Trauma is Not Just a Memory: Why Somatic Therapy Works When Talking Fails
I’m going to tell you a hard truth: trauma healing is not about intellectualizing your pain. It’s not about finding the perfect words to describe the sh*t that happened to you.
If you’ve been in traditional talk therapy for years and still feel that cold, electric jolt of fear when you hear a loud noise, or if you still find yourself freezing up in conflict, you know exactly what I mean. Your brain gets it, but your body is still running the old program.
That’s because trauma isn't stored in the part of your brain that handles language; it’s stored in your body, in your nervous system, in the way you hold your breath and tense your shoulders. Your body is still screaming, even if your mouth is saying, "I’m fine."
This is why I believe in somatic therapy. I see it as the ultimate blend of science and ancient practice—using modern neuroscience to understand the body’s wisdom, and using movement and awareness (like yoga) to gently rewrite the script.
The Science of the Freeze: How Trauma Stays in the Body
The core of my work is recognizing the complexity of life and the complexity of your nervous system. When a traumatic event happens, your body’s survival instincts take over. If fighting or fleeing isn't an option, your system hits the "freeze" button.
This freeze response is brilliant—it keeps you safe. But if that energy doesn't get discharged, it gets trapped. It becomes the chronic tension, ways of moving, the unexplained pain, the sudden mood swings. This is the truth of how trauma stays in the body.
The Body’s Language:
The Vagus Nerve: This is the superhighway between your brain and your gut, heart, and lungs. Trauma can leave this nerve in a state of chronic alarm.
Implicit Memory: This is the non-verbal memory of trauma—the sensations, images, and emotions that surface without a story attached. This is why you can’t just "talk it out."
My approach to trauma healing is about speaking the body’s language. It’s about helping you complete the survival responses that were interrupted.
Somatic Therapy: Listening to Your Inner Wisdom
One of my core values is helping you reclaim your inner wisdom. Your body knows exactly what it needs to heal, but the trauma has muffled that voice.
Somatic and other body-based therapy approaches are not about forcing a breakthrough. They are about creating the conditions for healing, like tending a garden. I guide you to notice the subtle shifts in your body—a tingling, a warmth, a sudden urge to move—and allow that energy to move through you safely.
It’s slow, deliberate work, and it requires patience. You cannot force a garden to grow faster than it is ready, and you cannot force yourself to heal faster than your nervous system allows.
Healing in Burlington and Oakville: Stronger Together
I know that finding a trauma therapist in Burlington or a somatic healing specialist in Oakville can feel overwhelming. You’re already exhausted, and now you have to vet another therapist.
I want you to know that I am here to be your grounded co-pilot. I believe we are stronger together, and that healing happens in the safety of a non-judgmental relationship. I provide a space where you can finally let down your guard and let your body speak its truth.
If you’re tired of just talking about your trauma and are ready to feel safe and grounded in your own skin, let’s connect. I use a blend of cutting-edge science and ancient practices like mindful movement to help you move from surviving to thriving.
And yes, sometimes the work is intense. Swearing, shaking, and sweating are all okay. It means you’re moving that energy.
Ready for a calm body and quiet mind?
