Have you ever wondered why certain emotions seem to get "stuck" in your body? Why your shoulders tense when you're stressed, or why trauma can lead to physical pain years after the event?
The answer lies in something somatic therapists have understood for decades: our bodies hold our stories.
Today at Red Beard Somatic Therapy, we're taking you on a journey through the fascinating evolution of somatic therapy—from its early revolutionary beginnings to the integrated, trauma-informed approaches we practice today.
The seeds of somatic therapy were planted when psychiatrist Wilhelm Reich, a student of Sigmund Freud, made a groundbreaking observation: emotions don't just live in our thoughts—they physically manifest in our bodies.
Reich introduced the concept of "body armoring"—the idea that suppressed emotions create chronic muscular tension that forms a literal "armor" in the body. This armor, he noticed, could block energy flow and create physical and emotional distress.
This was revolutionary at a time when most therapy focused exclusively on the mind and largely ignored the body's role in emotional healing.
Building on Reich's work, Alexander Lowen developed Bioenergetic Analysis, which established clear connections between physical posture and emotional states.
Lowen observed that our bodies tell the truth about our emotional lives—even when our words don't. A person might verbally deny feeling angry while their clenched jaw, tight fists, or rigid shoulders tell a different story.
Bioenergetic Analysis introduced physical exercises designed to release chronic muscular tension, allowing trapped emotions to surface and be processed. Many of these early techniques—like deep breathing, physical expression, and tension release—remain foundational to modern somatic practices.
In the 1970s, Peter Levine made an observation that would transform trauma treatment forever: animals in the wild, despite regularly facing life-threatening situations, rarely develop trauma symptoms.
Levine noticed that animals naturally complete stress responses through physical mechanisms—shaking, trembling, and movement—effectively discharging the energy of the threat response. Humans, with our complex brains, often interrupt this natural process, trapping survival energy in our bodies.
This insight would eventually lead to the development of Somatic Experiencing®, marking a pivotal moment in understanding trauma as a physiological, not just psychological, experience.
Through the 1970s and into the 1980s, Peter Levine formally developed Somatic Experiencing®—a body-oriented approach to healing trauma that focuses on completing interrupted survival responses.
Rather than asking clients to relive traumatic memories through talk therapy (which can be retraumatizing), SE practitioners guide clients to notice and follow physical sensations in a safe, supportive environment.
This approach was radical because it:
In the 1980s, body psychotherapist Pat Ogden began developing what would later become Sensorimotor Psychotherapy—integrating traditional talk therapy with somatic approaches.
Ogden's work was particularly influential for addressing developmental trauma and attachment issues, helping clients recognize how early childhood experiences shaped both their emotional responses and physical patterns.
During this period, research increasingly supported a critical insight: trauma isn't just stored in cognitive memory (what we consciously remember), but in procedural or body memory (how our bodies learned to respond).
This explained why talk therapy alone often couldn't reach the deepest impacts of trauma—the body was literally holding experiences that words couldn't access.
The 1990s brought Stephen Porges' groundbreaking Polyvagal Theory, which revolutionized our understanding of the nervous system's role in trauma, safety, and connection.
Porges identified how the vagus nerve—the body's longest cranial nerve—plays a crucial role in regulating our physiological states, influencing everything from heart rate to digestion to social engagement.
This theory helped explain why trauma survivors might experience chronic fight-or-flight responses or shut down in certain situations, providing a physiological framework for what practitioners had observed clinically for years.
Psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk's work during this period (later published in his bestselling book) emphasized how trauma physically alters both brain and body functioning.
His research validated what somatic practitioners already knew: trauma symptoms weren't psychological weaknesses or failures of willpower, but physiological adaptations to overwhelming experiences.
In the 1990s, trauma specialist David Berceli developed Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE®)—a series of exercises that evoke neurogenic tremors (the body's natural shaking mechanism) to release deep tension patterns.
TRE® was revolutionary because:
The 2000s and 2010s saw somatic approaches gain mainstream recognition. Polyvagal theory, Somatic Experiencing®, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and trauma-informed yoga began appearing in conventional therapeutic settings.
Mind-body practices once considered "alternative" were increasingly validated by research showing their effectiveness for trauma, anxiety, depression, and chronic stress.
Jon Kabat-Zinn's work on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction highlighted the importance of body awareness in mental health, creating another bridge between traditional psychology and somatic approaches.
Research demonstrated how mindfulness practices physically change the brain, improving emotional regulation and reducing stress responses.
During this period, the field expanded its understanding of trauma beyond single, overwhelming events (like accidents or assaults) to include:
This broader definition recognized that many people carry trauma responses without having experienced a single identifiable "traumatic event."
In the current decade, we're seeing somatic approaches integrated across multiple disciplines:
This integration recognizes that effective healing often requires addressing both mind and body simultaneously.
One of the most exciting developments is the democratization of nervous system knowledge. People are learning about:
This education empowers individuals to understand their responses and develop their own healing practices.
Research increasingly links trauma and chronic stress to physical health conditions, including:
This connection, long recognized in somatic practice, is finally gaining scientific validation, highlighting the importance of addressing trauma for physical as well as emotional wellbeing.
Today's somatic therapy increasingly recognizes how cultural and social factors impact our bodies. Practitioners like Resmaa Menakem are exploring how racialized trauma is carried in the body, expanding somatic work to address collective and cultural dimensions of healing.
The rich history of somatic therapy has led to where we are today—with more effective, accessible, and comprehensive tools for healing than ever before.
At Red Beard Somatic Therapy, we draw from this full spectrum of approaches, including Somatic Experiencing®, TRE®, and other modalities to create personalized healing experiences for our clients.
Whether you're:
Somatic therapy offers pathways to healing that address the whole person—not just your thoughts, but the wisdom and stories held in your body.
Your body has an innate capacity for healing. Our job is simply to create the conditions that allow that natural healing to emerge.
Book a free 20-minute consultation to learn how somatic therapy might support your unique healing journey.
For those interested in learning TRE® in a supportive online environment, we recommend exploring the classes offered by Neurogenic Integration, our sister organization at https://neurogenic-integration.com/webshop/#classes. These accessible online programs complement our in-person work and provide ongoing community support for your practice.
This blog post is part of our educational series on somatic therapy and nervous system regulation. Subscribe to our newsletter for more insights, practical tips, and updates on upcoming workshops and events.
Book a Free consult here
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
).png)
).png)
).png)
).png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
thumbnail.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
%20-%20Kopie.jpg)
