Somatic Therapy for Childhood Trauma—Why the Body Remembers What the Mind Forgets
Somatic Therapy for Childhood Trauma—Why the Body Remembers What the Mind Forgets
Childhood trauma has profound, long-lasting effects, shaping not just our emotional well-being but also how our bodies respond to stress, memory, and pain. Whether we experience neglect, emotional abuse, physical harm, or other traumatic events, the psychological scars may continue to affect us well into adulthood.
What many don't realize is that trauma isn't solely stored in the mind—it is also lodged deep in the body.
Traumatic experiences, especially those in early life, often create physiological changes that persist over time.
Our nervous systems become primed for threat, and this hypervigilance can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, depression, or even physical symptoms like tension, headaches, or digestive issues.
Somatic therapy seeks to address these embodied experiences of trauma, helping us to reconnect with and heal our bodies. In this blog, we’ll explore why the body "remembers" what the mind may forget. Additionally, how somatic therapy can unlock the hidden effects of trauma.
How Childhood Trauma is Stored in the Body
When trauma occurs, the body's natural fight, flight, or freeze responses are activated. These survival instincts are meant to protect us from immediate danger, but for a child whose brain is still developing, these responses can get "stuck" in overdrive. In cases where a child’s environment is consistently stressful or unsafe, the nervous system adapts to perceive the world as a threatening place. This can result in a dysregulated nervous system that continues to fire off stress signals even when no immediate danger is present.
Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score, highlights that trauma affects brain function and how the body stores unprocessed memories.
While the mind may block out or dissociate from a traumatic memory as a means of coping, the body can still hold onto it.
This is why survivors of childhood trauma may experience physical symptoms like chronic pain or inexplicable muscle tension, even if they don't consciously remember the event.
The Disconnect Between Mind and Body
In many cases, those who have experienced childhood trauma may have a hard time identifying or articulating their feelings. This disconnection between mind and body is not accidental. When we experience overwhelming emotions as children, the brain's natural defense mechanisms often shut down the emotional centers to protect us from fully experiencing the trauma.
Over time, this dissociation becomes ingrained, making it difficult for survivors to recognize their emotional states or connect their bodily sensations to past events.
Somatic therapy works on the understanding that trauma lives in the body, often outside of conscious awareness. The core idea is to reconnect individuals to their bodily sensations in a way that helps them access and release trauma that may have been stored deep within their muscles, nervous system, or even their posture.
What is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy is a body-centered approach that integrates both mind and body in the healing process. Unlike traditional talk therapies that focus mainly on cognition and emotional understanding, somatic therapy delves into the physical experience of trauma. Therapists guide clients to notice and track sensations within their bodies, helping them release trauma-related tension.
Some common types of somatic therapy include:
Somatic Experiencing (SE). SE focuses on gently discharging stored trauma energy from the body. SE practitioners help clients "complete" their body's natural responses to traumatic events (like fight, flight, or freeze) that may have been disrupted or blocked at the time of the trauma.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. This approach integrates body-based techniques with cognitive therapy. By tuning into physical sensations, posture, and movement, clients explore how their trauma is embodied.
Trauma Release Exercises (TRE). This technique helps the body release deep-seated tension by working directly with the muscles and nervous system.
Somatic Experiencing within EMDR. Therapists incorporating somatic experiences within EMDR guide clients to notice body sensations that arise during the processing of traumatic memories. The goal is to allow the body to release stored trauma through subtle movements, breath changes, or shifts in tension.
Why the Body Remembers What the Mind Forgets
The mind has an incredible ability to forget or suppress traumatic events. Especially those experienced in childhood. This process, called dissociation, is often a survival mechanism that allows individuals to function day-to-day without being overwhelmed by traumatic memories.
However, the body doesn’t "forget" in the same way.
Trauma affects the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary bodily functions like heart rate, digestion, and breathing. Over time, if left untreated, this chronic state of dysregulation can manifest as physical symptoms, such as:
Muscle tension
Migraines or headaches
Chronic pain or fatigue
Gastrointestinal issues
Sensory overload
Even without a conscious memory of trauma, the body retains these physical responses. The body's "memory" of trauma often shows up in subtle but persistent ways, like difficulty relaxing or an unexplained sense of dread.
This bodily memory can also result in a tendency to freeze, numb out, or dissociate when faced with emotional triggers. For example, a person who experienced abuse as a child may find themselves inexplicably tense or anxious in response to harmless social interactions in adulthood. This is because their nervous system still interprets certain cues (e.g., a raised voice or specific tone) as a threat, even if the mind doesn’t remember why.
How Somatic Therapy in Bryn Mawr, PA Heals Trauma in the Body
Somatic therapy provides a pathway to reconnect the body with the mind. This helps trauma survivors gain greater awareness of their physical sensations and how they relate to emotions or memories. By addressing the body’s stored trauma, somatic therapy can alleviate not only emotional symptoms like anxiety or depression but also physical symptoms that may have persisted for years.
In a typical somatic therapy session, a therapist may guide the client to notice sensations like tightness, warmth, or tingling in different areas of the body. They might also explore the body’s reactions to different emotions, allowing the client to safely experience and process these sensations in a therapeutic environment. Over time, clients learn to identify and release physical tension or dysregulation that has been linked to past trauma.
Here are a few key ways somatic therapy works to heal trauma:
Grounding techniques. Therapists may use grounding exercises to help clients reconnect to their bodies and the present moment, allowing them to release stored tension.
Body awareness. By focusing on how the body feels in the here and now, clients can begin to notice patterns in how their body responds to certain emotions, situations, or thoughts.
Completion of interrupted responses. Somatic therapists may guide clients to complete physical actions that were interrupted during trauma (like a fight or flight response). This helps release the energy that was trapped in the body at the time of the traumatic event.
Why Somatic Therapy is Ideal for Childhood Trauma
Because childhood trauma often happens at a time when verbal or cognitive processing isn’t fully developed, it’s not uncommon for survivors to have limited conscious memories of the event. This makes somatic therapy a particularly effective approach for individuals who may not be able to fully engage in talk therapy.
Somatic therapy allows trauma survivors to process their past without necessarily having to recount the event itself. Focusing on physical sensations and responses bypasses the need for detailed verbal accounts, which can be re-traumatizing for some.
The adage “the body keeps the score” is more than just a catchy phrase—it’s a biological reality for those who have experienced childhood trauma.
Somatic therapy at Spilove Psychotherapy acknowledges the deep connection between mind and body. Overall, offering a holistic pathway to healing trauma that has been stored within for years, often outside of conscious awareness. By learning to listen to their bodies and release trapped trauma, survivors of childhood trauma can move toward greater physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
Get Started with a Somatic Therapist in Bryn Mawr, PA & Surrounding Areas Today
If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of childhood trauma, consider reaching out to a somatic therapist who can guide you through this body-centered healing process.
Learn more about childhood trauma by exploring our blogs.
Move forward free from traumatic memories!
About the Author
Julia Salerno, M.S., LPC, is a licensed therapist in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She specializes in trauma therapy, including the healing of generational trauma, using modalities such as EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), DBT, mindfulness, and more. Julia’s approach emphasizes fostering resilience, helping clients identify triggers, and developing personalized coping strategies to address the effects of trauma.
In addition to her work with clients, Julia serves as the Assistant Clinical Director at Spilove Psychotherapy. If you're ready to reclaim joy and fulfillment, reach out to Julia for virtual sessions available across Pennsylvania.
Other Therapy Services at Spilove Psychotherapy in Philadelphia, Bryn Mawr, & Online Across Pennsylvania & New Jersey
In addition to our somatic therapy for childhood trauma, we offer a wide range of specialized therapy services. Our experienced therapists provide support for couples, the LGBTQ+ community, individuals navigating eating disorders, and those seeking addiction therapy. We also work with children, offering play therapy to help them process their emotions.
Looking for group therapy? We facilitate DBT skills groups, LGBTQIA+ group therapy, and infertility support groups. Prefer life coaching over traditional counseling? We offer that too, tailored to help you reach your personal goals.