The Science Behind the Mind-Body Connection
Understanding the Neurological and Physiological Basis of Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy is a transformative approach that aids healing through the body as well as the mind. It makes the link that trauma and stress are not just psychological but are deeply rooted in the nervous system.
To really see what an incredible shift in practice somatic therapy is, we need to explore the neurological and physiological principles underpinning it. Today, I share more about the autonomic nervous system (ANS), Polyvagal Theory, and the concept of neuroception.
The Autonomic Nervous System
At the heart of somatic therapy and healing lies the autonomic nervous system (ANS). This incredible system is responsible for regulating all of our involuntary bodily functions. Including heart and breathing rate, digesting food, how the skin responds to hot or cold, and how our eyes dilate.
The ANS is divided into two main branches:
Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS): You’ll hear this referred to as the 'fight or flight' system. The SNS prepares the body for immediate action in response to perceived threats by releasing stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol that increase heart rate, redirect blood away from your digestive tract to your muscles, and enlarges our pupils so we can gather more visual information.
Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS): You may know this as the 'rest and digest' system. It promotes relaxation, recovery, and digestion by slowing the heart rate and conserving energy. We use this system when we go to sleep, meditate, and connect meaningfully with other people.
There are two parts to this system, the ventral vagal system which is when we feel centred, calm and at peace. And the dorsal vagal system which is where the body shuts down and goes into dissociation. You may end up in this second part when running away or fighting are not feasible options for survival. More on this below.
In somatic therapy, the goal is to help you become more flexible within this delicate balance of states. Traumatic experiences or chronic stress and anxiety can cause you to become dysregulated. You may end up stuck in an overactive sympathetic response, trapped in fight or flight. Or you can drop further down into the parasympathetic state in the dorsal vagal zone which is when you become immobilised and shut off from the world.
Somatic therapy and healing brings you back to your Self, to the balanced, centred, and calm part of the parasympathetic nervous system. It teaches us flexibility to be able to move between these states easily as it helps us understand, process, and shift the physical holding on of traumatic memory.
Polyvagal Theory and the Vagus Nerve
Developed by Dr Stephen Porges, Polyvagal Theory provides a nuanced model of how the ANS operates, focusing on the vagus nerve, one of the longest nerves connecting the brain to the body. According to the theory, there are three neural circuits that regulate your physiological states:
The Ventral Vagal Complex: Part of the parasympathetic state, this pathway allows you to be social engaged, calm, and feel safe. When active, it supports connection, communication, and a sense of wellbeing.
The Sympathetic Nervous System Response: As noted, this is the mobilising ‘fight or flight’ response.
The Dorsal Vagal Complex: The second part of the parasympathetic state, this pathway is responsible for the immobilisation response or ‘shut down’ state. It is activated during extreme threat when running away or fighting back are no long safe options, leading to shutdown, dissociation, or numbness.
Polyvagal Theory highlights that trauma and chronic stress interfere with the ability to access or return to the ventral vagal state. This limits your ability for social connection and increases anxiety and disconnection. Somatic therapy uses body-based practices to help you access the ventral vagal system, helping your body rediscover a sense of safety and self-regulation.
Neuroception: Am I Safe or in Danger?
A crucial concept in Polyvagal Theory is neuroception, a term developed by Porges to describe how the nervous system continually and unconsciously scans your environment and the body for signals of safety or threat. This process tells your autonomic responses what to do without involving the frontal cortex brain regions that are responsible for conscious thought.
When neuroception detects what it perceives as being a threat it triggers protective responses such as fight, flight, or freeze. Sensing safety supports social engagement and relaxation. People with trauma histories often have altered neuroceptive abilities, perceiving safety less readily and remaining in heightened defensive states.
Somatic therapy works by gently retraining neuroception through mindful body awareness, movement, and regulated breathing, enabling clients to develop new neural pathways associated with safety and calm.
How Somatic Therapy Works
When I’m working with my clients to integrate an understanding of the ANS, Polyvagal Theory, and neuroception, I am using somatic therapy to:
Enhance Nervous System Regulation: Enabling you to learn to recognise signs of dysregulation and engage practices like grounding, breathwork, and movement to return back into balance
Restore Access to the Ventral Vagal State: This helps you relearn what safety feels like in the body, and allows you to access this more easily which is essential for healing trauma.
Rewrite the Body’s Trauma Responses: Through somatic awareness and interventions, old trauma patterns held in muscular tension or restricted breathing can be released, creating new physical experiences linked to safety.
Empower Autonomy and Resilience: Enabling you to gradually regain control over your own nervous system responses brings a deep confidence and trust in yourself, reducing chronic anxiety
Somatic therapy is more than just talk therapy. And while I love the cognitive processing that talking therapies provide, working somatically honours the intricate dialogue between mind and body embedded within our nervous system.
This is about bringing lasting change through a deeply embodied and nourishing relationship with your body, your mind, and your Self. Creating a loving connection and honouring or your experiences without being emotionally flooded by them. Allowing you to feel less triggered and reactive.
If you are interested in exploring somatic therapy and healing to see how it can help you, book a free 30 minute consultation with me by clicking the button below.
