I know you have heard it before: “Trauma lives in the body!” People are talking about it on talk-shows, at dinner parties, on the train. But what does this mean? Most people think of trauma as simply “bad memories” of something that happened to them in the past that come up when triggered; memories, flashbacks, anxiety. While this is true, it’s only part of the story. Trauma is stored in the body, and the body remembers.
That’s why talk therapy alone sometimes isn’t enough. You might understand your story perfectly, accept rationally that what happened to your wasn’t your fault, but you may still feel stuck in patterns and beliefs you can’t break free from.
In my work as a trauma therapist in New York City, I help people reconnect to their bodies, not to relive the pain, but to finally release it.
THE SCIENCE: Your Nervous System Never Forgot
Trauma isn’t just “remembered,” it can shift how we feel in our bodies.
When something overwhelming happens and the body can’t process it in the moment, the nervous system may lock into survival mode:
Hyperarousal (fight or flight)
Shut down (freeze or dissociation)
Or oscillating between both
You may feel this as:
Chronic tension in your jaw, neck, or shoulders
Digestive issues or gut distress
Overreactions to small stressors
Emotional numbness or disconnection
Your bodies can lock into these nervous system states because it believes its keeping you safe. Being on edge may make a part of you believe you will be prepared to respond if another danger presents itself.
HOW HEALING HAPPENS:
The good news is, healing doesn’t require you to relive your trauma. It does require you to bring the body into the healing process.
In my practice, I integrate:
Somatic therapy to listen to your body’s signals
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to gently reprocess memories and sensations
Breathwork, grounding tools, and HRV biofeedback to rewire your nervous system over time and practice what it feels like to feel safe, grounded and connected.
Attunement is key. We follow the body’s pace and gently reestablish a sense of safety.
WHAT YOU CAN TRY TODAY:
Start simple:
Notice where you hold tension in your body right now.
Place your hand on that area and breathe into it.
Whisper to it: “In this moment, I allow myself to feel safe.”
Habits become ways of being. Let’s start a habit of safety in the body.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO IT ALONE:
If you’ve tried to think your way out of trauma, and it hasn’t worked it’s not your fault.
Let’s try something different.
Based in NYC or open to virtual work?
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You’re not broken.
Your body is wise.
Its sensations are a roadmap.
And healing is possible.