How Somatic Therapy Supports Kansas City’s Wellness Community
There is a growing holistic scene in KC that I have been obsessed with for a long time (which makes sense why I chose to pursue somatic work at my practice). Whether it is yoga, mindfulness, chiropractic care, physical therapy, or acupuncture, Kansas City is ripe for the picking when it comes to getting your wellness on.
Let’s talk about how somatic therapy perfectly complements the work these other professionals are doing!
What Is Somatic Therapy, and How Is It Different?
Understanding Somatic Experiencing for Trauma Healing
I utilize a somatic intervention called Somatic Experiencing, which is a long-studied therapeutic modality created by Peter Levine. It utilizes the tracking of the nervous system to help heal trauma. Somatic Experiencing focuses on keeping the intensity manageable while helping the person to expand their tolerance for discomfort. It emphasizes the importance of completing self-protective responses which are essential for treating trauma and reducing symptoms.
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How Somatic Therapy Differs from Talk Therapy
Somatic therapy focuses on sensation, movement, and body memory. Talk therapy has more of an emphasis on coping skills, emotional regulation, thought reframing, and so on. (This is not to say that those modalities don’t work, but that somatic therapy feels a lot different.)
The Role of EMDR and Intuitive Eating in Somatic Work
I also like to include EMDR and Intuitive Eating in with somatic therapy and wellness offerings in Kansas City because they all overlap – they aim for healthfulness and involve the body. Let’s not forget them!
Where Somatic Therapy Intersects with Kansas City’s Holistic Offerings
Here are how some of these local spots can enhance the therapeutic work for clients who are in somatic therapy:
Yoga and Meditation Studios That Support Somatic Work
Yoga helps clients to practice slowing down and be mindful
Yoga encourages body awareness, and can actually help clients develop a deeper understanding of themselves while somatic therapy can help deepen the relationship with nervous system responses
Meditation helps build the “noticing muscle” in the brain which increases the efficacy and efficiency of somatic work
Kansas City Studios That Align with Somatic Principles
Physical Therapy for Trauma Recovery and Nervous System Support
Why Collaboration Between Therapists and PTs Matters
I am often referring my clients to physical therapists because trauma and chronic stress live in the body. If a client of mine is experiencing chronic bracing patterns due to hypervigilance, then they might experience pelvic floor dysfunction, back pain, and neck or jaw pain. If a person has experienced sexual assault, I would expect them to also have similar issues. If a person has been in a serious accident, then they might also need physical therapy for recovery. This is why it is important for all therapists at Embodied Healing to know different physical therapists in Kansas City, so that collaboration can happen and therapy outcomes can be improved.
Trusted Physical Therapy Providers in Kansas City:
It is important to make sure your therapist understands your trauma so that you are working within a range that is tolerable to you. This is why collaboration between therapists is so helpful!
Massage, Chiropractic, and Trauma-Informed Bodywork
There are some bodyworkers who are also trained in Somatic Experiencing (aka treating trauma using the body as a guide) which is an incredible way to go if you already have a therapist and need extra support.
Understanding How the Body Stores Trauma
You have probably read the book or heard of it, but “The Body Keeps the Score” is a great text for understanding just how the body holds on to trauma and how it can present somatically.
Therefore, it can be helpful for some of my clients to utilize different bodyworkers as we start in therapy and understand how they might assist in their healing process. I would usually refer a client to one of these professionals if there is chronic tension in the body that is becoming painful. At times, clients don’t have much sensation in one or more locations of their body, and when we start bringing more awareness to that space, they notice how “off” it feels. This is a great time for bodywork!
Local Bodyworkers in Kansas City Who Complement Somatic Therapy:
Functional Medicine, Nutrition, and Intuitive Eating
Tuning Into the Body’s Nutritional Needs with Awareness
Somatic therapy and Intuitive Eating can help clients to become more aware of how they can nourish themselves in a more meaningfulway. As clients become more in tune with their bodies, they can start to have a new awareness of their fullness and hunger cues, their stress eating patterns, and so on. With this new awareness can come a need to understand their bodies more fully from a nutritional standpoint, which is why it can be helpful to seek assistance from professionals in this field.
Recommended Holistic Nutrition and Functional Medicine in Kansas City
Why Kansas Citians Benefit from Nervous System-Focused Care
Navigating Urban Stressors Through Somatic Tools
Kansas City is unique in that it is a city surrounded by rural areas. Oftentimes, for people who move from rural to urban areas, this can be overstimulating and overwhelming, which causes nervous system dysfunction.
Whether it is heavy traffic patterns, trying to stay up-to-date with the latest coffee shops and restaurants, or dating in a big city, nervous system regulation is key to surviving it all.
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How Somatic Therapy Helps Kansas City Clients Feel Grounded
This is why somatic therapy, coupled with other modalities, can help Kansas Citians feel less anxious and more grounded as they move through the hustle and bustle of the city.
City life = hustle, traffic, overstimulation.
Many clients feel burned out, disconnected, or anxious—somatic therapy helps regulate and reset.
Share anonymous examples (if appropriate) of client transformations.
How to Begin Somatic Therapy in Kansas City
No prior experience with meditation, mindfulness, yoga or breathwork is necessary before starting your somatic therapy journey. Embodied Healing’s mission is to help people gain awareness of their body’s sensations and their nervous system’s cues real time in session, making this work extremely accessible for anyone.
If you’re nervous about taking the first step, that is normal! Send an email to anybody on the Embodied Healing team and we are happy to answer any questions in order to put your worries at ease. We are here to comfort, guide, and encourage growth.
Happy healing!
Frequently Asked Questions About Somatic Therapy in Kansas City
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Somatic therapy helps clients heal trauma by focusing on nervous system regulation, body sensation, and completing self-protective responses in a safe, supported way.
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While talk therapy focuses on thoughts and coping strategies, somatic therapy works with the body’s physical response to trauma, helping clients access deeper emotional healing.
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Embodied Healing offers somatic therapy in Kansas City, alongside other trauma-informed modalities like EMDR and Intuitive Eating to support whole-person healing.
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Yes. Somatic therapy complements practices like yoga, physical therapy, and chiropractic care by increasing body awareness and supporting long-term nervous system balance.
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Not at all. No prior experience is necessary. Your therapist will guide you in tuning into your body at a pace that feels safe and supportive.
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Your first session involves gentle conversation, education about your nervous system, and simple body awareness exercises to help you feel grounded and empowered.
Stevie Olson-Spiegel is a Licensed Therapist and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner located in Kansas City. She uses Somatic Experiencing as her main body-based trauma healing modality, as well as EMDR. As an Intuitive Eating Counselor, she uses these principles to help her clients challenge their relationship with their cultural misconceptions about their body and food.
