Somatic Therapy
in Chicago, IL & Phoenix, AZ
What Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic Therapy (also known as Somatic Experiencing) is a body-centered approach to counseling that can help you tune into physical sensations and understand the ways your body holds stress, trauma, or emotional pain. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which focuses mainly on the conscious mind, Somatic Therapy works with the mind-body connection to release tension and promote healing.
Through gentle movement, breathwork, mindfulness, and body awareness, you can learn to recognize and soothe painful emotions that are trapped in the body. This process can help you reduce anxiety, improve emotional regulation, and restore a sense of safety and balance.
At Compassionate Healing Psychotherapy, we use Somatic Experiencing to support adults dealing with trauma, anxiety, PTSD, chronic stress, and body-related tension or pain. Our therapists work with clients who feel disconnected from their bodies or struggle with the physical symptoms of emotional overwhelm. Somatic Therapy helps our clients restore mind-body harmony, empowering them to heal from the inside out.
Questions About Somatic Therapy? Contact Us!
How Effective Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic Therapy is increasingly recognized as an effective treatment for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and chronic stress. Research shows that it helps regulate the nervous system and release trauma held in the body, offering a more complete process of healing than traditional methods.
Studies, such as those done by Bessel van der Kolk and Peter A. Levine, highlight Somatic Therapy’s role in reducing stress and improving emotional resilience (1) (2). Other findings have shown that it can alleviate symptoms of trauma and PTSD (3). Across the board, research has demonstrated that Somatic Therapy can lead to mental, emotional, and physical gains in clients looking for deeper healing.
So what makes Somatic Therapy so effective? It accesses nonverbal sensations and physical tension that words alone can’t reach, allowing clients to release emotions that have been trapped all their lives. This embodied approach can break through barriers to healing, helping clients regain a sense of safety, presence, and emotional balance where other methods have fallen short.
How Does Somatic Therapy Work?
Somatic Therapy is more than a method—it’s a way of honoring the wisdom your body holds. After all, healing doesn’t have to come through words alone. Sometimes, the body tells the story before the mind is ready. In our work together, there is no rush, no pressure—just a compassionate space where all parts of you are welcome.
There is no set-in-stone timetable for Somatic Therapy, since it is a very embodied and therefore spontaneous process. The goal is to simply engage with your body and notice what symptoms, sensations, and stories emerge during our work together.
That said, our therapists often utilize Somatic Therapy in addition to other therapeutic interventions. Sometimes we draw from Internal Family Systems (IFS), which uses the language of parts to help clients increase their self-awareness and achieve inner harmony. In other cases, we bring in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a trauma-informed approach that incorporates bilateral stimulation as a means of processing and resolving trauma.
Ultimately, all the approaches we use are somatic in nature and rooted in the inherent wisdom of the body, allowing for lasting transformation in our clients’ lives.
Our Background In Somatic Psychotherapy
Our practice founder, Iwona Florianowicz, has been utilizing somatic bodywork techniques for over a decade. Iwona has received mentorship from leading figures in the field of Somatic Experiencing, including Arielle Schwartz, and she has also been in involved in numerous workshops and specialized trainings for this unique approach.
Iwona was drawn to Somatic Therapy after experiencing its powerful impact in her own healing journey. The approach helped her connect with her body, release long-held trauma, and find a sense of safety she hadn’t reached through talk therapy alone.
After witnessing both the personal and professional transformation that somatic therapy allows for, she decided to integrate it into her practice and share its benefits with others seeking deeper, lasting healing.
Release Trauma, Build Resilience, And Cultivate Inner Harmony
Whether you're carrying trauma, trying to manage stress, or simply feeling disconnected, you don’t have to navigate your challenges alone. We’ll be here to support you in finding safety, resilience, and a deeper connection to yourself—one breath and one step at a time.
To learn more about how Somatic Therapy can help you connect with your body on a deeper level, you can call 602-715-0501, or use the contact form. We look forward to taking this journey with you!
Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score (2014).
Peter A. Levine, Ph.D., An Unspoken Voice (2010).
Somatic Therapy Phoenix
13421 S 37th Pl,
Phoenix, AZ 85044
Somatic Therapy Chicago
25 E Washington St Ste 1206,
Chicago, IL 60602