Sometimes we understand our struggles perfectly.

We’ve talked about them, journaled about them, analyzed them from every angle. Maybe you even know exactly why you are the way you are AND you could prepare a riveting presentation on it, and yet… not a whole lot is shifting.

You still reflexively say yes when you want to say no. You still overanalyze every interaction. You tell yourself you will do it differently next time! The patterns just keep looping.

That’s because healing doesn’t happen in the mind alone.

Our bodies hold these incredible, sensational (literally!) stories that words can’t reach. The heart rate that spikes in a calm conversation. The shoulders that tense at a tone of voice. The stomach that knots when nothing seems “wrong.”

These are all ways the body communicates what hasn’t yet been processed.

Somatic work helps us listen to those cues… not to analyze them, but to gently complete old stress responses that have gotten stuck and on repeat, and restore a sense of safety. It’s about helping the body feel what the mind already knows.

So… how do you start?

You build capacity by doing things that help your nervous system settle… maybe following one of my somatic practice videos, walking in nature, spending time with people you feel safe with, dancing, getting lost in a hobby, or curling up with a book and a warm drink.

You can weave these small moments into your week.

And when you’re ready to work through specific patterns, triggers, or emotions, 1:1 somatic experiencing sessions can help you complete stuck survival responses, create new responses, and real, lasting change.

In this video, I share why cognitive understanding only takes us so far and how getting into the body can change everything.

Watch these videos: Why Talking About Issues Doesn’t Always Help

or this one: Somatic Practice for Overthinking

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A practice for noticing the somatics of a pattern:

1. Notice the pattern in the moment.
When you catch yourself people-pleasing, overthinking, or reacting automatically, pause and ask: What does this feel like in my body? Name the sensations: tightness, buzzing, an urge to move, heaviness, or anything else you notice.

2. Check in with your body.
Ask: What do I need right now? It could be a pause, a breath, movement, gentle self-touch, or support from someone you trust.

3. Take one small, nourishing action.
Do something that helps your nervous system feel good: a walk, a stretch, music, or curling up with a warm drink (it’s cold here y’all!). The tiny shifts matter.

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Reflect: What’s one pattern you understand but still find yourself doing anyway?

Why talking doesn’t always help