Somatic Therapy in Vancouver

Somatic approaches have been growing in popularity – and with good reason! We can talk circles around our problems for years, but once a stuck trauma pattern is released from the body, the story tends to loosen its grip over our present-day self.

My office is in Vancouver, and I offer both in-person and online sessions to help people reconnect with their bodies and release the old stories that have been stored in them.

While working with the body is becoming an appealing and intriguing option for a growing number of people, the most common question we hear about somatic work is “does it matter if it’s done in person or online”?

Does it matter if somatic work is done in person or online?

The short answer is, it depends on what you’re working on! Let’s zoom out for a minute - the only access you have to this reality is through your senses, which are embedded in your body. Your conscious mind is great at interpreting and categorizing some of the data your body gathers, but it’s not as great at releasing the stored charge of all of that input (which becomes very important for the more traumatic events in our lives).

Ultimately, only the body has real access to everything you went through; your highs and lows (and everything in between) are coded in your nervous system in a variety of sensory ways. Somatic therapy creates space for your body to speak its own narrative of the most important events in your life, and once that narrative is thoroughly heard (or experienced), the nervous system can release the associated charge - so it no longer impacts your normal functioning.

This, of course, is a gross oversimplification of the process - but it helps you get a sense of how this work happens. That being said, there are many ways in which your body might move and release those stagnant narratives.

Some of them are accessed through deliberate sensation (heat, tingling, expansion / contraction, etc.), some through imagery and symbolism (eg. it feels like I’m on the edge of a tall cliff, or like I’m floating in the ocean, etc.), movement (eg. shaking, pushing, etc.), emotional releases (eg. tears, laughter, anger, etc.), sound (eg. screaming, growling, screaming, etc.), boundary setting (verbal or physical), and many, many more.

As you can imagine, a lot of those experiences can be accessed in the comfort of your home, through a virtual session. A present and competent guide can help you direct your attention to the ways in which your body might be communicating, and offer creative suggestions for various ways you might “hear” and act on what’s being offered. So you can certainly do a lot of work virtually, and it can be very, very impactful and healing in many ways. And, there’s always more that can be done to support you.

You might have already seen my article about the unique benefits of online somatic work, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the unique benefits of the in-person work as well. So, here are a few.

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The unique benefits of in–person somatic work

  • The most obvious benefit is the physical containment that a therapist’s office provides. It exists outside of all of your daily distractions, it’s safe and confidential, you don’t have to worry about any interruptions or multitasking, etc. and can just focus on yourself and your process.

    This can also create a bit of a “ritual” space for your body and mind. Having a dedicated healing space can prime you for deeper explorations, as all layers of you start to associate the physical place with the depths of your internal landscape. I often have unexpected insights on my way to my therapist’s office.

  • Being in a physical space with a neutral and compassionate other that you trust creates an excellent opportunity for boundary explorations. We get to play with where the chairs are in the room, how far we sit from each other, the angle at which we face (or don’t face) each other, etc.

    We get to help you find your embodied sense of safety around another person and give you a chance to practice setting, negotiating, and repairing your boundaries in physical and relational space. This can be a great way to process previous boundary violations and (re)establish a better sense of your present-day self.

  • None of our “real world” interactions are neutral, and there might be many ways we override our real preferences for the benefit of the situation (or the relationship) at hand. Being in the same physical space gives us an opportunity to identify and attune to your actual rhythm of connection.

    How much eye contact / attention is too much (or too little)? What is it really like for you to be seen? Can you hold on to your internal process while in my presence, or do you become preoccupied with my experience of you?

    The interpersonal space of the therapy office is such rich territory for us to explore the way you relate to others in your world. And, it is as close to a neutral space as you can get - who knows what you’ll discover about yourself if the situation doesn’t demand that you show up in a specific way?

  • Somatic modalities offer a whole range of ways our bodies can interact in service of your nervous system. Touch work can be a brilliant way to gain access to experiences stored in the body that might otherwise remain out of reach.

    Various types of touch work can offer a felt sense of safety and reassurance, bring body-memories to the surface, and offer the support and containment your nervous system might need to release some of those old stories.

    This type of touch work is done fully clothed, and is offered in a gentle and attuned way based off of your body’s response.

  • Our nervous systems are very responsive to our social environments, and we can use the therapeutic container to help your nervous system regulate off of your therapist’s.

    That shared physical space is rich with all kinds of relational data that your nervous system is (re)calibrating off of, and it can be very supportive to have your body learn new skills through this non-verbal, visceral experience.

  • In-person sessions are also great at providing more options for spontaneous movement, sound, physical impulses, etc. without having to adjust your headphones, reposition your laptop, etc.

    Ultimately we want to restore more vibrancy, fluidity, and spontaneity in your nervous system, and it can be lovely to be a in a physical space that allows for uninterrupted connection - no matter where your impulses take you.

All of that being said, in-person somatic sessions might not be accessible to you for a wide variety of reasons. Somatic work is still immensely helpful when done online, and a skilled practitioner can still support a deeply embodied experience throughout your sessions.

Wondering if this work can be done online? Better than you’d think. Click here to find out more.

Ready to get started?

Book a free consultation.

It’s important that you feel safe, seen, and understood in our work together. You can tell me what you’re working on, and what’s important to you. I’ll let you know how I can help, and we’ll see if we’re a good fit! 

Got questions? Get in touch.

I know that the first steps are always the hardest. 

But you’re here taking them anyway, and that’s all that matters. 

I look forward to hearing from you, and I can’t wait to meet you.