Somatic Therapy in Kansas City, Missouri: What It Is and Why It Matters

jandechildress
4 days ago
3 min read

Somatic therapy is gaining a lot of attention online—and for good reason. While it may seem like a new buzzword on social media, somatic therapy is actually rooted in decades of trauma research, neuroscience, and clinical practice. At its core, somatic therapy helps people heal by addressing the connection between the mind, body, and nervous system.

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Kansas City, and someone who is EMDR-certified and trained in somatic therapy, I work with clients who want deeper, more sustainable healing—especially when traditional talk therapy hasn’t been enough.

What Is Somatic Therapy?

Somatic therapy is a body-based approach to mental health and trauma therapy. Rather than focusing only on thoughts and emotions, somatic therapy gently incorporates awareness of physical sensations such as breath, muscle tension, posture, and movement.

Stress and trauma don’t just live in our thoughts—they live in our nervous system. When the body stays stuck in fight, flight, or freeze, symptoms like anxiety, panic, emotional numbness, or chronic tension can persist even when someone understands why they feel the way they do.

Somatic therapy helps clients:

Build awareness of bodily sensations
Regulate the nervous system
Increase a sense of safety and grounding
Release stored stress and trauma responses

This work is done slowly and intentionally, without forcing clients to relive traumatic experiences.

Why Somatic Therapy Is Important for Trauma and Anxiety

Many people seeking therapy in Kansas City come in saying things like:

“I know my history, but my body still reacts.”
“I’m anxious all the time and don’t know why.”
“I feel disconnected or shut down.”
“Talk therapy helped, but I still feel stuck.”

Somatic therapy works from the bottom up, meaning it supports the nervous system before asking the brain to do more processing. Trauma-informed care recognizes that lasting change happens when the body experiences safety—not just insight.

This is especially important for people dealing with:

Trauma and PTSD
Anxiety and panic attacks
Chronic stress or burnout
Attachment or developmental trauma
Emotional regulation difficulties

Somatic Therapy and EMDR: A Trauma-Informed Approach

As an EMDR-certified therapist in Kansas City, I often integrate EMDR with somatic therapy techniques. EMDR helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories, while somatic therapy helps clients stay grounded, present, and regulated during that process.

Together, EMDR and somatic therapy:

Reduce emotional overwhelm
Increase nervous system stability
Support deeper trauma healing
Help clients stay connected to their bodies

This integrative approach is especially helpful for clients who have felt overwhelmed or disconnected in past trauma therapy.

What Somatic Therapy Looks Like in Practice

Somatic therapy sessions may include:

Tracking physical sensations
Learning grounding and regulation skills
Gentle movement or breath work
Increasing awareness of safety cues
Building tolerance for emotions without overwhelm

Everything is collaborative and paced to your comfort level. You don’t need any prior experience with mindfulness or body-based work.

Is Somatic Therapy Right for You?

Somatic therapy may be a good fit if you:

Feel chronically anxious, on edge, or shut down
Experience physical symptoms related to stress or trauma
Want trauma therapy that feels gentle and respectful
Are looking for EMDR or somatic therapy in Kansas City

You don’t have to “do it right.” The goal is simply to help your nervous system feel safer over time.