If you are visiting this page it is likely you have some questions about Somatic Therapies. Whether learning what they are or maybe about what to expect during a treatment? When choosing a practitioner it is likely you have lots of questions about what to expect and have some apprehension if therapy is new to you. We at Seek a Therapy want to help answer your questions and concerns surrounding somatic therapy in order to help you select the right therapist for you and on this page we have included some of the most common questions a person may have before attending their first session.
What Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy, also known as somatic experiencing therapy, is a type of therapy that helps treat post-traumatic stress and effects from other mental health conditions. This type of therapy connects a person’s mind and body to apply psychotherapy and physical therapies during treatment.
“Somatic therapy is designed to help individuals clear their minds and connect to their bodies, and it is helpful because it combines mindfulness, grounding techniques, and traditional talk therapy,
Somatic therapy is also known as somatic experiencing and somatic experiencing therapy. It incorporates the mind, body and spirit into its therapy. One of the main aims is to treat the effects of PTSD and other mental and emotional health issues. It does this through the bodt-centric approach and connection of mind and body.
Methodologies tend to include things like dance, breathwork and meditation to help support patients through their healing journeys. In addition to these therapies, sessions also include talk therapy.
What to Expect From Somatic Therapy
Before your first appointment, think through goals you want by attending therapy, what are you aiming to accomplish through the therapy. As with any therapy, be aware that you are likely to bring up old and painful memories. It will be done in a careful way with your therapist but it is often necessary.
If you are seeing someone in person, prepare yourself for potential healing work conducted via touch. Whether virtual or in-person, your therapist will probably ask you questions about your history. They will also seek to get a better understanding of your therapy goals during your first session.
Your therapist will then discuss with you what to expect and how sessions will unfold. As with all therapies, somatic therapy may be emotionally difficult and take a long journey, though many people find a deeper level of healing than they could achieve through other types of therapies.
What does a Somatic Therapy Session Look like?
How Can Somatic Therapy Help Me?
Therapists that specialise in somatic therapy can help with your mental health, in particular, people that utilise Somatic therapy may be dealing with PTSD although other conditions are also helped such as depression, anxiety and self-esteem issues.
Somatic therapy can help you:
Common subjects that can be addressed within Somatic therapy include the following:
- PTSD
- Anxiety
- Addiction
- Grief
- Depression
- Stress
- Chronic pain
- Digestive disorders
- Sexual dysfunction
Because of its focuses on grounding and mindfulness, this therapy can be an effective option for anyone looking to get more in touch with themselves and their experiences in life.
How Much Does A Typical Somatic Therapy Cost?
If you are based in the UK you can ask your GP for help via a psychotherapist who may be trained in semantic therapy on the NHS but often there is a wait.
If this is the case then you can go private ( and we have several specialists in our directory in the UK, USA, Europe and Asia) where costs range from £50/$70 per session and sometimes can go up to £100/$200 per session and occasionally more depending upon the therapist’s experience, speciality and location.
How Do I Know Which Practitioner To Choose?
Your GP will often have several accredited psychologists that will have somatic therapy as part of their training. They should be able to help point you in the direction, but even if they do and you feel that the therapist isn’t right for you then it is completely fine to find a new specialist.
One of the most important parts of any therapy is the relationship between yourself and the therapist in order to be able to trust and open up about all your thoughts and feelings in order to be able to work on them. That is why we recommend always having a conversation with a therapist before choosing to use them for your healing journey.
When you find the right somatic therapist that offers you good communication, a partnership, trust, goals and a feeling of genuine understanding then together, over time, you will be able to challenge your traumatic experience.
How Long Does Somatic Therapy Take To See Improvement?
You will meet your therapist regularly, usually once a week or fortnightly, for several months, and usually, people see improvements after between 15 and 20 individual sessions that last about 50 minutes each.
In the beginning, you are likely to see your therapist more often, and later, as you learn to manage your problems and avoid triggers, you might go to counselling appointments less often.
What If Somatic Therapy Doesn’t Work For Me?
First of all, don’t worry!
If you think somatic therapy is the right therapy but you have the wrong therapist then you have every right to seek a second opinion and you will not offend your therapist. They just want you to heal from your difficulty as best you can and you deserve to feel better. If, on the other hand, you don’t feel somatic therapy is working at all then do not be disheartened, there are many, many different types of therapy that can help and this is only one. Use our therapy directory to find a different therapy, you may find hypnotherapy works better or possibly some holistic treatment. The key is not to think this is your only option.
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Please note: This information should not replace professional medical advice, it is purely for informational purposes. At all times when you are in crisis please first seek help from your GP or another medical professional. Thank you