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One of our approaches
Somatic Work
Somatic work treats the body as a direct route into processing difficult experiences, rather than working through talking alone.
Sometimes the body remembers what the mind has filed away. We work with both.
How it works
The idea behind it
Difficult experiences, especially trauma, are often stored not just as memories but as physical patterns. Muscle tension. A racing heart. A knot in your stomach. An urge to freeze, flee, or shut down, even when there’s no real danger present. Somatic approaches are based on the idea that lasting change sometimes means working with these bodily patterns directly, not only talking about the experience.
This often means helping your nervous system move out of a stuck “fight, flight, or freeze” state and back into a calmer, steadier one. Along the way, you build your ability to notice and sit with physical sensations without being overwhelmed by them.
In session
What a session looks like
Sessions might include noticing and naming body sensations as they come up in the room. They might include grounding techniques, like feeling your feet on the floor or naming five things you can see, as well as breathwork, or slow, carefully tracked movement. Your clinician checks in on what you’re noticing in your body throughout a session, not only what you’re thinking. They’ll also help you build tools to settle yourself outside of sessions: something concrete you can use in a hard moment at home or at work.
Frequently asked questions
Is this covered by insurance?
The approach doesn’t change the coverage. Most extended health plans cover sessions with a Registered Counselling Therapist or Registered Social Worker. Call the number on your benefits card and ask. We bill most major insurers directly, so you only pay what your plan doesn’t cover; otherwise you get a receipt after every session.
How many sessions will it take?
It depends on you and what you’re working on. By session two you’ll have a written plan, and every few sessions we check in with the same short questions so you can see what’s changing. You can stop at any time.
Does it work online?
Yes. We offer every approach in person in Dartmouth and by secure video anywhere in Nova Scotia. If one of them works better in person, we’ll tell you.
Does it cost more?
No. Whichever approach we use, it’s included in your standard session fee. See fees and insurance.
Ready when you are.
You don’t need to choose an approach before you book. That’s our job, together with you, in the first two sessions.