Somatic Therapy
Somatic Therapy in Salt Lake City
You’re not broken — you’re stuck in survival mode.
When you’ve been carrying anxiety, trauma, or chronic stress for years, it can start to feel like something’s wrong with you. Maybe your mind won’t shut off, your body is always tense, or you shut down when things get overwhelming.
This isn’t your fault — it’s your nervous system trying to protect you.
At Salty Counseling, I help high-achieving women and LGBTQ+ professionals heal from the inside out using somatic therapy. Through a combination of Polyvagal Theory, EMDR, and body-based approaches, we’ll work together to calm your nervous system, release stored trauma, and help you feel more grounded, connected, and safe — not just in your mind, but in your body.
You deserve more than just pushing through.
You deserve to feel at home in your body.
You Are Not Alone—and You’re Not Broken
If you’ve struggled to “think your way out” of anxiety or emotional patterns, you’re not alone. For many people, trauma and chronic stress live not just in the mind but also in the body.
According to research, nearly 70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced at least one traumatic event. Experiences like:
Childhood neglect or abuse
Car accidents or medical trauma
Loss of a loved one
Physical or sexual assault
Growing up in chaotic or emotionally unsafe environments
…can leave lasting imprints on the nervous system. Even after the danger has passed, your body may stay stuck in “fight, flight, or freeze,” making it hard to feel safe, connected, and present.
But these patterns aren’t permanent. With the right support, you can retrain your nervous system, release what’s been held in your body, and move toward emotional balance and resilience.
What’s somatic therapy, really?
Somatic therapy helps you learn how to regulate your nervous system by working with the body — not just talking about your stress. That might mean noticing tension, breath, or emotion in a new way, so you can shift out of survival mode and feel more grounded, calm, and connected.
Signs You May Benefit From Somatic Therapy
Trauma and stress can show up in subtle ways. You may benefit from somatic therapy if you’ve noticed:
Feeling tense, on edge, or hyperaware of your surroundings
Emotional numbness or difficulty feeling joy
Trouble sleeping or frequent nightmares
Physical symptoms like headaches, stomach pain, or chronic fatigue
Overreacting to small stressors or shutting down emotionally
Feeling disconnected from your body or “watching life from the outside”
Avoiding certain people, places, or memories
Difficulty trusting others or maintaining close relationships
Turning to overworking, people-pleasing, or substances to cope
These responses are your body’s way of protecting you. But they don’t have to define your life.
Benefits of Somatic Therapy for High-Achievers
If you’re a high-achieving woman or LGBTQ+ professional, you’re used to pushing through stress and performing under pressure. But this constant state of “doing” can take a toll on your nervous system. Somatic therapy helps you:
Break free from overthinking and self-criticism by calming the body first.
Release perfectionist patterns that keep you stuck in fight-or-flight.
Reconnect with your body’s cues so you can honor your needs instead of overriding them.
Build resilience for burnout recovery and prevent future cycles of exhaustion.
Feel more present and grounded in your work, relationships, and daily life.
This work isn’t about doing more—it’s about unlearning survival mode so you can move through life with clarity, ease, and confidence.
You Don’t Have to Keep White-Knuckling Your Way Through
If this list sounds familiar, your nervous system might be stuck in survival mode — and that’s something we can shift together.
I offer a free 20-minute consultation so you can ask questions, feel out the fit, and explore whether somatic therapy feels right for you.
How Somatic Therapy at Salty Counseling Helps You Heal
Somatic therapy works by reconnecting you with your body, helping you release stored tension and retrain your nervous system to move out of survival mode. At Salty Counseling, I take a holistic approach that combines Polyvagal Theory, EMDR, and body-based techniques for deep, lasting healing.
Here’s how we’ll work together:
Polyvagal-Informed Therapy: Reset Your Nervous System
Polyvagal Theory teaches us that safety and connection are essential for healing. I’ll help you understand your nervous system’s patterns and guide you in shifting from fight, flight, or freeze into a state of calm and connection.
You’ll learn tools like:
Breathwork and grounding
Gentle movement to release tension
Co-regulation practices to build emotional safety
EMDR Therapy: Reprocess Stuck Memories
If past trauma keeps triggering your nervous system, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps your brain reprocess those memories so they lose their emotional charge. This makes it easier to feel calm and present, even in situations that once felt overwhelming.
Somatic Techniques: Release Trauma From the Body
Stress and trauma are stored in the body as muscle tension, shallow breathing, or even chronic pain. Somatic practices like body scans, grounding exercises, and mindfulness help release this tension and reconnect you with your physical self.
Ego State Therapy: Heal Inner Conflict
Sometimes unprocessed trauma creates “parts” of ourselves that hold pain or self-doubt. Ego State Therapy helps you heal and integrate these parts so you can feel more whole and grounded.
This isn’t about rushing your healing. It’s about helping you feel safe, supported, and empowered every step of the way.
Understanding Your Nervous System & Trauma Response
The polyvagal theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, explains how our nervous system shifts between states in response to perceived safety or danger. The three primary states include:
Ventral Vagal (Social and Safety State): This is when we feel safe, connected, and able to engage in meaningful interactions.
Sympathetic (Fight-or-Flight State): This state activates when we perceive a threat, leading to feelings of anxiety, fear, or aggression.
Dorsal Vagal (Shutdown State): When stress is overwhelming, the body may enter a freeze response, leading to feelings of numbness, disconnection, or dissociation.
Understanding these states can help you recognize your own nervous system patterns and work toward increasing your ability to return to a state of calm and connection. Therapy can provide you with tools to regulate these responses and restore balance in your life.
Common Questions About Somatic Therapy
Will I have to relive my trauma?
No. Somatic therapy focuses on how trauma lives in the body today. You don’t need to share every detail of your past. Instead, we’ll work gently with your nervous system’s responses to help you release tension and feel safer in the present.
What if I’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t work?
Many talk therapies don’t address the body’s role in healing. By adding somatic and Polyvagal approaches, we can help your whole system—mind and body—find balance.
How long does it take to see results?
Healing is unique for everyone. Some clients notice shifts within a few sessions, while others need more time to process deeper patterns. My goal is to create sustainable change at a pace that feels right for you.
Why Work With Me for Somatic Therapy?
With over a decade of experience in trauma recovery, I specialize in helping women and LGBTQ+ clients heal at the nervous system level—not just learn coping strategies.
At Salty Counseling, you’ll find:
✔ Full-protocol EMDR delivered with fidelity
✔ A compassionate, nonjudgmental space where you set the pace
✔ Holistic mind-body healing rooted in the latest neuroscience
✔ A therapist who understands the unique needs of high-achievers and trauma survivors
You don’t have to keep living in survival mode. Let’s help your body and mind feel safe again.
Take the First Step Toward Healing
Your trauma doesn’t have to define you. With somatic therapy, you can release what’s been held in your body and step into a calmer, more connected life.
Ready to begin your healing journey?
I invite you to schedule a free 20-minute consultation. Let’s explore how somatic therapy can help you feel safe, supported, and whole again.