Stress, trauma, and emotional pain don’t live only in our thoughts — they are often held in the body. Somatic therapy focuses on the mind–body connection, helping individuals become more aware of physical sensations, patterns, and responses that influence emotional well-being.
At Daybreak Counseling in Des Moines, somatic therapy offers a grounded, gentle approach to healing that supports both emotional and physical regulation.
Somatic therapy is a body-informed therapeutic approach that integrates awareness of physical sensations with emotional and psychological processing. Rather than focusing only on thoughts or behaviors, somatic work helps clients notice how experiences show up in the body and learn tools to restore balance and safety.
This approach is especially helpful when traditional talk therapy feels limited or when emotions feel overwhelming or “stuck.”
Somatic therapy may be helpful for individuals experiencing:
You do not need to have a trauma diagnosis to benefit. Many clients use somatic therapy to improve emotional awareness, grounding, and overall nervous system regulation.
Somatic therapy sessions may include:
Sessions move at a pace guided by your comfort and readiness.
Somatic therapy is often used within trauma-informed treatment, recognizing that the body plays a key role in how we process and recover from difficult experiences. By gently increasing awareness and regulation, clients can reduce reactivity and increase their capacity to cope with daily stressors.
This approach can be used alone or integrated with other therapeutic modalities such as CBT, EMDR, or mindfulness-based therapy.
At Daybreak Counseling, somatic therapy is always tailored to the individual. You remain in control of the process, and your therapist works collaboratively with you to ensure the work feels safe, respectful, and supportive.
There is no “right” way to experience somatic therapy — curiosity and awareness are the foundation.
Daybreak Counseling provides somatic therapy in Des Moines as part of a holistic, evidence-informed approach to mental health care. Our goal is to help clients reconnect with their bodies, strengthen emotional regulation, and move toward healing in a sustainable way.
If you’re interested in somatic therapy in Des Moines, Daybreak Counseling is here to support you.
Contact Daybreak Counseling to schedule an appointment or learn more about whether somatic therapy may be a good fit for you.
