Online workshop: Conditioned responses – Somatic body-based approaches 

Please note that this event has been postponed and will be rescheduled at a new date and time.

Somatic therapy is a body-centered psychotherapy approach that focuses on how trauma and stress are held in the body, using mind-body exercises to release physical tension and restore balance to the nervous system. It works with bodily sensations, gestures, and posture to help individuals process emotions and “stuck” survival energy from traumatic experiences. By connecting to the physical sensations of an experience, somatic therapy allows for a “bottom-up” approach to healing, complementing traditional “top-down” talk therapies by directly addressing the body’s role in emotional wellbeing. 

Suggested audience: Public safety personnel (PSP) and PSP spouses 

Objectives: 

Recognize the physiological impact of stress and trauma  

• Participants will be able to identify how acute and chronic stress responses manifest in the body (e.g., tension, hypervigilance, dysregulation) and understand the science behind the nervous system’s role in trauma. 

Develop body-based awareness and regulation skills 

• Participants will learn and practice somatic techniques to enhance self-awareness, interrupt stress cycles, and promote nervous system regulation. 

Integrate somatic practices into daily routines and peer support 

• Participants will explore ways to apply somatic tools in personal and operational settings, supporting both personal resilience and the mental health of colleagues.