Go beyond traditional talk therapy
Somatic Therapy across New Jersey and New York
Maybe you’ve been to therapy before, but there is still a disconnect between what you know intellectually and what you feel in your body.
your body feels…
You’ve tried everything you can think of to feel better, but nothing’s sticking.
Shut down, disconnected, or overwhelmed
Angry or confused
Tense or in pain
Anxious or stressed
Somatic Therapy helps you bridge the gap between your mind and body.
At the heart of Somatic Experiencing® lies the belief that trauma is not solely about the event itself but rather how the nervous system responds to it. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which primarily engages the cognitive mind, SE focuses on somatic (bodily) sensations and the body's innate capacity for self-regulation.
Somatic Experiencing® (SE) aims to resolve symptoms of stress, shock, and trauma that accumulate in our bodies. When we are stuck in patterns of fight, flight, or freeze, SE helps us release, recover, and become more resilient.
-
Somatic therapy works by bringing awareness to the connection between your mind, body, emotions, and experiences. Instead of focusing only on what you're thinking, we pay attention to what you're experiencing physically and emotionally, helping you understand patterns and responses that may be keeping you stuck.
This is approach gently guides clients to develop increasing tolerance for difficult bodily sensations and suppressed emotions.
-
Somatic therapy is gentle, collaborative, and moves at a pace that feels manageable for you. We'll talk about what's happening in your life while also noticing what's happening in your body. You are not required to talk about or relive experiences. Together, we'll build a deeper awareness of yourself and your body's responses.
-
Somatic therapy can help you understand and work through the patterns that keep you feeling stuck. Together, we may explore how anxiety, stress, trauma, relationships, and past experiences show up in your body and influence how you respond today.
Through this work, you can begin to recognize what happens in your body when you feel overwhelmed, disconnected, unsafe, or triggered. You’ll learn to slow down these automatic responses, become more aware of your emotions and needs, and develop new ways of responding rather than continuing to fall into the same patterns.
Somatic therapy can help you work through experiences that may still be affecting you, even when you understand them intellectually. It can support you in building stronger boundaries, feeling more comfortable expressing your needs, becoming more connected to your body, and developing a deeper sense of trust in yourself.
Is Somatic Therapy right for you?
Somatic Therapy is a good fit for you if…
You want more than just talk therapy
You understand what's happening intellectually but still feel stuck in the same emotional or relational patterns.
You feel disconnected from your body or have difficulty identifying what you're feeling.
You experience anxiety, hypervigilance, shutdown, or feeling easily overwhelmed.
You have experienced trauma or relational wounds that continue to affect you.
You want to understand your nervous system rather than simply manage symptoms.
You are interested in a slower, body-centered approach to healing.
What we’ll work on
With Somatic Therapy, you can…
Bypass the need for detailed narrative recall and instead focuses on the embodied experience of trauma. By bypassing the cognitive defenses that often arise when discussing traumatic events, SE offers a direct pathway to healing at the physiological level.
Cultivate awareness of bodily sensations, SE fosters a deeper connection between mind and body, promoting overall well-being
Regulate your nervous systems, allowing you to respond more effectively to stressors and triggers
Understand your triggers and how your body is communicating with you
Therapists Who Specialize In Somatic Therapy
-
Melanie Palmietto, LPC, LMHC, SEP
Telehealth - New Jersey & New York
In Person - Montclair, New Jersey
Works with - Individuals
Somatic Experiencing® | PTSD | CPTSD | Anxiety | Self Esteem | Sexual Assault | Depression | Attachment & Developmental Trauma | People Pleasing
-
Ariana Fort, LAC, CCTP
Telehealth - New Jersey
Works with - Individuals
Somatic Therapy | Polyvagal Theory | Complex PTSD | Trauma | Anxiety | Depression | Transgenerational Trauma | Stress
-
Adrianna Bollaro, LAC
Telehealth - New Jersey
Works with - Individuals & Couples
Somatic Therapy | Poly-Vagal Theory | Gottman Therapy | Eating Disorders | Grief | Self-Image | Trauma & PTSD | OCD | Depression | Body Neutrality | Chronic Illness/Pain | Rumination
Understanding Somatic Experiencing®
In this 3 minute video Dr. Peter Levine the founder of Somatic Experiencing® (SE) explains the concept of pendulation which is a technique used in somatic experiencing sessions.
In this 4 minute video Dr. Peter Levine explains what happens in trauma.
“The body remembers what the mind forgets; it is through somatic experiencing that we can access and release stored traumatic memories.”
Your story is welcome here.
Your body holds so much information and wisdom. Let’s discover it together.
Questions?
FAQs
-
In somatic therapy, we still talk. A lot of the work begins with talking about what's happening in your life, your relationships, your emotions, and the things that are bringing you to therapy. The difference is that we don't only focus on what's happening cognitively. We also pay attention to what's happening in your body.
For example, you might be talking about a difficult conversation you had with your partner and notice that your chest suddenly feels tight. Or you might notice your shoulders tense when you talk about your family. Maybe your stomach drops when you think about setting a boundary with someone. Maybe you realize you're holding your breath, or that you suddenly feel numb and disconnected.
Rather than simply talking past those sensations, we slow down and get curious about them.
What are you noticing? What happens when you stay with that sensation for a moment? Does it change? Is there an image, memory, word, or emotions connected to the sensation?
You don't need to know how to do any of this when you come in. That's part of what we will help you with. We will be guiding you every step of the way
-
That's completely okay.
You don't need to be someone who is naturally "in touch with your body" to do somatic therapy. In fact, many of the people I work with come to therapy because they feel very disconnected from their bodies or have spent years living mostly in their heads.
You may not know what you're feeling at first. You may not notice much in your body. You may even think, "I have no idea what you're asking me."
That's okay. Over time you will learn the language of your body and we will teach you body based tools to connect with your body in a way that feels comfortable and manageable.
-
We want to connect you with the best therapist for you and what you’re looking to experience. By clicking here you can schedule a free consultation to learn more about working with our clinicians and find the right fit for you.
-