Somatic Psychotherapy blends ideas and techniques used in traditional therapy with body based therapeutic techniques that help the client develop an ability to observe and track body sensations and to notice how these sensations affect emotional states and psychological symptoms.

The unconscious nervous system plays an active role in producing the troublesome symptoms, such as panic attacks, or posttraumatic stress disorder, which cause clients to seek psychotherapy. The nervous system becomes dysregulated due to stress, trauma, unstable family relationships or other experiences perceived by the brain as overwhelming.

Clients are taught to use their awareness of sensation to reverse these negative changes in the nervous system. This technique can lead to improved self regulation, reduction of symptoms and a sense of confidence in their ability to manage their symptoms. Somatic psychotherapy is usually more effective than talking therapy in treating mental health problems that have strong unconscious nervous system involvement.