I’ll start this blog with one sentence – I love talking. After all, being a content writer and psychotherapist, I’ve made a career out of it. I’ve spent years explaining concepts, mental processes, disorders, psyche dynamics, and whatnot. And, I’ve been listening that whole time too – clients talking about their lives, their relationships, their parents (oh, the parents), their bosses, their existential crises, and their
And, don’t get me wrong – talk therapy is a game changer… Well, a life changer. I’ve seen it time and time again. It’s incredibly effective – there’s nothing as powerful and empowering as telling your own story, feeling unconditionally heard, seen, and understood. But here’s the thing – human beings are more than just their thoughts. We’re not just brains on sticks walking around. We’ve got these incredible, complex, sometimes even annoying, but absolutely powerful bodies. They carry our history, our sadness and laughter, all those unnamed emotions, all that stress, trauma, worry, and everything in between. And yes, talking about it helps, but if you’re ignoring the body in therapy, you’re missing half the picture.
Attaching The Mind To The Body
Do you ever get those butterflies in your stomach before a big presentation? Feel your heart race before a stressful conversation? That’s your body’s way of saying, “Hey, I’m picking up on something!” Our body and mind are in constant communication, but most of us aren’t really listening.
The truth is, your body knows more than you think it does. It’s storing your emotions, stress, and your old memories (even those you’ve buried deep down). When you’re sitting in therapy and unloading all the messy stuff from your life, your body is reacting. You might not even notice it, but your muscles tense, your breathing gets shallow, or your shoulders start creeping up to your ears, shrinking you into safety. These are physical signs that your mind is dealing with some heavy stuff. By tapping into the body’s wisdom, you can do more than just talk about your issues—you can feel them, process them, and let go of them.
And these things aren’t new, by the way. Eastern traditions have been saying this for a few thousand years. “Hey, Western world! Your mind and body are not separate entities!” But we were too busy inventing golf carts and waterproof mascara to notice. It’s exactly like Dr. Bessel van der Kolk said: the body keeps the score. (Shoutout to him, his book has become the unofficial bible of the trauma-informed world.)
So what does this mean in practice? It means therapy is getting an upgrade – instead of going deeper, it’s going back to the surface – the body. And, let me tell you – it’s looking good.
Feel It To Heal It – Somatic Therapy
I can almost hear you thinking, “Okay, great, so now I have to do yoga in therapy too? Would my therapist make me run a marathon next?” Well, kind of, but not exactly. The mind-body approach to therapy is all about integrating the physical with the emotional and mental.
“Somatic” just means “of the body.” In somatic therapy, we tune into bodily sensations to access and release stored emotions. That tight chest? That fluttery stomach? That urge to run out of the room when someone says, “We need to talk”? All that is your body reacting to the present moment, giving hints of how you feel, even when you’re not aware of how you feel.
Breath – I Am Present
Breathwork is like the unsung hero of mental health. We do it automatically, unaware that there’s so much power in conscious breathing. When you slow down your breath, you lower your heart rate, stress, and that brain part that signals – everything is okay. Ever heard of “breathing through a panic attack”? It’s not just some New Age fluff. It works because it sends a direct message to your brain: “Hey, we’re cool. We can handle this.”
And there are all kinds of breath techniques now—some that energize, some that calm, and some that make you feel like you’ve gone on a psychedelic trip without the mushrooms. (Legal and side-effect free, what a concept.)
Movement – I Am Alive
Look, I love words, but some things are beyond them. Trauma, for example, often lives in a wordless part of the brain. There rarely are words that can explain those experiences. There never are words that can make them go away. That’s why movement—whether it’s yoga, dance, or just shaking it off like a wet
Movement brings awareness to the body, helps you tangibly connect to it, thus connecting to your emotions, and ultimately – releases all that pent-up stress. Mindful movement reconnects us to our strength, agency, and presence.
Grounding – I Persevere
Ever had one of those moments where you’re spiraling, your thoughts adding fuel to the inertia, and all you want to do is scream, “SHUT UP AND LET ME THINK STRAIGHT!” (No? Just me? Okay then…)
That’s where grounding exercises come in, pushing the brakes with full force. When we focus on our physical body sensations, whether our feet on the ground or the texture of a trinket in our hand, we are bringing ourselves back into the present moment. And it’s much easier to choose something else when you are grounded into the present.
Wrapping It Up With A Bow On Top
Here’s the thing: When you integrate your body with your mind, you’re essentially syncing up the whole system. Healing isn’t just an intellectual exercise – you can’t think your way out of trauma, anxiety, or depression. You have to feel your way through it. And that means bringing the body into the conversation. It means creating a holistic approach that helps you feel your emotions, process them, and ultimately release them.
This doesn’t mean talking is obsolete. Not at all. I still love a good deep dive into childhood dynamics or a spicy existential dilemma. But, I also ask: Where do you feel that in your body? Can you stay with it? What does your body say? Let yourself feel it completely. Could you breathe your way out of it now?
Real healing happens when we stop thinking our way to peace and start embodying it.
