Somatic Therapy & Mindfulness-Based Trauma Therapy in Orlando, FL

Somatic therapy is a body-based approach to counseling that focuses on how trauma, stress, and emotions are stored in the nervous system—not just in thoughts or memories. While talk therapy works primarily through insight and conversation, somatic therapy helps clients notice physical sensations, regulate the nervous system, and release stored tension safely. This approach is especially effective when talking alone hasn’t led to lasting relief.

Somatic therapy is helpful for children, teens, and adults struggling with trauma, anxiety, PTSD, chronic stress, emotional dysregulation, or feeling “stuck” in fight-flight-freeze responses. It’s also beneficial for people who feel disconnected from their bodies, overwhelmed by emotions, or triggered by sensations rather than specific thoughts. Many clients choose somatic therapy when they want deeper healing beyond traditional talk therapy.

Yes. Somatic therapy is widely recognized as an effective trauma-informed approach because it works directly with the nervous system rather than requiring clients to relive traumatic events. By focusing on safety, regulation, and gradual processing, somatic therapy helps reduce trauma symptoms such as hypervigilance, panic, shutdown, and emotional overwhelm. It is often integrated with therapies like EMDR, ART, or Trauma-Focused CBT.

Sessions are gentle, collaborative, and paced to your comfort level. Your therapist may guide you through grounding exercises, breathwork, body awareness, or mindfulness techniques to help regulate your nervous system. You will never be forced to relive trauma. The goal is to help your body feel safer, calmer, and more regulated over time while building skills you can use in daily life.

Mindfulness and somatic therapy are closely related but not identical. Mindfulness focuses on present-moment awareness and observing thoughts, emotions, and sensations without judgment. Somatic therapy includes mindfulness but goes further by working directly with the body and nervous system to release stored stress or trauma. At The Counseling Corner, we often integrate both approaches for deeper healing.

Yes. Somatic therapy is particularly effective for anxiety and panic because it teaches the body how to regulate stress responses rather than trying to “think your way out” of anxiety. Clients learn grounding techniques, breathwork, and body-based tools that help calm the nervous system and reduce the intensity and frequency of anxiety symptoms.

Absolutely. Somatic and mindfulness-based approaches are often very effective for children and teens because they are developmentally appropriate and do not rely solely on verbal processing. Therapists use age-appropriate techniques to help young clients regulate emotions, feel safer in their bodies, and develop lifelong coping skills.

No. While somatic therapy is highly effective for trauma, it can also help with chronic stress, burnout, emotional overwhelm, grief, and general nervous system dysregulation. Many people seek somatic therapy simply because they feel disconnected, tense, or emotionally exhausted and want a more holistic approach to healing.

The timeline varies depending on your goals and experiences. Some clients notice increased calm and emotional awareness within the first few sessions, while deeper trauma healing may take longer. Somatic therapy is not rushed—it focuses on sustainable change by helping your nervous system learn safety and regulation over time.

Yes. Somatic therapy is often integrated with EMDR, ART, CBT, Trauma-Focused CBT, attachment-based therapy, and grief counseling. Combining approaches allows treatment to be tailored to your needs and supports both emotional insight and nervous system regulation.