gently questioning it, choosing a kinder replacement, and grounding it in her body, Emma literally taught her brain and nervous system a new way to respond, so “I’m not worth attention” transformed into “I matter, and I’m seen.”

Emma Today

Over months, Emma’s “invisible” belief faded. She now notices when her old story creeps in (“I don’t deserve praise”) and uses a quick body scan plus a kinder thought, “I’m doing my best”, to steady herself. Gradually, she’s writing her own story of being seen, both on the page and in her nervous system.

Disclaimer

Please note: The ideas discussed in this blog are intended for informational and reflective purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

If you are experiencing any mental health concerns, please consult a qualified healthcare provider or a licensed mental health professional.

These ideas reflect our current understanding, and much research continues to expand our knowledge. While one size does not fit all, and many tools and approaches can help you reach your destination, each journey is unique. Collaboration between you, your healthcare professionals, and your support network is crucial.

This is the way I see my work: I honour each individual’s unique journey and offer perspectives designed to empower you on your own healing path. This blog does not recommend discontinuing or altering any prescribed medications or treatment plans; always make decisions regarding your health in consultation with a trusted healthcare professional.