Somatic Therapist in Hamilton / Somatic Therapist in Burlington

Trauma, PTSD, Grief, Stress, Depression, Anxiety, Chronic Pain, Digestion, Sex & Intimacy and more...

Somatic Therapy

Somatic Therapy is a body-based approach to healing.

We often overlook our bodies and rely entirely on our minds to approach change. 

We now also know that trauma doesn’t just live in our minds -- it lives in our bodies too.

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Somatic work can help you access parts of yourself that may not feel safe to express elsewhere, especially in a world that often asks us to disconnect or to perform.

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Somatic therapy is a great alternative to traditional talk therapy that anyone can explore. It's beneficial for a range of mental health concerns such as PTSD, anxiety, grief, depression, and stress. On the physical side, somatic therapy can also be helpful for issues like chronic pain, digestive disorders, and sex & intimacy issues.

This therapy emphasizes grounding and mindfulness, making it a powerful option for those seeking a deeper connection with themselves and their life experiences.

When we experience overwhelming stress, pain, or harm our nervous system stores those experiences in physical ways. You might notice chronic tension, shutdown responses, or a sense of being "stuck" that talking alone doesn’t seem to reach. Somatic Therapy invites you to reconnect with your body as an ally in your healing, using gentle awareness, movement, breath and sensation to shift what has been frozen or held for too long.

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Trauma

This is especially powerful for trauma survivors and people navigating relationship ruptures, because it works at the level of the nervous system where fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses live. If you have tried traditional talk therapy before and felt like you were spinning in circles Somatic Therapy offers another way in. It helps you safely come back into contact with your body’s wisdom, so you can begin to feel more grounded, present and more whole. This can be a vital step toward restoring trust in yourself and in others.

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Relationships

For those navigating relationship challenges, especially in the aftermath of betrayal, conflict, or emotional disconnection, Somatic Therapy can be a deeply supportive form of relationship therapy. Our nervous system plays a big role in how we connect—or disconnect—from others. If you’ve found yourself shutting down or overreacting and don’t know why, it might be your body trying to protect you. Working with a psychotherapist near you who specializes in somatic approaches can help you shift these patterns gently and with compassion.

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At Making Space Psychotherapy, we integrate Somatic Therapy into our work with clients navigating everything from complex trauma to intimacy issues, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm. Whether you are an individual, a couple, or part of a consensual non-monogamous/polyamorous constellation, we meet you where you are. We welcome LGBTQ2+ clients, and we deeply respect the intersection of identity, relationships, and trauma.

We don’t push or prescribe. Our therapists will move at your pace, attuning to your body’s signals and supporting you in developing tools for regulation, self-compassion, and resilience. You might begin by simply noticing a tightness in your chest, or learning how your body says “yes” or “no". Over time, these small shifts add up to powerful changes in how you relate to yourself and others. When we heal through the body, we’re not just thinking about our past -- we are rewriting it from the inside out.

If you're curious about Somatic Therapy, we’d love to talk more. Whether you’re recovering from trauma, working through relationship stress, or simply wanting to feel more you, this approach can offer a deeply transformative path forward. At Making Space Psychotherapy we believe your body holds the story AND the solution. Let’s work together to help you listen in.

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Somatic therapy techniques include:

• Increasing awareness of your body and its sensations

• Tapping into emotional resources

• Grounding techniques

• Encouraging detailed descriptions

• Incorporating movement, such as acting out physical feelings

• Learning tools to calm yourself

• Shifting focus between stressful and non-stressful situations to release tension

• Replaying past situations with new physical tools

• Emotional release

• Strengthening personal boundaries

This approach helps you address your challenges comprehensively, considering both the mind and body for a more integrated therapeutic experience. 

At Making Space Psychotherapy, we specialize in trauma therapy and relationship therapy that integrates modern, evidence-informed approaches like EMDR, IFS, and Somatic Therapy. Whether you’re seeing us as an individual, a couple, or in a consensual non-monogamy/polyamory dynamic we welcome you fully. We proudly support LGBTQ2+ clients and anyone exploring how to build safer, more authentic relationships.

If you are looking for a psychotherapist in Hamilton or a psychotherapist in Burlington who truly understands trauma, identity, and connection you are in the right place.