Understanding Somatic Therapy: Healing Trauma Through the Body with Brian Mahan
Trauma isn’t just something we remember—it’s something our bodies store. In an insightful episode of Heal Squad with Maria Menounos, somatic experiencing practitioner Brian Mahan sheds light on how trauma manifests physiologically and how somatic therapy can be a game-changer for healing. Maria, having personally benefited from this therapy, shares her experience and highlights its transformative impact. If you’ve been struggling with trauma, stress, or unexplained physical tension, this is an approach you won’t want to overlook.
What is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy is a healing modality that works with the body’s physiological response to trauma rather than just addressing it cognitively. As Mahan explains, trauma is not simply a psychological disorder but rather a disruption in the body’s nervous system. Traditional talk therapy often focuses on understanding trauma through memories and emotions, but somatic experiencing (SE) targets where trauma is stored in the body, helping release it at a physiological level.
Key Takeaways:
- Trauma can be stored in the body before we can even verbalize or rationalize it.
- There are two types of memory: explicit (conscious memories we recall) and implicit (body-stored memories that can trigger responses without us knowing why).
- Somatic therapy helps reset the nervous system to return it to a state of balance.
The Origins of Somatic Therapy
Though somatic therapy has gained attention recently, it has been studied and developed over decades. Dr. Peter Levine, founder of Somatic Experiencing, built on research that found that people who recovered from trauma had a stronger connection to their physical sensations. Mahan emphasizes that conventional psychiatry and psychology sometimes fail to address trauma at its core because they overlook its physiological roots.
Why It’s Effective:
- Traditional approaches sometimes reinforce trauma rather than resolve it.
- Somatic therapy has been proven effective for treating PTSD, panic disorders, and chronic stress.
- It teaches the body how to self-regulate, reducing hyperarousal and anxiety.
Maria’s Personal Experience with Somatic Therapy
Maria shares a powerful example of how somatic therapy helped her release deep-seated trauma. She describes a persistent, painful tension in her right groin area that would flare up during moments of extreme stress—especially when she was managing her mother’s illness. Despite trying various methods, nothing seemed to help until she worked with Mahan. After just one session, the tension disappeared. When it resurfaced months later, another session cleared it again.
Key Insights from Maria’s Healing:
- Trauma can manifest as chronic pain or tension in the body.
- Releasing trauma physically can be more effective than just talking about it.
- Hypervigilance, often developed in childhood, keeps the nervous system in a constant state of alertness.
- Once trauma is processed somatically, the need to “search for it” mentally also dissipates.
How Shame Ties into Trauma
Shame is another deeply ingrained physiological response that can impact healing. Mahan explains that shame, like trauma, has physical expressions—slouched shoulders, downcast eyes, constricted breathing. It originates from early life experiences where children learn to conform to social expectations. Unprocessed shame can lead to lifelong self-limiting beliefs and anxiety.
Understanding Shame:
- Shame is a survival strategy to avoid rejection.
- It manifests as physical postures and patterns of avoidance.
- By identifying and addressing shame somatically, people can release deep-seated self-judgment and improve self-worth.
The Power of Somatic Therapy for Long-Term Healing
Mahan emphasizes that true healing isn’t just about changing our thoughts—it’s about changing our nervous system’s response to trauma. Many people attempt to override trauma with positive thinking, but this only addresses the surface level. Instead, healing requires integrating new physiological experiences that provide the body with evidence of safety.
How to Start Somatic Healing:
- Pay Attention to Physical Sensations: Notice where tension or discomfort resides in your body.
- Practice Grounding Techniques: Engage all five senses to help signal to your nervous system that you are safe.
- Seek a Skilled Practitioner: Work with a somatic therapist who can guide you through safe and gradual release of trauma.
- Be Patient with the Process: Healing is not about quick fixes but creating sustainable change in the nervous system.
Conclusion
Somatic therapy is revolutionizing the way we understand trauma and healing. Rather than just “thinking” our way through pain, we need to listen to our bodies and allow them to process stored trauma at a physiological level. As Maria’s experience illustrates, real transformation happens when we give our nervous system the tools to reset and regulate itself.
For more healing and wellness tips, be sure to subscribe to Heal Squad with Maria Menounos via YouTube or Apple Podcasts.
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