Therapy for Chronic Pain
Somatic Experiencing (SE), a specialized form of somatic therapy, can be truly transformational for those living with chronic pain. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, SE works with the body’s internal responses and the nervous system as a whole. It targets the deep connection between mind and body—recognizing that how we think, feel, and relate to pain can significantly influence how we experience it.
Pain is processed in the brain, not just in the body
Chronic pain isn’t always a sign of ongoing tissue damage—it’s often the result of the nervous system getting stuck in a loop of pain signals, even after the original injury or illness has healed. Therapy helps interrupt this loop. It works by calming the brain’s pain-prediction systems, reducing fear, and changing thought patterns that amplify the pain. That doesn’t mean your pain isn’t real—it means the brain can amplify or ease your experience of it.
Somatic therapy can help regulate the nervous system
Chronic pain often comes with chronic stress: tension, shallow breathing, restlessness, or shutdown. Approaches like somatic therapy and mindfulness-based practices help bring your body back into states of calm and safety. When your nervous system feels safe, pain signals often soften, inflammation reduces, and muscles begin to relax.
For many, chronic pain has emotional or trauma roots
Whether it's past physical trauma, emotional neglect, or the ongoing emotional toll of living with pain, trauma informed somatic work gently explores the deeper emotional layers. Sometimes, pain is the body’s way of expressing something unspoken. When those inner parts are seen and supported, the body can release what it’s been holding.