Heal From Within With Somatic Therapy in Calgary
Experiences of trauma, stress, and emotional pain can linger in both the mind and the body. At Flourish Psychological Services, our Somatic Therapy services are designed to help you resolve these challenges by addressing the physical sensations, tension, and patterns that traditional talk therapies may overlook. Our highly trained therapists integrate evidence-based techniques — such as mindfulness, breathwork, movement, and gentle body awareness —into a safe, nurturing environment where healing can unfold at your pace.
Our licensed somatic therapists bring both skill and compassion to your journey. Blending psychotherapy with body-based practices, we partner with you to facilitate lasting relief, greater self-awareness, and renewed well-being. Whether you’re navigating PTSD, anxiety, depression, or chronic pain, our team is dedicated to helping you reconnect with your body, release stored tension, and support your emotional growth.
What is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic Therapy is a holistic, integrative approach rooted in the understanding that trauma, stress, and emotional pain are not just stored in the mind, but also in the body. This therapy brings together elements of traditional psychotherapy and physical therapies including breathwork, movement, and awareness of bodily sensations to unlock and release held patterns of distress. By increasing mind-body connection, somatic therapy empowers clients to process and resolve deep-seated trauma and chronic tension, allowing for more profound healing and emotional balance.
Somatic Therapy is especially beneficial for individuals who experience anxiety, traumatic stress, chronic pain, panic attacks, or who feel “stuck” after exhausting other modalities. By working on both the psychological and physiological levels, Somatic Therapy provides a pathway for integrated, transformative healing.
How Does Somatic Therapy Work?
Somatic Therapy centers on the interplay between your physical experiences and your emotions. In sessions, your therapist will guide you to:
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Tune into your bodily sensations (such as tension, pain, or numbness) that correspond with emotional distress
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Use mindfulness and grounding techniques to bring awareness to present-moment experiences
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Explore how your body holds onto stress and trauma and learn practices to release tension and regulate your nervous system
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Gently process and reframe past traumas through breathwork, movement, and supportive dialogue
Over time, you learn to recognize your body’s cues, unravel ingrained stress responses, and restore a sense of safety and comfort internally. This approach empowers you to break old cycles, improve emotional regulation, and increase your physical and emotional resilience.
What to Expect During a SomatiC Therapy Session?
At Flourish Psychological Services, your first session begins with a supportive conversation about your current concerns, goals, life experiences, and how stress or trauma may manifest in your body. Your therapist will introduce the fundamentals of somatic work and answer any questions about the process.
During sessions, you may engage in a combination of talk therapy, guided mindfulness, gentle movement, breathing exercises, or other grounding practices — always at your own pace and with respect for your boundaries and needs. Each session is designed to foster trust, body awareness, and connection, creating a safe and comfortable space for exploration and meaningful change.
Who Can Benefit from Somatic Therapy?
Somatic Therapy is well-suited for individuals who wish to address the deep connection between their emotional and physical well-being. You may benefit from this therapy if you are experiencing:
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PTSD or trauma-related symptoms
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Anxiety, panic, or chronic stress
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Depression or emotional numbness
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Chronic pain, tension, or fatigue
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Feeling “stuck” after other therapies
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Desire for a more embodied, holistic approach to healing
How is Somatic Therapy Different from EMDR?
While both modalities are used to treat trauma, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) uses bilateral stimulation to help reprocess traumatic memories, focusing on eye movements and memory recall. Somatic Therapy, on the other hand, emphasizes awareness and release of bodily sensations tied to trauma and stress, often using touch, movement, or breathwork, and can address lingering physical as well as emotional effects.
Calgary-Based Somatir Therapy Specialists You Can Trust
Flourish Psychological Services is proud to offer Somatic Therapy with expertly trained therapists right here in Calgary. Our team brings together years of specialized experience, deep empathy, and a trauma-informed approach to every session — ensuring you always feel safe, supported, and truly seen. We understand that healing is a unique and personal journey, so we take care to meet you where you are, adapting each session to your specific needs, pace, and comfort level.
At Flourish, we believe everyone deserves access to compassionate, high-quality mental health care. That’s why we offer both flexible in-person and secure virtual appointments to clients throughout Calgary and Alberta. Whether you prefer the welcoming environment of our Calgary clinic or the comfort and convenience of connecting with your therapist from home, our goal is to make holistic healing as accessible and inclusive as possible.
Somatic Therapy vs. Other Therapies
Somatic Therapy distinguishes itself through its emphasis on the body as a vital component of emotional healing. Unlike Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which focuses mainly on thought patterns, or traditional talk therapy, which centers primarily on verbal processing, Somatic Therapy integrates physical awareness and body-based interventions. This allows clients to access and resolve trauma or emotional pain that might not be fully reachable through conversation alone.
What Is The Difference?
1) Somatic Therapy vs. Narrative Therapy
Narrative Therapy focuses on helping clients re-author the personal stories and meanings they attach to experiences and identity. While Narrative Therapy works with language, reflection, and storytelling, Somatic Therapy works directly with bodily sensations and physical expressions of distress, complementing narrative change with physiological healing through breath, movement, and awareness.
2) Somatic Therapy vs. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
3) Somatic Therapy vs. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
Why Choose Somatic Therapy for Mental Health Support?
Lasting healing often requires more than just talking — it requires listening to and honoring the body’s wisdom. At Flourish Psychological Services, Somatic Therapy provides a powerful path to recovery and resilience by uniting mind and body. This evidence-based therapy is designed to help you restore balance, rebuild self-trust, and achieve deep, whole-person well-being.
Whether you are seeking relief from longstanding trauma, daily anxiety, or chronic pain, Somatic Therapy in Calgary opens new possibilities for transformative growth.
Scheduling an Somatic Session in Calgary
Even if you’re new to Somatic Therapy, booking a session is quick and easy. Just follow these simple steps to get started.
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15-Minute Consultation
Start by filling out our user-friendly online contact form, which will set you up with a free 15-minute consultation with a therapist of your choice. That’s where you’ll briefly share your personal concerns and what you hope to achieve. It also gives us the opportunity to make sure we’re a good fit for you, too.
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Choose Your Therapist
After your free consultation, take the time to reflect on your experience and decide if you feel comfortable and connected with the therapist you spoke with. If so, you can book your first therapy session. If not, we can try someone else, or recommend a different clinic if we feel we cannot provide you with what you need.
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Choose Appointment
Choose the format – in-person or online – that best suits your comfort level and circumstances. Our virtual sessions are always secure, confidential, and convenient, but if you aren't a fan of online and would prefer face-to-face interactions, we'll warmly welcome you for your appointment!