Trauma is a fact of life.
It does not, however, have to be a life sentence.
Peter A. Levine
Online Somatic Therapy for Trauma and Nervous System Regulation
Resistance Release offers gentle, body-based somatic therapy for trauma, anxiety, burnout and chronic stress. Sessions take place online by video anywhere in the UK, and in person around Bristol and North Somerset. There is no need to retell your story. Together we work slowly with your body's own signals so that your nervous system can settle.
Your nervous system carries the imprints of stress, unresolved emotions and past traumas, especially when your body hasn’t had an opportunity to process them.
These often re-surface as tension, anxiety, exhaustion or a persistent sense of unease. However, your nervous system is responsive and capable of change...
Somatic Therapy strengthens our connection to the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest). In simple terms, it returns the body to a place of safety and ease.
Living with trauma and toxic stress can seriously impair resilience. A common coping mechanism is suppression, but this takes a huge toll on mental and physical health and can lead to emotional numbness or instability.
Relief is found by acknowledging your pain:
You have to feel it to heal it.
At times, this can feel counter-intuitive because we're focusing our attention on something that feels uncomfortable but developing self-awareness, alongside acceptance and compassion, allows the body to process and release trauma and emotional overwhelm.
Long-held tension begins to soften and stress releases its vice like grip. We can see the triggers and not get lost in overwhelm.
How Somatic Therapy Works
Unlike talking therapies, it is not a requirement that you revisit your worst memories.
We instead utilise the deep connection that exists between physical sensations and emotional well-being.
The narrative shifts from describing how we feel e.g. 'I feel anxious', to a place of identifying the location of the sensation and what that feels like: a knot in your stomach, sharp pain in your solar plexus or tension in your neck and jaw.
Once your body has highlighted where the problems are, we simply work towards the completion of your body's natural response to a traumatic or stressful experience.
By observing these sensations, and deploying gentle targeted techniques, we can stimulate the nervous system's natural capacity for healing.
The release of the trapped energy takes many forms: shaking, crying, gentle warmth, tingling or a sense of wellbeing.
This release creates space within the nervous system, which has a profound impact on a person's daily life.
The Benefits of Somatic Therapy
Regulated Nervous System
Moving from a state of constant survival to one of safety and relaxation, allowing your body to finally rest.
Release Physical Tension
Gently identify and dissolve the physical manifestations of stress and trauma stored deep within your body.
Reclaim Vitality
Regain the energy needed to live a more vibrant, present and fulfilling life.
Does somatic therapy work online?
Yes, and it is how most of my somatic therapy clients now work with me. Somatic therapy depends on your attention to your own body, not on being in the same room, so it adapts well to video. Many people find that being at home helps: your own chair, your own blanket, a space where your body already knows the way out of the room.
I can see your face, posture and breathing on screen and hear changes in your voice, which is enough to notice when you are getting overwhelmed and to slow down or pause. No physical touch is involved in online sessions.
Read more about how online somatic therapy sessions work.
What you need for an online session
I'll suggest a private, quiet space where you won't be interrupted, a device propped at eye level so I can see you from the chest or waist up, headphones if you'd like extra privacy, and something comfortable to sit or recline on. A blanket and a glass of water within reach help. Afterwards, we leave a few minutes to settle so you don't have to jump straight back into your day.
Working slowly: why safety comes first
I trained as a Somatic Trauma and Myofascial Release Therapist with Simonetta Logan at the School of Holistic Therapy in Edinburgh. The syllabus covered the nervous system, trauma, fascia and attachment, but the core message was client safety.
Adding stress to an already overwhelmed system by working too quickly is counter-productive because the nervous system signals danger and the drawbridge goes up. Therefore, I work slowly during the first few sessions, so you can experience what safety feels like in your body.
One of my tutors likened it to letting air out of a balloon a little at a time. Release happens in small, manageable amounts, which gives your nervous system time to make sense of what's happening. Over time, the amount of "air" you can release increases as your nervous system recalibrates.
This is the idea behind what's often called the window of tolerance, a term coined by Dr Dan Siegel: the range in which you can feel your feelings without shutting down or becoming overwhelmed. Somatic therapy gently widens that window.
What happens in your first session
Before you book: a free 15-minute consultation, where you can ask questions and find out whether my approach feels right for you.
The first 10 minutes: we settle in and check how you're arriving. I'll ask what brings you here, without asking for detail you don't want to give.
10 to 20 minutes: I explain how we'll work and we agree how to pause or stop, so you stay in control throughout. We begin with grounding, and you may like to explore an anchor: a place that helps you feel at ease.
20 to 45 minutes: we begin gentle body awareness: noticing sensations, where they sit and how they change, in small doses with plenty of pauses. We may explore some gentle somatic techniques to alleviate some of those sensations.
The final 15 minutes: we settle and ground, reflect on what you noticed and agree what might help between sessions.
You won't be asked to relive anything, and you can slow down or stop at any point.
Who somatic therapy can support
People come to me with anxiety that never quite switches off, burnout and chronic stress, the after-effects of difficult childhoods and complex trauma, a body that feels permanently braced, and the sense of being stuck in survival mode. I have lived experience of trauma myself, and worked for many years in education alongside young people affected by significant childhood trauma, so I understand how deep and how ordinary these experiences can be.
Somatic therapy is supportive, not a replacement for medical or psychiatric care. If you are in crisis, please contact your GP, NHS 111 or Samaritans on 116 123.
Your therapist
I'm Jamie Terrington, a Somatic Trauma and Fascial Release Therapist. I trained in Somatic Trauma Therapy and Myofascial Release (FHT-certified courses) with Simonetta Logan at the School of Holistic Therapy, Edinburgh. Simonetta studied Somatic Trauma Therapy with Babette Rothschild and is an advanced practitioner of Somatic Experiencing® (Dr Peter Levine). I also hold a Level 5 Diploma in Trauma and Mental Health (TISCUK) and am a Level 1 Fascial Maneuvers Coach (Human Garage).
You can read more about my background and training on my About Me page.
Fees
A 60-minute online somatic therapy session costs £80. The first 15-minute consultation is free, and there is an introductory offer of 10 sessions for £650. A limited number of slots are available for people experiencing financial hardship. See all fees and options on my My fees page.
Frequently asked questions
Does somatic therapy work online?
Yes. Somatic therapy is built on body awareness and nervous system regulation, not on physical contact, so it translates well to video. Most of my somatic therapy clients have accessed their sessions online. You can feel your own sensations at home, and I guide the pace by watching and listening closely.
Will I have to share the details of my trauma?
No. Unlike talking therapies, somatic therapy does not require you to revisit your worst memories or tell the story in detail. We work with what your body is doing now: where you notice tension, what the sensation feels like, and how it changes. You decide how much, if anything, you tell me.
Is physical touch required?
No touch is involved in online somatic therapy. Sessions are conversational and guided: I invite you to notice sensations, breathe, move gently or pause, and you stay in control throughout. If you later choose in-person myofascial release, that is a separate hands-on therapy, and we would discuss consent and comfort first.
How is somatic therapy different from talking therapy or CBT?
Talking therapies mainly work through thoughts and narrative. Somatic therapy works through the body's physical sensations and the nervous system. Rather than describing 'I feel anxious', we locate the feeling, such as a knot in your stomach or tight jaw, and gently support your body to complete its natural stress response.
How many sessions will I need?
It varies, because every nervous system moves at its own pace, so I can't promise a number. I work slowly in the first few sessions so you can experience what safety feels like, then we review progress together. I offer an introductory block of 10 sessions for £650 for clients who want a steady rhythm.
What might I feel during a session?
Responses differ from person to person. Release can look like shaking, crying, gentle warmth, tingling or a simple sense of wellbeing, and sometimes very little happens at first, which is fine. We move in small doses and pause whenever you need, so nothing feels overwhelming. Afterwards, some people feel tired or lighter.
What qualifications should a somatic therapist have?
Look for specific somatic and trauma training, a clear approach to client safety, and transparent credentials. I trained in Somatic Trauma Therapy and Myofascial Release (FHT-certified courses) with Simonetta Logan at the School of Holistic Therapy, Edinburgh, and hold a Level 5 Diploma in Trauma and Mental Health (TISCUK).
Can somatic therapy help with anxiety, burnout or complex trauma?
Many people come to somatic therapy with anxiety, burnout, chronic stress or the after-effects of complex trauma, because these often show up in the body. It is a supportive therapy, not a replacement for medical or psychiatric care. If you are in crisis, please contact your GP, NHS 111 or Samaritans on 116 123.
How much does online somatic therapy cost?
A 60-minute session costs £80, and the first 15-minute consultation is free. There is an introductory offer of 10 sessions for £650. I believe support should be accessible, so a limited number of slots are available for people experiencing financial hardship. Get in touch to talk it through in confidence.
Do you see clients in person, or only online?
I work online with clients anywhere in the UK, and in person around Bristol and North Somerset, including Portishead, Clevedon and Nailsea. I don't currently have a therapy room, so in-person sessions are at your home or another suitable place. Myofascial release is offered in person only.