When Feeling Stuck Lives in the Body: How Somatic Therapy and Brainspotting Support Deeper Healing
💫 When Feeling Stuck Lives in the Body: How Somatic Therapy and Brainspotting Support Deeper Healing
Many people come to therapy saying, “I feel stuck.” They can describe the thoughts looping in their minds — the self-doubt, the overthinking, the exhaustion from trying to “figure it all out” and the rabbit holes
But here’s the truth I share with my clients in Middletown, NY and across the Hudson Valley: feeling stuck isn’t always a mental block. Sometimes, it’s a physical one. Sometimes emotions get stored in our bodies without our awareness.
Tension, stress, and trauma don’t just live in your thoughts — they live in your body.
They show up as tight shoulders, headaches, gut discomfort, fatigue, or that familiar lump in your throat when emotions rise. Long before the mind can name what’s wrong, the body already knows. Sometimes taking the time to bring awareness to the physical sensations of our emotions can help us understand them better.
🌿 The Body Keeps the Score — and It Also Holds the Key
Modern trauma research shows that the body and brain work together to store emotional experiences. When we face something overwhelming, the body often “remembers” through sensations, posture, and tension patterns.
That’s why healing isn’t just about talking — it’s about listening to what your body is trying to say.
Somatic therapy and brainspotting are powerful approaches that help you reconnect to that wisdom. They guide you out of your head and into your body, where lasting change begins.
✨ What Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy simply means “body-based therapy.”
Rather than focusing only on thoughts or stories, somatic work brings gentle awareness to the physical sensations that arise as you talk or reflect.
You might notice:
A tightness in your chest when you talk about stress.
A heaviness in your stomach when you remember loss.
A softening or expansion when you speak your truth.
These sensations are your body’s language. By learning to track, name, and regulate them, you begin to release the emotional charge they carry.
Did you know that humming is one of the best things you can do to re-regulate your body when you are feeling dysregulated? It activates the vagus nerve, which is primarily responsible with calming our bodies down and bringing us to a state of relaxation.
Over time, you start to feel more grounded, centered, and in control — not just mentally, but physically and emotionally too.
🧠 What Is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting is a trauma-informed technique that uses your eye position to access areas of the brain where emotional experiences are stored.
During a session, we identify a “brainspot” — a visual point that activates the emotion or sensation connected to a memory or experience. As you focus there, the body begins to process what’s been stuck beneath the surface.
Unlike talk therapy, brainspotting doesn’t require you to retell or relive painful experiences. Your brain and body do the work together — gently and naturally.
Clients often describe it as a calm, focused way to move through emotions they couldn’t reach before. Insight arises organically, and the nervous system resets in real time.
🌬️ The Benefits of Somatic & Brainspotting Work
Together, these methods can help you:
✨ Notice where your body is holding tension or emotion
✨ Release long-held stress and trauma patterns
✨ Access insights that your thinking mind alone can’t reach
✨ Improve emotional regulation and resilience
✨ Restore a sense of safety and connection within yourself
Therapy becomes a full-body experience — not just about talking, but about feeling and moving through what’s been holding you back.
🌸 A Whole-Person Approach at Empowered Path Counseling
At Empowered Path Counseling in Middletown, NY, I integrate somatic therapy and brainspotting into my trauma-informed, empowerment-based practice.
I work with women throughout the Hudson Valley who are navigating life transitions, relationship challenges, and emotional healing journeys.
This work isn’t about “fixing” you, because you’re not broke. It’s about helping you reconnect with the wisdom already within your body. When your nervous system feels safe, your mind naturally follows.
Clients often say that once they begin working through the body, therapy starts to feel lighter, more intuitive, and more effective. The stuck energy begins to move, and clarity returns.
🌻 Finding Your Flow Again
Healing doesn’t always look like insight or words — sometimes it’s an exhale after years of tension.
Sometimes it’s a deeper night of rest, or noticing that the same old trigger doesn’t feel so sharp anymore. Sometimes it’s suddenly breaking unconscious patterns.
That’s the beauty of somatic and brainspotting work: you don’t have to force transformation. You simply learn to listen, feel, and let your body guide the process.
If you’re in Middletown or the Hudson Valley and are curious about how somatic therapy or brainspotting could support your healing, I’d love to connect.
You deserve a space where your whole self — mind, body, and spirit — is welcomed into the conversation.
🔗 About Empowered Path Counseling
Empowered Path Counseling offers therapy and coaching for women in Middletown, NY and across the Hudson Valley.
Founder Mary Lerouge, LCSW specializes in trauma-informed, empowerment-based therapy that integrates mind-body techniques like somatic awareness and brainspotting to help women move from surviving to thriving.