Frequently Asked Questions About Somatic Therapy

What is somatic therapy?

Somatic therapy is a body based approach that focuses on the nervous system rather than only thoughts or emotions. It recognizes that stress, fear, and emotional patterns are stored not just in the mind, but in the body through muscle tension, breath patterns, posture, and physiological responses.

In this work, attention is placed on sensation, awareness, and regulation so the nervous system can release what it has been holding. Rather than analyzing experiences, somatic therapy supports the body in reorganizing itself through safety, pacing, and presence.

How is somatic therapy different from talk therapy?

Talk therapy primarily works through conversation, insight, and cognitive understanding. Somatic therapy works at the level of the nervous system and body, where many stress and emotional patterns originate.

Many people understand their challenges intellectually but still feel anxious, overwhelmed, or shut down. Somatic therapy helps address what lives beneath words by working with real time bodily responses such as tension, breath, and impulse. This allows change to be felt, not just understood.

Is somatic therapy helpful for anxiety, stress, or burnout?

Somatic therapy is often helpful for people experiencing chronic stress, anxiety, emotional overwhelm, or burnout, especially when these patterns feel persistent despite other forms of support.

Anxiety and burnout are frequently rooted in a nervous system that has learned to stay on high alert or suppress emotion in order to function. Somatic work helps the nervous system feel safer, which can reduce reactivity, increase capacity, and support a greater sense of ease over time.

This work is educational and supportive in nature and does not involve diagnosis or treatment of mental health conditions.

What happens in a somatic therapy session?

A somatic session is slow, grounded, and guided by your nervous system. Sessions may include noticing physical sensations, tracking breath, identifying patterns of tension or shutdown, and building internal resources that support regulation.

There is no pressure to revisit the past or force emotional release. The work unfolds at a pace your system can tolerate. Over time, many people notice increased body awareness, emotional flexibility, and a greater ability to stay present in daily life.

Who is somatic therapy for?

Somatic therapy is well suited for adults who are high functioning but internally stressed, anxious, or emotionally overloaded. Many clients have tried talk therapy and are seeking deeper, embodied change.

This work is especially supportive for people who carry a lot of responsibility, have difficulty slowing down, or feel disconnected from their bodies despite external success.

How many somatic therapy sessions will I need?

Most clients begin to notice shifts within the first 3-5 sessions. The total number of sessions varies depending on your history and goals, but many people work with a somatic therapist for 8-16 sessions. Nervous system patterns that developed over years take time to rewire, and the process is designed to be gradual so your body can integrate each shift at its own pace.

Is somatic therapy covered by insurance?

Somatic therapy may be covered by insurance depending on your provider and plan. Sasha Felix provides superbills that you can submit to your insurance company for out-of-network reimbursement. It is recommended to contact your insurance provider directly to ask about coverage for out-of-network somatic therapy or psychotherapy services.

Can somatic therapy be done virtually?

Yes. Somatic therapy is highly effective in a virtual format. Because the work centers on body awareness, breath, and nervous system regulation rather than hands-on techniques, virtual sessions allow you to practice in your own environment where you feel most comfortable. All sessions with Sasha Felix are conducted online, making this work accessible from anywhere in the United States.

Do I need to relive my trauma during somatic therapy?

No. Somatic therapy does not require you to relive or retell traumatic experiences in detail. Instead, the focus is on what your body is holding right now - tension patterns, breath restriction, and nervous system activation. By working with sensation rather than story, somatic therapy allows healing to happen without re-traumatization.

What does nervous system dysregulation feel like?

Nervous system dysregulation often shows up as persistent anxiety, difficulty relaxing even when you want to, chronic fatigue despite adequate sleep, irritability, brain fog, or a sense of being “wired but tired.” You may also notice physical symptoms like muscle tension, digestive issues, shallow breathing, or an exaggerated startle response. These are signs that your nervous system is stuck in a protective mode and has not returned to a baseline of safety.

Can somatic therapy help with anxiety?

Yes. Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people seek somatic therapy. Because anxiety is fundamentally a nervous system response, somatic therapy addresses it at the source. By helping your body shift out of chronic activation and into a state of safety, somatic therapy can reduce anxiety symptoms in a way that feels lasting rather than temporary.

Is somatic therapy evidence-based?

Somatic therapy is supported by a growing body of research, particularly in the areas of trauma recovery, stress reduction, and nervous system regulation. Studies have found that somatic approaches can significantly reduce PTSD symptoms and chronic stress. The approach is grounded in established neuroscience, including polyvagal theory and the science of neuroplasticity.

How do I know if somatic therapy is right for me?

Somatic therapy may be a good fit if you have tried talk therapy but still feel stuck in patterns of tension, overwhelm, or emotional reactivity. It is particularly effective for people who experience stress and emotions in their body - tightness in the chest, a clenched jaw, shallow breathing, or chronic fatigue. If you are a high-achieving individual dealing with burnout, anxiety, or a sense of disconnection from your body, somatic therapy offers a path back to feeling grounded and present.

What should I do to prepare for my first somatic therapy session?

There is no special preparation needed for your first session. Wear comfortable clothing, find a quiet space where you will not be interrupted, and bring an open willingness to notice what your body is experiencing. Your first session will include time to share what brought you to somatic therapy and to begin noticing how your body responds to the conversation. There is no pressure to share more than feels comfortable.

Can somatic therapy help with people-pleasing or perfectionism?

Yes. People-pleasing and perfectionism are often rooted in nervous system patterns that developed early in life as strategies for maintaining safety and connection. Somatic therapy helps you recognize where these patterns live in your body - the tension of holding back, the urgency of over-performing, the collapse that follows overextension. By working with these physical patterns, somatic therapy supports lasting change that goes deeper than cognitive insight alone.

How is somatic therapy different from somatic experiencing?

Somatic therapy is a broad category of body-based therapeutic approaches that work with the connection between mind and body. Somatic Experiencing is one specific method within that category, developed by Dr. Peter Levine, that focuses on resolving trauma by tracking bodily sensations. Sasha Felix draws from somatic therapy principles including nervous system regulation, body awareness, and trauma-informed care, tailored to each client’s needs.

What is the difference between somatic therapy and traditional massage or bodywork?

Somatic therapy is a therapeutic modality focused on healing emotional and psychological patterns through body awareness and nervous system regulation. It is not massage or physical manipulation. While bodywork addresses muscular tension, somatic therapy works with the underlying nervous system patterns that create that tension. Sessions involve guided awareness, breath work, and gentle attention to sensation rather than physical touch.