What Does “Somatic” and “Trauma-Informed” Really Mean?
Two of My Favorite Words: Somatics & Trauma-Informed
Two of my favorite words or concepts that I see coming up more and more are somatics and trauma informed. Of course, I love these because they are what I do and what I study, but I’m also thrilled to see them getting more press these days. To me, it means people are becoming more interested, and maybe even that our world is evolving toward a more holistic, body-based, and empathetic way of approaching life. That’s my hope!
What Does “Somatic” Mean?
If you read my blogs, you may already know that the word somatic comes from the Greek word soma, which means “body.” In simple terms, somatic work is about paying attention to your body - not just your thoughts.
What Does “Trauma Informed” Mean?
I’m seeing this term more and more lately too, and I love it. I’ve noticed “trauma informed” used for family law attorneys, parenting coaches, and more. Either my phone is reading my mind or the field has grown a lot since I got divorced eight years ago! Either way, I’m here for it.
When you see “trauma informed” in someone’s title, it means they work from an understanding that stress and past experiences affect the body and nervous system. Ideally, your work with a trauma-informed person (whether a coach, therapist, or clinician) is approached in a gentle, holistic way. It’s choice-based (you’re always in choice about what feels right for you) and never pushes someone faster than feels safe.
Let’s Talk About Trauma
The word trauma often scares people. But when I use it, I don’t just mean the big dramatic events we see in movies. Trauma can be anything that overwhelms us - times when our body and nervous system didn’t have what they needed to feel safe or supported.
For some, that’s a major life event. For others, it can be smaller but repeated stresses, like not being heard as a child or growing up in chaos. What’s important to know is that trauma isn’t just about what happened. It’s about how our body holds the impact.
Sometimes we’re not even aware of it, because we haven’t learned how to tune into our bodies. It may simply show up as an overall “stuckness,” or a low-grade unhappiness or dissatisfaction with life. My job is to gently help you notice what’s happening in your body, with attention and care, so you can move it through and move past it.
A Hopeful Reminder
We all carry stress or old hurts in our bodies. It’s a completely normal part of being human, whether we’ve experienced major life events or smaller, ongoing stressors. But trauma isn’t a life sentence. It’s a survival response that your body once learned. Through gentle somatic work, we can reset the system so you can respond to life as it is now, not as it was back then.
Why This Matters
My hope in writing this is to normalize these experiences. We are not just our brains. We are not just our bodies. We are not just our pathologies. We are multifaceted beings, learning how to live with all of our senses.
Our bodies really do keep the score (the title of a wonderful book by Bessel van der Kolk, and Gabor Maté has also written powerfully on this subject). The key is learning how to listen.
So I’ll leave you with a question:
👉 Have you noticed ways your body tells you when you’re stressed or unsettled?
Ready to Experience Somatic Practice for Yourself?
Now that you understand what somatic and trauma-informed mean, let me guide you through actually experiencing it in your own body.
Watch: Guided Meditation - Find Your Internal Resource in 10 Minutes
In this gentle practice, I'll help you discover your unique internal resource - that place in your body that feels calm and settled, even when everything else feels chaotic. This is the same foundational technique used by somatic therapists worldwide to help clients build self-regulation skills.
You don't need any experience with meditation. You don't need to "clear your mind" or achieve any particular state. You simply need 10 minutes and a willingness to notice what's already there within you.
Your body has been holding wisdom for you this whole time. This meditation helps you remember how to listen.
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