Your Guide to Online Somatic Therapy: Common Questions Answered
One of the most common questions I hear is, “Is somatic therapy actually effective online?”
It’s a valid question, especially if you’ve never experienced body-based work or wonder how something so physical could translate through a screen.
What makes somatic therapy effective isn’t touch or physical proximity—it’s co-regulation, presence, and your growing ability to stay connected to your body in real time. That connection can absolutely happen from your home, your car, or wherever you feel most at ease.
In this blog, I’ll walk through some of the most common questions I get about online somatic therapy—from what sessions can look like to who tends to benefit most. Whether you’re just getting curious or trying to figure out if virtual sessions might be a good fit, I hope this gives you a grounded place to start.
What is Online Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy is a body-oriented approach that helps you reconnect with yourself from the inside out. It supports you in slowing down, noticing what’s happening in your body, and building the capacity to stay with your experience, especially in moments that feel overwhelming or disconnected.
In online somatic therapy, this work happens virtually—usually over a secure video platform—rather than in-person. That doesn’t mean the body gets left out. In fact, the body remains central to the work. You might be invited to notice subtle shifts in sensation, gently track your breath or posture, or explore movement and grounding techniques—all from the comfort of your own space.
How Does Online Somatic Therapy Actually Work?
Every session looks a little different because it’s shaped by what you’re needing that day. Sometimes that means pausing to notice what’s happening in your body as you talk about something difficult. Other times, we might explore patterns in your posture, breath, or tone of voice—all subtle ways your nervous system speaks.
You don’t need any special tools or training to start. Just a quiet space, a device with a camera, and a willingness to tune in. I’ll guide you through the process with invitations—not directives—so you never feel pressured to go somewhere you’re not ready to go.
For some, it might look like tracking sensations or working with grounding practices. For others, it’s naming internal experiences or gently challenging old beliefs that live in the body. This work often involves slowing down, creating spaciousness, and building awareness, moment by moment.
What matters most is that you feel supported, resourced, and connected—not just to me, but to yourself.
Can Somatic Therapy Still Be Effective Online?
Absolutely. One of the most common concerns people have is whether body-based work can still be meaningful through a screen. The truth is, healing doesn’t rely on being in the same room—it relies on connection, attunement, and a safe space to explore what’s happening inside you.
Even virtually, we’re still working with the nervous system, which means we can track physical sensations, explore body cues, and stay present to what’s unfolding in the moment. In some ways, being in your own familiar environment can even help you settle more easily, making it easier to access the parts of yourself we’re working with.
Online somatic therapy also gives us the opportunity to practice skills right where you need them—in your home, in your body, and in your real life.
What If I’m Not Good at “Connecting to My Body”—Especially Online?
That’s completely okay, and actually really common. Maybe you’ve had to tune out physical signals in order to get through the day. Maybe it hasn’t felt safe to be in your body, or you’ve just never been taught how to notice what’s happening inside. Add in a screen, a camera, and the distractions of home, and it’s easy to feel even more disconnected.
You don’t need to be “good” at tuning into your body to start somatic therapy. In fact, part of the work is learning how to notice what’s happening inside, little by little.
In online sessions, we create the conditions for that noticing to feel more accessible. That might mean slowing down the pace of conversation, guiding you through simple awareness practices, or inviting you to turn off your camera if that helps you feel less “on.” We can use everyday objects from your environment—a blanket, a favorite mug, a cozy chair—to help you ground and orient. The goal isn’t to perform or get it right; it’s to support you in listening inward in ways that feel safe and doable.
Who Is Online Somatic Therapy a Good Fit For—and Who Might It Not Work Well For?
Online somatic therapy can be a meaningful and effective option for many people, especially those who:
Prefer the convenience and flexibility of meeting from home
Feel more comfortable in familiar surroundings
Live in areas where in-person somatic therapists are hard to find
Have caregiving responsibilities, mobility limitations, or tight schedules
Are looking for a accessible, relational approach to working with stress, anxiety, or trauma
That said, online somatic therapy might not be the best fit for everyone. Some people feel more grounded when they’re physically co-regulating with another person in the room or find it easier to stay present without the distractions of a home environment. Others might be in a state of crisis or experiencing severe dysregulation that would benefit from a more structured or in-person level of care. The goal is to find what feels safe, sustainable, and supportive to you.
Online or In-Person, It’s the Connection That Counts
Somatic therapy—whether online or in person—isn’t about doing it perfectly or being “in touch” all the time. It’s about slowly rebuilding the relationship with your body, your emotions, and your sense of self. And that relationship can absolutely begin (or deepen) through a screen.
If you’re curious about what online Somatic Therapy might look like, I’d love to connect. Feel free to reach out to schedule a free consultation or ask any questions you might have.