Somatic trauma therapy is a therapeutic approach that focuses on the connection between the mind and body that can address trauma and its effects. Unlike traditional talk therapy, somatic therapy emphasises the physical sensations in the body as a way to process and heal from traumatic experiences.
Everyone experiences life differently and due to the survival instincts embedded into us all we can store trauma. When our bodies have been subjected to unsafe situations in the past, been unable to close the cycle needed for fight or flight, this can lead to trauma residing in the body. This is why we have triggers, If your felt sense or something in your environment reminding your body of the unsafe situation, hense the trigger effect. Your body is always trying to protect you and keep you safe, This is why it stores this information, for survival, even if we don’t need it in the now. Somatic Trauma therapy is not about releasing trauma but letting your body know it is in the past, leading to nervous system regulation.
A Somatic Therapist is trained to guide you safely through these triggers and close the cycle your body needs to let it know it is now safe to enter ‘rest and digest’
By connecting with your physical experiences, you can work through these emotions and begin to move on and heal. This approach helps you feel more grounded, regain a sense of control, and reconnect with your body, ultimately guiding you toward greater well-being and peace.
STT can treat:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) & CPTSD
Anxiety and Panic Disorders
Depression
Chronic Pain
Emotional Regulation
Body Autonomy
Relationship Challenges
Stress-Related Conditions
Somatic therapy can also enrich your life and improve ;
Body Awareness: Clients are guided to become more aware of their bodily sensations and movements. This awareness helps them understand how trauma is stored in the body.
Mind-Body Connection: The therapy aims to integrate the mind and body, recognizing that traumatic experiences affect both. This holistic approach helps in addressing the psychological and physiological aspects of trauma and day to day emotions.
By addressing trauma through the body, somatic therapy can help individuals achieve a deeper level of healing and recovery.
Every Somatic Trauma Therapy session is different because everyone experiences and processes trauma in their own way. Some sessions might involve talking, gentle movement, or working with objects, while others could include expressive tools like drawing. The goal is always to support your body’s natural way of processing and integrating experiences in a way that feels safe for you. I never take you to a place of “too much” – the work is about gently easing the body into understanding that the trauma is in the past, not the present
What is Somatic Therapy?
A bit about your therapist…
Nikki @learntolivesomatically is a Somatic Trauma therapist, myofascial release therapist and holistic massage therapist. Trauma informed. She has been studying Somatic work for 8 years in Edinburgh. She trained under the Holistic school of therapy in Edinburgh that is run by an Educator who has been a Trauma practitioner for over 30 years. NIkki continues to educate herself in the way she practices and has learnt through extensive reading on the subjects of inclusion, decolonisation and colonialism in the therapeutic world. She hopes to bring and individual and personal experience to her therapy and as much as she treats everybody as their own person she understands the political climate in which our bodies live and how it has an effect on our experiences. She continues to expand her practice by holding community workshops and reconnecting to nature and each other as humans is at the forefront of her practice.
Nikki spent 25 years as a hairstylist, working one-on-one with clients and focusing on mental health in salon spaces. Being a listening ear, like so many in the service industry, gave her a deep understanding of people and a growing awareness of how emotions show up in the body.
Through this work, she realised how vital it is to have someone you feel safe with when opening up. But she also felt there was something missing, the knowledge to truly hold space for people and guide them in the right direction. This led her to Somatic Therapy and sparked a deep curiosity about how the body works.
What started as personal development through Holistic Massage and Somatic Trauma Therapy training turned into something bigger. After eight years of studying somatic work, she made the decision to practice as a therapist.
Believing that therapy should be accessible to everyone, she offers limited ‘pay as you can’ spaces for workshops and sessions.
Certifications & Qualifications
Somatic Trauma Therapy Certification, School of Holistic Therapy Edinburgh by Simonetta Logan. Trauma Informed. FHT Accredited 2023-2024
Myofacial Release Therapy for Trauma Certification, School of Holistic Therapy Edinburgh by Simonetta Logan. FHT Accredited 2024
Holistic Massage with Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology Level 4, School of Holistic Therapy Edinburgh by Simonetta Logan. MTI Accredited 2023-2024
Dry Cupping for Myofascial Release. Core Training LTD. STO & FHT Accredited 2025
Mental health First Aid Certification. St Andrews First Aid & supllies LTD. 2022