Counseling How

Somatic Therapy in Fort Collins and Loveland

Listen to what your body is telling you

Somatic therapy in Fort Collins and Loveland at Foundations Counseling is talk therapy that pays attention to the body, helping people who carry stress, anxiety or trauma as tension or numbness learn to notice those signals and settle them. It is private pay, about $200 per session, with a free consultation and a first appointment usually within 48 hours.

What is somatic therapy at Foundations?

Somatic therapy in Fort Collins and Loveland at Foundations Counseling is talk therapy that pays attention to the body, helping people who carry stress, anxiety or trauma as tension or numbness learn to notice those signals and settle them. It is private pay, about $200 per session, with a free consultation and a first appointment usually within 48 hours.

What is somatic therapy?

"Somatic" means "of the body." Somatic therapy starts from something most people already know: stress and painful experiences do not stay only in our thoughts. They show up as a tight chest, a clenched jaw, shallow breathing, a stomach in knots, or feeling far away from your own body. Somatic approaches add body awareness to ordinary counseling conversations, so you can notice what your body is doing, understand what it might be signaling, and practice ways to help it calm down.

What does a somatic session look like?

You will still talk, and you stay fully clothed and seated or standing as you like. Along the way, your counselor may invite you to pause and notice what is happening physically. Common practices include:

• Body awareness: noticing where you feel tension, warmth, heaviness or ease while you talk.
• Breathing: slow breathing that supports what NCCIH describes as the relaxation response, marked by slower breathing, lower blood pressure and a reduced heart rate.
• Grounding: feeling your feet on the floor or using your senses to come back to the present.
• Gentle movement: small stretches or shifts in posture to release tension or feel steadier.
• Pacing: moving toward hard memories slowly, and pausing when your body says it needs a break.

Every invitation is optional. You decide what to try and when to stop.

How can somatic therapy help with trauma and anxiety?

After trauma, some people feel constantly on alert, and others feel shut down or disconnected. Cleveland Clinic notes that trauma can make you feel uncomfortable in, or disconnected from, your body, and that gentle, body focused practices can be a way to reconnect. Somatic work helps you recognize early signs that your body is heading toward panic or shutdown and gives you tools to bring yourself back. It is often used alongside trauma counseling and anxiety counseling. Research on specific somatic methods is still growing, so your counselor will be honest about what is known and will combine body based skills with other approaches when that serves you better.

Is somatic therapy the same as massage or bodywork?

No. Somatic therapy at Foundations is talk therapy with a licensed counselor. It is not massage, physical therapy or medical treatment for pain. If you have physical symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness or ongoing pain, please see your doctor first, because body sensations can have medical causes that counseling cannot rule out.

Who will I work with?

Several Foundations counselors list somatic therapy as an approach they use. You can meet them in the team section on this page, or tell us what you need when you reach out by calling 970.227.2770 or booking online, and we will match you with a counselor who fits. Your first meeting with that counselor is a free consultation. If the match does not feel right, our Counselor Match Guarantee means we will help you find another Foundations counselor.

Sessions are in person at our offices in Fort Collins (Southeast) and Loveland, or through online counseling anywhere in Colorado.

What does this page not cover?

Foundations provides one on one outpatient counseling. It is not crisis care, it does not provide medical or physical treatment, and it does not offer medication advice, which belongs with your physician. If you are thinking about suicide or are in emotional distress, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time, day or night. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.

Ready to talk?

For a few body based skills you can try today, read 6 somatic exercises to try when you are feeling anxious. When you are ready, book a free consultation or call 970.227.2770.

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GUARANTEED COUNSELOR MATCH

Body focused work asks for a lot of trust, so feeling safe with your counselor comes first. If your first match is not the right fit, we will help you find another Foundations counselor. How the Counselor Match Guarantee works.

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HOW WE WORK WITH SOMATIC THERAPY

Your counselor will add body awareness to your sessions at a pace you set, so you can notice stress signals and settle them.

• Breathing, grounding and gentle movement practices.
• Body based coping skills within trauma counseling.
• Tools for panic and tension alongside anxiety counseling.

All Therapies

Do You Feel...

What brings people to counseling rarely arrives as one clear moment. More often it builds quietly: a feeling that lingers, a pattern that keeps repeating, a sense that something is off. If any of these sound familiar, reaching out to Foundations is a simple first step.

Tension You Cannot Release

A tight jaw, clenched shoulders or knotted stomach that stays with you even on calm days, as if your body never got the message that you are safe.

Feeling Numb or Far Away

Do you sometimes feel disconnected from your body or your surroundings, like you are watching life from a distance? That can be one way the body copes with long stress.

Stress That Lives in Your Body

Headaches, shallow breathing or a racing heart that show up with stress, even when you cannot quite name what you are feeling or why.

Panic That Builds Fast

A pounding heart, tight chest or dizzy rush that seems to come from nowhere. Learning the early body signs can help you steady yourself before it peaks.

Talking Has Not Been Enough

Have you understood your experiences in your head but still feel them in your body? Adding body awareness to counseling can help with what words alone have not shifted.

Always on High Alert

Startling easily, scanning every room or bracing for the next problem, with a body that seems stuck in protection mode long after the danger has passed.

Exhausted and Wired

Feeling drained and restless at the same time, struggling to sleep or relax because your body cannot seem to settle down at the end of the day.

Overwhelmed by Big Feelings

Emotions that flood in so quickly that you shut down, freeze or lash out, and wanting tools to come back to a steadier place when it happens.

Feeling at Home in Your Body

Are you longing to feel safe, comfortable and present in your own skin again? Counseling can help you build that connection slowly, at a pace that feels manageable.

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Colorado Licensed Counselors

Appointment Scheduling Within 48 Hours

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All Counselors Are Employees

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Pay Per Session

First Visit Free

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Find the Right Match

We understand that the journey to emotional well-being begins with connecting you to the right counselor. That's why we proudly offer our unique Counselor Match Guarantee. We don't just pair you with any counselor; we meticulously match you with someone who aligns with your specific needs, preferences, and goals for healing and growth. If the initial pairing needs to be corrected, we encourage you to explore our diverse and experienced team until you find the perfect fit.

Your comfort and progress are paramount, so we ensure you always have a supportive and confidential environment to pursue your journey of self-discovery and healing. Choose us as your trusted partner in this transformative experience—because your well-being deserves the utmost care.

Begin your journey today and take the first step towards a brighter, more fulfilling tomorrow. Let us guide you to emotional wellness with our dedicated and compassionate counseling services.

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