Somatic Therapy in Surrey BC
Not sure who to book with? Answer 5 questions and we will suggest counsellors who fit.
Sometimes you understand exactly why you feel the way you do, and it does not change how your body reacts. Your chest still tightens in meetings. You still go numb in conflict. You still cannot settle at night. Somatic therapy starts from the recognition that stress and trauma live in the nervous system as much as in the mind, and that lasting change often needs to include the body.
Somatic therapy is a body based, trauma informed approach to counselling that works with physical sensation, breath, posture and movement alongside talking. It helps you notice how your nervous system responds to stress, build capacity to stay present, and gently release patterns of tension, shutdown or over-alertness that talking alone may not reach.
At Sojourn Counselling and Neurofeedback in Cloverdale, Surrey, somatic approaches are woven into trauma informed counselling, in person and by secure video across British Columbia. You can view therapist profiles and book online through JaneApp, or contact us if you are unsure who to book with.
What Is Somatic Therapy
“Somatic” simply means “of the body.” Somatic therapy is an umbrella term for psychotherapy approaches that treat the body as a central part of emotional healing, not just a container for it. Traditional talk therapy works mainly “top down,” through insight, language and thinking. Somatic therapy adds a “bottom up” pathway, working with sensation, breath and movement to influence the nervous system directly.
The reasoning is grounded in how stress physiology works. When something overwhelming happens, the body mobilizes to fight, flee, freeze or shut down. When that response cannot complete or the stress keeps coming, the nervous system can stay stuck on high alert or in collapse long after the event. Many people then experience anxiety, chronic tension, panic, numbness, exhaustion or a sense of being disconnected from themselves, even when life is objectively safer now.
Somatic therapy helps you notice these patterns as they happen, build a felt sense of safety, and expand your capacity to be with difficult feelings without becoming overwhelmed. It happens within an ordinary counselling conversation, seated or standing, at a pace you set.
A quick clarification: somatic therapy is not the same as the “somatic exercises” or “somatic release” videos that have become popular online. Those movement and breathing practices can be pleasant and sometimes helpful, but somatic therapy is a relational, clinical process led by a trained counsellor and tailored to you.
Types of Somatic Approaches
Several distinct models fall under the somatic umbrella. At Sojourn, our therapists offer somatic informed counselling that draws on these traditions and integrates them with other evidence-informed modalities, rather than delivering any single branded protocol on its own.
Somatic Experiencing (SE). Developed by Peter Levine, SE focuses on tracking bodily sensation, working in small doses (titration), moving between activation and calm (pendulation), and helping incomplete survival responses come to completion.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. Developed by Pat Ogden, this approach integrates body awareness and movement with attachment and trauma theory, paying close attention to posture, gesture and habitual physical patterns.
Polyvagal informed work. Stephen Porges’ polyvagal theory offers a widely used clinical map of how the nervous system shifts between social engagement, mobilization and shutdown. Some of its physiological claims are debated among scientists; we use it as a practical lens for understanding your responses, not as a diagnosis.
Emotion focused and experiential approaches. Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) and Emotionally Focused Therapy both attend closely to felt emotion in the body in the present moment. Several Sojourn therapists are trained in these approaches.
Mindful movement and breath. Trauma sensitive breath work, grounding movement and orienting practices are used across models to support regulation. These practices overlap closely with mindfulness informed therapy, which several of our counsellors weave into their work.
Somatic ideas also inform how our team practises EMDR, Internal Family Systems and Emotionally Focused Therapy, each of which asks “where do you notice that in your body?” as a matter of course.
Who Can Somatic Therapy Help
Somatic therapy is used across a wide range of concerns. It may be a good fit if you are living with:
Trauma and PTSD. Intrusive memories, hypervigilance, startle responses and avoidance often have a strong physical component that somatic work addresses directly. See PTSD therapy.
Complex, developmental and childhood trauma. When difficult experiences were repeated or began early, the nervous system may have adapted in ways that shape everything from relationships to sleep. Somatic work supports the slow, safe rebuilding of regulation. See complex trauma therapy, attachment trauma therapy and childhood trauma therapy.
Anxiety and panic. Racing heart, tight chest, shallow breathing and a body that will not settle are exactly what somatic techniques are designed to work with. See anxiety counselling and panic attack therapy.
Chronic stress and burnout. When you have been running on adrenaline for years, the body can forget how to rest. See burnout counselling.
Dissociation, numbness and feeling disconnected. Somatic work is paced very gently here, helping you come back into contact with your body a little at a time.
Grief and loss. Grief is often felt as heaviness, tightness or emptiness in the body. See grief and loss counselling.
Chronic pain and tension. Somatic therapy is not a treatment for the medical causes of pain, but it can help with the stress, guarding and nervous system sensitivity that often accompany it.
Recovery after motor vehicle accidents. Body based work can be a helpful part of counselling after a collision, including through ICBC funded counselling.
Sleep difficulties linked to stress and anxiety. See sleep and anxiety therapy.
You do not need a trauma history to benefit. Many people simply notice that they “live in their heads” and want to feel more at home in their bodies.
Somatic Techniques We Use, Explained
These are some of the tools your therapist may introduce. Everything is offered as an invitation, explained first, and adjusted to what feels workable for you.
Grounding and Orienting
Simple practices that bring attention to the present: feeling your feet on the floor, noticing the support of the chair, or slowly looking around the room. Orienting reminds the nervous system that the environment is safe now.
Tracking Sensation
Learning to notice and describe what is happening in your body, such as warmth, tightness, tingling or heaviness, without needing to change it. This builds interoceptive awareness, which research links to emotion regulation.
Resourcing
Identifying people, places, memories, images or physical sensations that bring a sense of steadiness, and learning to return to them. Resources become anchors when difficult material comes up.
Titration and Pendulation
Working with distress in small, manageable doses rather than all at once (titration), and moving attention between activation and calm so the nervous system learns it can come back down (pendulation). This is why somatic therapy tends to feel slower and steadier than you might expect.
Breath and Movement
Gentle breathing patterns and small movements, such as pushing against a wall, stretching, or shifting posture, that help discharge stuck activation or support a sense of strength and boundary.
Completing Protective Responses
When the body wanted to run, push away or protect itself and could not, somatic therapy can help that impulse complete in a slow, symbolic way, often through subtle movement, so it no longer sits unfinished in the nervous system.
Boundary Work
Noticing, in your body, what “yes” and “no” feel like, and practising expressing them. Many people with trauma histories have lost touch with these signals.
Coregulation
Your therapist’s steady presence and pacing is itself a somatic intervention. Nervous systems settle in relationship, which is one reason a good therapeutic fit matters so much.
What Happens in a Somatic Therapy Session
First session. You and your therapist talk about what has brought you in and what you hope will change. Your therapist explains how somatic work fits into counselling, checks what feels comfortable, and asks about your relationship with your body. Nothing is rushed.
You do not have to retell everything. Somatic therapy does not require you to describe traumatic events in detail. Often the work stays with what you notice now, in the room, while the story is referenced lightly or not at all.
What it looks like. Most of a session is conversation. Woven through it, your therapist may pause and ask what you notice in your body, invite a grounding practice, or suggest a small movement or breath. Everything is explained first and offered as an invitation.
Pacing and consent. You set the pace. If something feels like too much, you say so and your therapist helps you come back to steadiness. Learning to do that is part of the therapy.
Afterwards. Some people feel calmer or lighter; others feel tired or tender for a day. Your therapist will talk with you about what to expect and how to care for yourself between sessions.
Length and frequency. Sessions are 50 minutes. Some people come for a focused period of 8 to 12 sessions; for complex trauma, longer term work at a steady pace is common. Weekly or biweekly sessions are typical at first.
Format. Somatic therapy works well online. Grounding, tracking, breath and movement can all be guided over secure video, and being in your own space is sometimes an advantage. See online therapy and telephone counselling.
Somatic Therapy vs Talk Therapy
Somatic therapy is not a replacement for talk therapy; it is talk therapy with the body included. The difference is in emphasis.
| Talk therapy | Somatic informed therapy | |
|---|---|---|
| Main pathway | Insight, meaning, thoughts, narrative (“top down”) | Sensation, breath, movement, nervous system state (“bottom up”), alongside talking |
| Focus of attention | What happened and what you think about it | What you notice in your body now, and how it shifts |
| Pace | Often follows the story | Slower, titrated, tracks activation and settling |
| Best suited to | Making sense of experience, changing thinking and behaviour | Stress and trauma responses that persist despite understanding, dissociation, tension, feeling “stuck” in the body |
| At Sojourn | CBT, ACT, IFS, EFT, person centred | Integrated with EMDR, IFS, EFT, AEDP and neurofeedback |
Many people find that a blend is most helpful. Understanding why you react the way you do, and being able to change what your body does in the moment, tend to reinforce each other.
Somatic therapy and “somatic exercises.” Online somatic exercise routines are self-guided movement and breath practices. They can be a nice complement, but they are not therapy: they are not tailored to your history, they do not include a trained clinician tracking your responses, and they can occasionally stir up more than they settle. If you have tried them and felt worse, that is worth mentioning to your therapist.
What Does the Research Say About Somatic Therapy
Research on somatic and body based therapies is emerging, and we think it is important to describe it accurately.
A 2021 scoping review of 16 studies of Somatic Experiencing found preliminary evidence of positive effects on post-traumatic stress, mood and physical symptoms, while noting that study quality was mixed and larger, more rigorous trials are needed (Kuhfuß et al., 2021). The first randomized controlled trial of Somatic Experiencing for PTSD found large reductions in PTSD and depression symptoms compared with a waitlist (Brom et al., 2017), and a trial in people with chronic low back pain and post-traumatic stress found benefits for PTSD symptoms and fear of movement (Andersen et al., 2017), although a later, larger trial did not find added benefit over physiotherapy alone (Andersen et al., 2020). A 2021 meta-analysis of 18 randomized trials of body oriented psychotherapies more broadly found medium sized improvements in psychological distress (Rosendahl et al., 2021). Trauma sensitive yoga has shown promise for PTSD in a well known trial (van der Kolk et al., 2014), though the overall certainty of evidence remains low (Cramer et al., 2018).
The rationale for somatic work is supported by neuroscience research on interoception, the brain’s sensing of the body’s internal state, which is increasingly recognized as relevant to anxiety, mood and trauma (Khalsa et al., 2018; Price and Hooven, 2018).
Honest limits. There are fewer and smaller high quality studies of somatic therapies than of treatments such as CBT, prolonged exposure or EMDR, and somatic therapies are not yet included in major treatment guidelines as first line care for PTSD. For that reason, at Sojourn we offer somatic work as a complement to, not a replacement for, established therapies, and we tailor it to each person’s needs and preferences.
References: Kuhfuß et al. (2021) Eur J Psychotraumatol 12:1929023; Brom et al. (2017) J Trauma Stress 30:304–312; Andersen et al. (2017) Eur J Psychotraumatol 8:1331108; Andersen et al. (2020) Eur J Psychotraumatol 11:1797306; Rosendahl, Sattel & Lahmann (2021) Front Psychiatry 12:709798; Classen et al. (2021) J Trauma Dissociation 22:52–68; van der Kolk et al. (2014) J Clin Psychiatry 75:e559–e565; Cramer et al. (2018) BMC Psychiatry 18:72; Khalsa et al. (2018) Biol Psychiatry CNNI 3:501–513; Price & Hooven (2018) Front Psychol 9:798; Porges (2007) Biol Psychol 74:116–143; Grossman (2023) Biol Psychol 180:108589.
Somatic Therapy Combined With EMDR, IFS, EFT and Neurofeedback
One advantage of a team clinic is that somatic work rarely has to stand alone.
With EMDR. EMDR already tracks body sensation as part of reprocessing. Somatic resourcing and titration help build the stability EMDR’s preparation phase calls for, and can make reprocessing more tolerable. See EMDR therapy.
With Internal Family Systems. Parts often announce themselves through the body: a knot in the stomach, a clenched jaw. Somatic tracking helps you get to know protective parts and the younger parts they guard. See IFS therapy.
With Emotionally Focused Therapy and AEDP. Both approaches slow down to the felt experience of emotion in the moment. Somatic awareness deepens that work, individually and with couples. See Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy.
With neurofeedback. Neurofeedback is another bottom up approach: it gives the brain real time feedback to support self-regulation without requiring you to talk about anything. Some clients combine NeurOptimal brain training or linear neurofeedback with somatic counselling to support a calmer baseline while they build skills in session. Neurofeedback is not a medical treatment and does not replace therapy or medical care; it is an option, and your therapist can help you decide whether it fits.
Meet Our Somatic Informed Therapists
Alexandra Defazio, M.Ed
Alexandra is an Associate Therapist who integrates somatic therapy with attachment based, Internal Family Systems, Emotionally Focused, Acceptance and Commitment, psychodynamic and interpersonal approaches. Her work is trauma informed and emphasizes choice, consent and emotional safety, with particular attention to how trauma and chronic stress affect the nervous system. She works with young adults, adults, parents and caregivers, and older adults on trauma, grief and loss, life transitions, relationship challenges and identity, and welcomes culturally rooted and personally meaningful practices in the work. Alexandra is a NeurOptimal neurofeedback practitioner and offers counselling in English and Spanish, weekdays 9:00 am to 7:30 pm and Saturdays 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, in person in Cloverdale and online across BC.
View Alexandra’s profile · Book with Alexandra on JaneApp
Sarah Ball, Intern Counsellor (MFT in progress)
Sarah is a master’s level intern counsellor in Marriage and Family Therapy at Trinity Western University. Her approach is emotion focused, trauma informed and grounded in attachment theory, and she draws on somatic work, Emotionally Focused Therapy, AEDP, sand tray and systemic family therapy. She works with individuals, couples, parents, children and families, and has particular interest in people navigating displacement, transition, acculturation and cultural identity. Sarah offers low cost counselling at $60 per 50 minute session, with the first session free.
Trauma focused work across the Sojourn team, including EMDR, IFS and Emotionally Focused Therapy, attends to the body as a matter of course. If you would like help choosing a therapist, browse our counsellors or contact us.
Why Choose Sojourn for Somatic Therapy in Surrey
Sojourn Counselling and Neurofeedback is a relational, trauma informed clinic in Cloverdale, Surrey. Our team includes Registered Clinical Counsellors, Registered Marriage and Family Therapists, associate therapists and supervised interns, so you can choose a therapist whose approach, availability and fee fit your needs. Somatic work here is never a rigid protocol; it is paced to you and combined thoughtfully with EMDR, IFS, EFT and, when helpful, neurofeedback.
We serve Surrey, Cloverdale, Langley, White Rock and Delta in person, and clients across British Columbia online through secure video counselling.
Related pages: EMDR Therapy · PTSD Therapy · Complex Trauma Therapy · Attachment Trauma Therapy · Childhood Trauma Therapy · Anxiety Counselling · Internal Family Systems Therapy · Emotionally Focused Therapy · Acceptance and Commitment Therapy · Neurofeedback · ICBC Counselling · Low Cost Counselling · Our Counsellors
Fees, Booking and Practical Details
Booking. Book through JaneApp, where you can review therapist profiles, fees and availability: sojourncounselling.janeapp.com. If you are unsure who to book with, contact us at 778-381-5868 or info@sojourncounselling.com.
Fees. Registered Clinical Counsellor sessions are typically $160 to $175 per 50 minute session. Supervised intern sessions are $60, with the first session free. Current fees for each therapist are listed in JaneApp.
Coverage. Many extended health plans cover Registered Clinical Counsellors; payment is due at the time of the appointment unless otherwise arranged, and receipts are provided. TELUS eClaims direct billing is available for eligible plans with a small service fee. ICBC counselling is available for people recovering from motor vehicle accidents; see our ICBC counselling page for details and which therapists accept ICBC and CVAP.
Cancellation. We ask for 48 hours notice to change or cancel an appointment.
Location. Unit 211, 17696 65A Avenue, Surrey, BC V3S 5N4.
Is Somatic Therapy Right for You Right Now
Somatic therapy is gentle, but it does ask you to turn toward your body, and for some people that needs careful timing. If you are in acute crisis, experiencing severe dissociation, or in the middle of active substance withdrawal, your therapist may recommend focusing first on stabilization and safety, and building somatic work in gradually. This is a matter of pacing, not exclusion.
If you are in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself, please call 911, go to your nearest emergency department, or call or text 9-8-8, Canada’s suicide crisis helpline. Sojourn is not an emergency service.
Otherwise, you do not need to have everything figured out before you reach out. View therapist profiles and book online, or choose a counsellor whose experience and availability fit your needs. If you are unsure where to start, contact us and we can help you find a good fit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Somatic Therapy
What is somatic therapy?
Somatic therapy is a body based approach to counselling that works with physical sensation, breath, posture and movement alongside talking. It helps regulate the nervous system and release stress and trauma patterns that insight alone may not reach.
Is somatic therapy evidence based?
Research is emerging. A 2021 scoping review and randomized trials suggest Somatic Experiencing may reduce post-traumatic stress and related distress, and a 2021 meta-analysis found moderate benefits from body oriented psychotherapies. There are fewer and smaller studies than for CBT or EMDR, so we offer somatic work as a complement to established therapies.
Will I have to talk about my trauma in detail?
No. Somatic therapy often works with what you notice in your body now rather than a detailed retelling of events. You decide how much to share and when.
Do I need a trauma history to benefit from somatic therapy?
No. Many people come because they feel anxious, tense, burnt out or disconnected from their bodies rather than because of a specific event. Somatic work is helpful for everyday stress and emotional regulation as well as trauma.
Is somatic therapy the same as Somatic Experiencing?
Somatic Experiencing is one specific, trademarked model within the broader field of somatic therapy. Sojourn offers somatic informed counselling that draws on Somatic Experiencing, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, polyvagal informed and experiential approaches, integrated with other modalities.
Is EMDR a somatic therapy?
EMDR is a distinct trauma therapy, but it includes close attention to body sensation and is often considered body aware. Many people combine EMDR with somatic work, and several Sojourn therapists offer both.
Can somatic therapy be done online?
Yes. Grounding, tracking sensation, breath and movement can all be guided over secure video. Sojourn offers somatic informed counselling online across British Columbia.
How long does somatic therapy take?
It depends on your goals. Some people work for 8 to 12 sessions on a specific concern; complex trauma usually calls for longer term work at a steady pace. You and your therapist will review progress together.
Is somatic therapy covered by extended health or ICBC?
Many extended health plans cover Registered Clinical Counsellors, and ICBC funded counselling is available after motor vehicle accidents with eligible therapists. Check your plan and see our ICBC page for details.
Are somatic exercises the same as somatic therapy?
No. Online somatic exercises are self-guided movement and breathing routines. Somatic therapy is a clinical, relational process with a trained counsellor who tailors the work to you and tracks how your nervous system responds.