Somatic Therapy in Ireland
Integrative Somatic Therapy & Somatic Healing in Ireland
Somatic therapy supports those carrying stress, anxiety, emotional overwhelm, or the lingering imprints of difficult life experiences. By working with the body as well as the mind, somatic healing creates space for nervous system regulation, emotional release, and a return to balance — gently, and at a pace your body can trust.
What is Integrative Somatic Therapy?
Integrative Somatic Therapy is a body-based approach to emotional and psychological wellbeing. It recognises that life experiences, stress, and unexpressed emotions don’t only live in the mind — they’re held in the body, often surfacing as tension, fatigue, anxiety, or a quiet sense of disconnection from yourself.
Rather than relying on talk alone, somatic therapy works with the body’s own intelligence. Sessions draw on breathwork, mindful movement, grounding practices, guided visualisation, and somatic awareness to help release what has been held and restore a sense of inner balance.
This is not about revisiting the past in detail. It’s about being present with what your body is carrying now — and creating a safe, supportive space for that to soften, integrate, and shift over time.
Key Aspects Of Integrative Somatic Therapy:
Somatic therapy can support people working with trauma, anxiety, depression, chronic stress, and somatic symptom patterns. By working with the mind–body connection, it helps release stored tension, regulate the nervous system, and restore emotional and physical balance.
- Embodied awareness — connecting with the body’s sensations to allow the gentle release of stored emotion, tension, and stress.
- Mind–body integration — emotional experiences and past challenges live in the body. Working with breath, movement, and awareness helps restore equilibrium.
- Holistic, integrative practice — drawing on breathwork, guided meditation, somatic awareness, and gentle movement to support emotional and physical wellbeing.
- Trauma-informed support — recognising that past experiences are stored in the body, gentle techniques help process them without re-triggering distress.
- Body-centred techniques — sessions may include grounding exercises, mindful movement, and somatic inquiry to deepen self-awareness and healing.
Benefits Of Somatic Therapy:
- Emotional regulation — supports the gentle release of held emotion and a steadier emotional baseline.
- Physical relaxation — reduces tension, discomfort, and stress-related symptoms by working with the body’s natural rhythms.
- Greater body awareness — helps you recognise the patterns your body has been holding, and meet them with curiosity rather than avoidance.
- Nervous system resilience — strengthens the nervous system’s capacity to regulate, making stress and emotional challenges easier to navigate.
- Self-discovery and growth — fosters self-awareness and supports the slow work of moving through long-held patterns.
How Does Integrative Somatic Therapy Work?
Integrative Somatic Therapy is a body-based approach that helps you reconnect with the body’s wisdom to support emotional and physical healing. Sessions draw on a range of techniques, integrated to suit what you bring on the day:
- Breathwork — to regulate the nervous system and release held tension.
- Mindfulness and body awareness — to encourage presence and a deeper sense of self-connection.
- Gentle movement and somatic exercises — to support the release of emotional patterns held physically.
- Grounding techniques — to stabilise emotions and build a felt sense of safety in the body.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, which works primarily through verbal processing, Integrative Somatic Therapy engages both body and mind — allowing healing to happen at the level where it’s actually being held.
What to Expect in a Somatic Therapy Session?
What to Expect in a Session?
Each session is uniquely tailored to your needs and focuses on nervous system regulation, emotional release, and deepening self-awareness.
During a session, you may experience:
✔ Guided grounding exercises to establish safety and presence
✔ Somatic awareness techniques to explore physical sensations and the emotions held with them
✔ Breathwork and gentle movement to support relaxation and release
✔ Body scan exercises to develop awareness of where tension is held
✔ Visualisation work to access deeper patterns and support emotional integration
✔ Intention setting to align the session with what you’re working through
✔ Time for integration to reflect on what arose and let it settle
Sessions are held in a safe, trauma-informed space designed to help you feel at ease. The work is slow, relational, and led by your nervous system’s pace — not by a fixed agenda.
Who is Somatic Therapy For?
Somatic therapy can support anyone seeking deeper emotional integration, nervous system regulation, or a stronger relationship with their body. It’s particularly helpful for people working with:
Chronic stress and burnout — supporting the nervous system to settle and recover.
Past trauma and emotional residue — helping process what has been stored in the body.
Anxiety and nervous system dysregulation — building grounding, safety, and felt-sense regulation.
Physical tension related to emotional stress — addressing the body’s role in holding patterns.
Self-discovery and personal growth — deepening self-awareness and inner connection.
Whether you’re working through past experiences, managing anxiety, or simply wanting to live more fully in your body, somatic therapy offers a holistic, supportive path.
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FAQs About Somatic Therapy
How is Integrative Somatic Therapy different from traditional counselling?
Traditional talk therapy works primarily through verbal processing. Somatic therapy works with body, breath, and nervous system alongside the conversation — helping you process emotion at the level where it’s actually held, which is often beneath language.
Can Integrative Somatic Therapy help with trauma?
Yes. Somatic therapy is trauma-informed and supports gentle integration of past experiences without re-triggering distress. It’s particularly useful for people who have done a lot of cognitive work but still feel something unresolved in the body.
Do I need prior experience with mindfulness or bodywork?
No. The process is gentle, intuitive, and led at your pace. No prior practice is needed.
Can this therapy be done online?
Yes. Sessions are available in person in Dublin, Naas, and Newbridge, or online worldwide. Online sessions are surprisingly effective — the work happens through awareness, not proximity.
How many sessions will I need?
This varies. Some people come for a few sessions to work with something specific; others continue over months for deeper integration. We’ll talk about what’s right for you in the first session.
Where are sessions held?
In-person sessions are held at Oscailt (Dublin 4), the Dublin Wellbeing Centre (Dublin 2), Naas Holistic Centre, and Balanced Bodies in Newbridge. Online sessions are available worldwide.
Somatic Experiencing vs. Integrative Somatic Therapy
Both Somatic Experiencing® (SE) and Integrative Somatic Therapy (IST) work with the mind–body connection and the role of the nervous system in healing. They differ in scope and emphasis:
| Aspect | Somatic Experiencing (SE)® | Integrative Somatic Therapy |
|---|---|---|
| Developed By | Dr. Peter Levine | A holistic, multi-modal approach |
| Main Focus | Trauma resolution and nervous system regulation | Emotional healing, self-awareness, and energetic balance |
| Methodology | Uses titration, pendulation, and tracking body responses to trauma | Combines breathwork, movement, meditation, and mindful awareness |
| Trauma-Informed? | Yes, primarily designed for trauma therapy | Yes — and also supports emotional integration, self-awareness, and somatic balance |
| Techniques Used | Somatic tracking, nervous system regulation | Breathwork, guided meditation, mindful touch, grounding exercises |
| Best For | PTSD, trauma recovery, nervous system dysregulation | Emotional release, stress resilience, body-mind integration |
Somatic Experiencing is a structured, trauma-focused method developed by Dr Peter Levine. Integrative Somatic Therapy is broader and more flexible — drawing on breath, movement, mindfulness, and somatic inquiry to support emotional integration and personal growth alongside trauma work.
If you’d like to explore whether somatic therapy is right for you, please get in touch.
Somatic Experiencing vs. Integrative Somatic Therapy
Both Somatic Experiencing (SE)® and Integrative Somatic Therapy (IST) focus on the mind-body connection but differ in their approach:
1️⃣ Developed By
- Somatic Experiencing (SE)® – Created by Dr. Peter Levine, focused on trauma recovery.
- Integrative Somatic Therapy (IST) – A holistic, multi-modal approach combining various somatic techniques.
2️⃣ Main Focus
- SE – Resolving trauma and regulating the nervous system.
- IST – Emotional healing, self-awareness, and energetic balance.
3️⃣ Methodology
- SE – Uses titration, pendulation, and tracking body responses to trauma.
- IST – Integrates breathwork, movement, meditation, and mindful awareness.
4️⃣ Trauma-Informed?
- SE – Primarily designed for trauma therapy.
- IST – Trauma-informed but also focuses on emotional, spiritual, and energetic well-being.
5️⃣ Techniques Used
- SE – Somatic tracking, nervous system regulation.
- IST – Breathwork, guided meditation, mindful touch, grounding exercises.
6️⃣ Best For
- SE – PTSD, trauma recovery, nervous system dysregulation.
- IST – Emotional release, stress resilience, body-mind integration.
While Somatic Experiencing is a structured trauma-focused method, Integrative Somatic Therapy offers a holistic, flexible approach incorporating breath, movement, and mindfulness for emotional healing and personal growth.
The Integrative Somatic Therapy service offered on this site is a holistic practice accredited by the International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine (IPHM). It is intended to support emotional well-being, stress relief, and self-awareness through body-based techniques such as breathwork, movement, and mindfulness.. This service is not accredited by the IACP or any other official psychotherapy or counselling regulatory body. It is not a substitute for medical treatment, psychiatric care, or certified professional therapy. If you require mental health support, please consult a licensed therapist, psychologist, or healthcare professional
Have Queries Before The Appointment?
Let’s Talk
Phone: +353 833569588
Email: info@somatictherapyireland.com
My Timings
Mon – Fri: (9 am to 6 pm)
Sat: (10 am to 5 pm)
Sunday: (Closed)
Visiting here?
Dublin, Naas, Newbridge
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Free Somatic Meditations & Practices
Access guided meditations and body-based healing practices on my YouTube channel—designed to help you release stress, reconnect with your body, and nurture emotional well-being.
