Somatic Therapy at CAP
What is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic Therapy is a body-centered approach to healing that focuses on the connection between the mind and body. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which primarily engages cognition and verbal processing, Somatic Therapy incorporates body awareness, movement, breathwork, and sensory techniques to help clients release stored trauma and regulate their nervous system. At Creative Arts Psychotherapy NYC, we integrate Somatic Therapy, including Somatic Experiencing (SE), to support deep, embodied healing that goes beyond words.
Why Somatic Therapy for Trauma?
Trauma is not just a psychological experience—it is also stored in the body. When we experience stress, overwhelm, or trauma, our nervous system can become dysregulated, leading to symptoms like chronic anxiety, dissociation, hypervigilance, or physical tension. Traditional therapy alone may not always address these embodied patterns. Somatic Therapy helps process trauma by engaging the body’s natural ability to heal and restore balance.
The Neuroscience Behind Somatic Therapy
Trauma impacts the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which controls our fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses. When the nervous system becomes stuck in a survival state, it can lead to chronic stress and emotional dysregulation. Somatic Experiencing (SE), developed by Dr. Peter Levine, is a neuroscience-backed approach that helps individuals gently renegotiate trauma by completing unresolved survival responses and restoring the body's sense of safety.
Through Somatic Therapy and Somatic Experiencing, clients can:
Release stored trauma and tension that talking alone may not access.
Increase self-awareness by tuning into physical sensations and emotions.
Develop nervous system regulation to move out of survival states like fight, flight, freeze, or fawn.
Rebuild a sense of safety and connection within their own body and relationships.
Improve emotional resilience by strengthening the brain-body connection.
Our Approach to Somatic Therapy
At Creative Arts Psychotherapy NYC, we integrate Somatic Therapy with attachment-based, experiential, and creative arts approaches to provide a holistic and deeply personalized healing experience. We use techniques such as:
Grounding Exercises/Resources to build safety and presence.
Mind-body awareness practices to develop emotional resilience.
Guided Somatic Experiencing techniques to support nervous system regulation and trauma renegotiation.
We specialize in working with individuals struggling with PTSD, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), anxiety, and attachment wounds, helping them reconnect with their bodies and emotions in a safe and supportive way.
Experience Healing in a Safe and Supportive Environment
Located in Flatiron, our practice offers a warm, grounding space for deep healing work. If you're looking to move beyond cognitive understanding and into true, embodied healing, Somatic Therapy can help you reconnect with yourself and create lasting change.
To learn more or schedule a consultation, contact us today.