Somatic Therapy for PTSD and Trauma in Colorado
Trauma Doesn't Just Live in Your Mind
Tightness in your chest. A startle response that won't quiet down. The sense of being frozen even when you're safe. Exhaustion that sleep doesn't fix. A body that is still bracing for something that already happened.
Trauma lives in the body — and somatic therapy works directly with the body's experience, not just the story around it.
At Soul Yoga Counseling, somatic approaches are woven into Melissa's integrative treatment style — used alongside EMDR, ACT, and other evidence-based methods to address what talk therapy alone sometimes can't reach.
Somatic Approaches Used
Body awareness and nervous system regulation exercises
Bilateral stimulation for trauma processing
Breathwork and grounding techniques
Bodywork-informed therapies addressing how trauma and stress are held physically
Somatic exercises for chronic pain, anxiety, and hypervigilance
Light therapies for mood regulation and seasonal affective support
Who Benefits Most
Somatic therapy is particularly effective for people with PTSD, complex trauma, or chronic anxiety — and for those who have done talk therapy before and felt like something was still being left out. It is especially valuable for:
First responders, veterans, and military personnel
Survivors of sexual assault or childhood trauma
SANE nurses and healthcare workers with vicarious trauma
People with chronic pain or somatic symptoms connected to stress or trauma
Anyone whose body has become a source of fear, tension, or disconnection
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have a trauma diagnosis to benefit from somatic therapy?
No. Somatic approaches are beneficial for anyone experiencing chronic anxiety, stress, emotional overwhelm, or a sense of being disconnected from their body — regardless of formal diagnosis.
Is somatic therapy the same as massage or bodywork?
No. Somatic therapy at Soul Yoga Counseling is a clinical, talk-therapy-adjacent approach that incorporates awareness of the body's sensations, movements, and responses as part of the therapeutic process. There is no physical touch involved.
Can somatic therapy be combined with EMDR or natural medicine services?
Yes — and this combination is often where the most powerful healing happens. Melissa regularly integrates somatic work with EMDR, ACT, and natural medicine services to address trauma from multiple angles simultaneously.
Is somatic therapy available via telehealth?
Yes. Somatic approaches translate well to telehealth. Kansas and Missouri residents may access sessions remotely. Colorado residents may choose either in-person or telehealth sessions.
Melissa Perry, MA, LPC, LCPC, NMIT | Soul Yoga Counseling | (913) 390-3394 | melissamarie@soulyogacounseling.com
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Melissa's Approach
Melissa Perry, MA, LPC, LCPC, NMIT has spent more than 20 years working with trauma survivors whose bodies carry what their minds have tried to set aside. She brings a deeply attuned, non-judgmental presence to somatic work — never pushing beyond your window of tolerance, always working at the pace your nervous system can hold.
Somatic therapy sessions are available in-person in Colorado and via telehealth for Kansas and Missouri residents.
