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Somatic psychotherapy focuses on the connection between the mind and body and how physical sensations and experiences affect emotional and psychological well-being.
It can effectively treat various mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and chronic pain. Somatic therapy is especially helpful for individuals who have experienced trauma or have difficulty expressing their emotions verbally.
Key Takeaways
- "Soma" means body in Greek. Somatic psychotherapy treats the mind-body connection as inseparable — it reads posture, breath, and mannerisms as data, not metaphor.
- Three foundational methods. Somatic Experiencing (Peter Levine, 1970s), the Hakomi Method (Ron Kurtz, 1970s), and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (Pat Ogden, 1980s–90s) form the lineage most practitioners draw from.
- Talk therapy alone can re-traumatize. Repeating the same story without addressing the body keeps trauma trapped in the fight-flight-freeze response — body-based work discharges the stuck stress energy.
- Corporate wellness is missing this. Amira says she has never encountered a corporate program that offers somatic psychology — despite workplace stress manifesting physically.
- Adaptogens support, they don't replace. Ashwagandha, rhodiola, holy basil, cordyceps help regulate cortisol, but only alongside sleep, nutrition, and movement — all of which are themselves somatic interventions.
- Measurable clinical impact. Reduces cortisol, regulates the nervous system, decreases irritability and aggression, improves concentration, and builds resilience.
In Amira's Words
On the body as evidence
The body never lies. It tells you a whole lot of information when you know how to track it.
Stress gets trapped in the cellular matrix of our cells. We have memory cells — we remember trauma, we remember stress.
On why talk therapy isn't enough
Sometimes when you just talk, it can re-traumatize you, because you're re-experiencing stressful events. You can get addicted to your own narrative — telling the same story over and over without ever addressing the physical body.
Mindfulness is part of somatic psychotherapy. You bring the mind and the body into a state of meditation — self-awareness about what you're feeling, thinking, embodying.
On the corporate gap
I've never heard of a corporate wellness program that introduces somatic psychology — and stress, again, affects the physical body.
Somatic psychotherapy can decrease strain and pain — physical pain, emotional pain, spiritual pain.
About The Speaker
Ms. Amira Rajput is a somatic mental health specialist who understands the concept of Holism, Holistic Medicine, and Behavioral Health, especially regarding spiritual health. She specializes in treating Obesity, Food/ Eating Disorders, Dual Diagnosis PTSD [Kidney-- Heart impairment], co-occurring Addiction, Substance Abuse, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, Food Allergies, Brain-Gut Dysfunction, etc.
Connect with her on LinkedIn
Show Notes
(01:17) What is somatic psychotherapy?
(02:47) Are there any types and techniques of somatic psychotherapy?
(04:52) What can somatic psychotherapy treat, and how?
(08:11) How can it help employees overcome these health and well-being conditions caused by work-related stress?
(10:29) Can corporate wellness programs include somatic psychotherapy sessions?
(11:08) What would be your take on changing approaches toward employees' health and wellness in today's era?
