Reclaiming the Body: The Healing Power of Somatic Therapy for Trans* and Queer Adults

Introduction: The Body as a Site of Healing and Resistance

In my journey as a therapist, I have always believed that healing must go beyond words. For many trans* and queer individuals, myself included, the body has been a place of conflict, shame, and disconnection. Growing up in a world that enforces rigid gender norms, many of us internalize messages that our bodies are wrong or deviant. For years, I carried that internalized transphobia and shame, feeling alienated from my physical self. It wasn’t until I started working with body-centred therapists that I began to transcend these internalized narratives. Through somatic practices, I learned to reconnect with my body—not as something to be fixed or corrected, but as an essential part of my identity and healing process.

This personal experience inspired me to deepen my understanding of body-centred therapies, and I eventually became a Certified Sensorimotor Psychotherapist. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy emphasizes the body’s role in healing trauma, and it can be especially useful for those marginalized by gender and sexual orientation. It recognizes that trauma is not just something we think about—it’s something we feel in our bodies. By integrating body-based practices into therapy, we can help clients process experiences that go beyond words. As a therapist, I have seen firsthand how powerful it is to include the body in therapy, especially for those whose bodies have been sites of oppression or marginalization.

The importance of body-centred therapy for trans* and queer individuals cannot be overstated. As Salamon (2010) explains, the disjunction between how the body is felt and how it is perceived by society often leaves trans* people feeling alienated from their physical selves. For those of us who have been told that our bodies are wrong, reclaiming them is both a deeply personal and political act. This is why I chose to focus my work on helping clients reconnect with their bodies in a way that feels authentic and free from the constraints of societal judgment and shame. As Dennis (2022) highlights in Queer Body Power, marginalized individuals deserve resources that help them navigate the complex relationship between body image, queerness, and mental health. For me, including the body in therapy is essential to creating a space where clients can move from shame to self-acceptance.

In my clinical practice, I’ve witnessed the profound impact that body-centred therapy can have. It offers clients open to it the opportunity to move beyond intellectual understanding and begin to physically experience healing. Whether through Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, somatic art therapy, or grounding exercises, integrating the body into therapy provides a pathway for clients to reclaim their physical selves and live more authentically.

The Disconnect Between Verbal and Body-Centred Experiences

For many trans* and queer individuals in therapy, traditional talk therapy focuses primarily on verbal processing, often leaving the body’s role in healing overlooked. While verbal therapy is essential for understanding and articulating emotions, it can fail to fully address the deeper, embodied experiences of trauma, dysphoria, and oppression. The body holds memories and emotions that words alone cannot fully capture. For trans* people, this disconnection from the body can be especially devastating and potentially harming. The body, often seen as a battleground due to societal pressures and dysphoria, carries the weight of both personal and systemic trauma.

As Ogden and Fisher (2015) emphasize in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Interventions for Trauma and Attachment, trauma is not just a psychological experience; it is also somatic. The body holds onto unprocessed trauma, manifesting in physical sensations such as tension, chronic pain, or even dissociation. These embodied responses are often missed in traditional talk therapy, where the focus is on cognitive processing and verbal reflection. For trans* clients, who may experience heightened levels of body dysphoria, this disconnect between mind and body can be further amplified.

Salamon (2010) points out that the production of normative gender relies on a disjunction between the “felt sense” of the body and how the body is perceived externally. This is particularly relevant for trans* individuals, whose embodied experiences may not align with societal expectations of gender. The tension between the body’s felt experience and external narratives of what a body “should” be creates a unique set of challenges that require more than verbal processing to heal. For many trans* people, learning to reconnect with their bodies involves overcoming internalized transphobia and the societal pressures to conform to a gendered body that doesn’t feel safe, comfortable, or authentic.

Body-centred therapies such as Sensorimotor Psychotherapy provide a crucial bridge between the verbal and physical experiences of trauma and healing. These therapies emphasize the importance of tuning into the body’s sensations—whether it’s the tightness in the chest, the sinking feeling in the stomach, or the tension held in the shoulders. By focusing on the body’s cues, clients can begin to process emotions and memories stored within their physical selves. This is particularly important for trans* and queer clients, whose bodies have often been sites of conflict and alienation.

Integrating body-inclusive practices into therapy allows trans*, queer, and LGBTQ-ally clients to acknowledge the body’s role in their emotional and psychological experiences. For trans* clients, who may feel disconnected from their bodies due to dysphoria or societal scrutiny, this work is transformative. By reconnecting with the body in a way that feels safe and affirming, clients can begin to heal not just from the trauma of their experiences, but also from the internalized shame that so often accompanies those experiences.

In my own practice, I have found that when clients are given the opportunity to engage with their bodies, they often discover insights and emotions that would not have surfaced through verbal processing alone. By learning to gently tune their awareness into their body’s signals, clients can start to recognize the ways in which their physical selves have carried the burden of trauma—and how those burdens can be released through intentional, body-centred practices.

Reclaiming the Body Through Somatic Practices

For trans* and queer individuals, the process of reclaiming the body is not just about healing from personal trauma—it’s also about resisting the societal forces that have imposed harmful narratives on their bodies. Many trans* people grow up feeling disconnected from their physical selves due to external pressures, whether through the rigid enforcement of gender norms or the pervasive message that their bodies are “wrong” or need to be corrected. Reclaiming the body through somatic practices becomes a radical and transformative act of self-acceptance and autonomy.

Body-centered therapies, such as Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, offer a pathway for clients to reconnect with their bodies in a way that feels affirming and authentic. These therapies encourage clients to explore how their bodies hold trauma and provide practical tools to help release that tension. As Ogden and Fisher (2015) explain, somatic practices help clients engage directly with the physical sensations that are tied to emotional experiences, making it possible to address shame, disconnection, or harm at both a cognitive and bodily level. This is particularly crucial for trans* clients, who may carry not only the trauma of personal experiences but also the weight of societal oppression within their bodies.

In Queer Body Power, Essie Dennis (2022) highlights how marginalized individuals, especially those within the trans* and queer communities, are often taught to dissociate from their bodies because they don’t fit within normative standards. This dissociation can make it difficult for trans* people to feel fully present in their physical selves. Somatic practices, whether they involve mindful movement, grounding exercises, or somatic art therapy, offer clients a way to reconnect with their bodies on their own terms. These practices help clients begin to experience their bodies not as objects of scrutiny or shame, but as integral parts of their identities.

Art therapy, in particular, provides a unique way for trans* and queer clients to express their embodied experiences. As Johanne Hamel (2021) explains in Somatic Art Therapy, the creative process allows clients to externalize and explore the emotions and sensations that are too complex or overwhelming to be articulated through words alone. For example, a client might use colour and texture to represent feelings of dysphoria or anxiety, creating a visual representation of what their body is experiencing. This process not only helps clients gain insight into their physical and emotional states but also fosters a sense of control and agency over their healing.

For many trans* clients, learning to move freely and authentically in their bodies can feel new or even revolutionary. As Salamon (2010) emphasizes, trans* individuals often live in a world that enforces a disconnect between their “felt sense” of the body and the societal expectations placed on them. Somatic practices help bridge this gap by creating space for clients to explore their bodily sensations in a way that feels safe and empowering. Grounding exercises, for instance, allow clients to become more attuned to their body’s signals, while mindful movement practices help them rediscover a sense of ease and fluidity in their physical selves.

Reclaiming the body through somatic work is not just about overcoming personal trauma—it’s about challenging and deconstructing the societal forces that have contributed to that trauma. For trans* and queer clients, learning to move, breathe, and exist freely in their bodies is an act of resistance. It’s about reclaiming autonomy over their physical selves and rejecting the external narratives that have tried to define them. In this way, somatic therapy becomes not just a tool for healing, but a pathway to liberation.

Why Body-Centred Therapy Is Crucial for Trans* Adults

For trans* individuals, the body has long been a site of tension, scrutiny, and alienation. Many trans* people have endured years of public shaming, societal policing, and internalized dysphoria that disconnect them from their bodies. These experiences not only affect how trans* individuals perceive themselves but also how they navigate the world. The feeling of being estranged from one’s own body—whether due to dysphoria, societal expectations, or public scrutiny—can have lasting psychological effects, reinforcing a cycle of shame and self-rejection.

In Marginal Bodies, Trans Utopias, Caterina Nirta (2018) explains how bodies that exist outside of societal norms are often categorized as “monstrous” or “deviant” because they resist the binaries that dominant cultures impose. For trans* people, this creates a paradox: they must navigate a world that pathologizes their bodies while also learning to reclaim and reimagine their physical selves in ways that feel authentic. Body-centred therapy offers a vital path for trans* clients to break free from these oppressive narratives and find safety, acceptance, and empowerment within their own skin.

Transcending this societal and internalized body alienation is not just an emotional journey—it’s also deeply physical. Dennis (2022) in Queer Body Power argues that body-centred therapy is essential for marginalized individuals to reclaim ownership over their bodies, as it allows them to challenge the oppressive forces that have dictated their worth based on appearance, gender, and other identity markers. For trans* clients, who may have been taught to dissociate from their physical selves due to dysphoria or societal pressures, somatic therapy provides an opportunity to reconnect with their bodies in ways that feel affirming and authentic.

Many trans* people have also experienced medical interventions such as hormone therapy or surgery as part of their transition. While these interventions can be lifesaving, they can also create complex relationships with the body. The process of transitioning can involve both celebrating new aspects of the physical self and mourning the loss of old ones. Body-centred therapy allows trans* clients to navigate this complexity with compassion and care. By incorporating mindful movement, grounding exercises, or somatic art therapy, trans* individuals can explore how their bodies have changed and continue to evolve, developing a relationship with their physical selves that is fluid and ongoing.

Moreover, somatic therapy helps clients overcome the deep-seated internalized shame that society has imposed on their bodies. As Salamon (2010) explains, trans* bodies challenge the normative structures of gender, and in doing so, they often face intense scrutiny and rejection. This rejection can lead to an internalized belief that the body is wrong or unworthy. Body-inclusive practices, like Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, offer a space where trans* clients can explore their bodily sensations and emotions without judgment. These practices invite clients to release the shame they have carried and to embrace their bodies as sites of strength, resilience, and authenticity.

Somatic psychotherapy is not just a complement to traditional talk therapy—it’s a necessary intervention for those whose bodies have been weaponized against them. For trans* individuals, the act of reclaiming the body is an act of resistance. It’s about rejecting the external narratives that have tried to define them and choosing, instead, to listen to their own physical truths. By creating space for this kind of embodied healing, therapists can support trans* clients in moving beyond shame and into a place of empowerment.

Practical Applications of Body-Centred Therapy for Trans* and Queer Adults

While understanding the importance of body-centred therapy is crucial, it’s equally important to explore how these practices can be implemented in a therapeutic setting. For trans* and queer clients, body-centered therapies provide a space where they can safely explore and reconnect with their physical selves, free from the external pressures of societal expectations. Below are some of the practical approaches therapists can integrate into their practice to support trans* and queer individuals in reclaiming their bodies.

Grounding Exercises and Mindful Movement

Grounding exercises are simple yet powerful techniques that help clients reconnect with their bodies by focusing on the present moment and the sensations within the body. These exercises can involve deep breathing, focusing on the physical connection between the body and the ground, or even tuning into the rhythm of the heart or breath. For trans* individuals who may experience body dysphoria or dissociation, grounding practices offer a way to slowly and safely re-enter the body. This process can help clients become more attuned to their physical selves, building a sense of safety and acceptance over time.

In Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Interventions for Trauma and Attachment, Ogden and Fisher (2015) describe how grounding exercises can help clients regulate their nervous systems and establish a sense of safety within their bodies. This is especially beneficial for trans* clients, who may need additional support in navigating body-related anxieties or feelings of dysphoria. Incorporating mindful movement, such as yoga or gentle stretching, into therapy sessions can also help clients rediscover a sense of fluidity and freedom in their physical bodies.

Somatic Art Therapy

Somatic art therapy is another effective method for helping trans* and queer clients explore and express their embodied experiences. This approach encourages clients to externalize the emotions, sensations, and memories stored in their bodies through creative expression. In Somatic Art Therapy, Hamel (2021) explains that art provides a way for clients to access feelings that are difficult to articulate verbally, offering a safe outlet for processing emotions tied to the body.

For trans* clients, somatic art therapy can be particularly transformative. Whether using colour, texture, or shape to represent feelings of dysphoria, joy, or anxiety, clients can visually communicate their embodied experiences in a way that feels authentic. This process not only fosters emotional release but also helps clients develop a deeper understanding of their relationship with their bodies. It allows them to see their bodies as creative, evolving parts of themselves, rather than objects of scrutiny.

Clean Language in Body-Centred Therapy

Another technique that can be applied in body-centered therapy is Clean Language, which encourages clients to explore their physical sensations without imposing any external judgments or interpretations. As Nicholas Pole (2017) describes in Words That Touch, Clean Language questions are designed to be non-directive, giving clients the space to express their body’s experiences in their own words. This is especially valuable for trans* clients, who may feel that traditional therapy often imposes normative frameworks on their experiences.

By asking open-ended questions such as “What kind of [sensation] is that?” or “Where do you feel that in your body?”, therapists can help clients tune into their body’s sensations and emotions without the pressure to conform to any predefined meanings. For trans* individuals, this approach is both empowering and affirming, allowing them to define their own embodied experiences on their own terms.

The Role of Intersectionality in Body-Centred Therapy

In body-centred therapy, it’s essential to recognize that the experiences of trans* and queer individuals are not monolithic. The ways in which people experience their bodies are shaped by multiple, intersecting factors, including race, class, disability, gender identity, and sexual orientation. As therapists, it’s crucial to approach somatic work with an anti-oppressive, intersectional lens, ensuring that we are sensitive to the various layers of identity that inform a client’s relationship with their body.

As Nirta (2018) discusses in Marginal Bodies, Trans Utopias, trans* bodies are often positioned as “other” not only because of gender nonconformity but also due to the intersections of race, class, and ability. The societal narratives that define and marginalize these bodies are deeply rooted in histories of colonialism, racism, and ableism. For many trans* people of colour, for instance, the experience of living in a body that is both gender-nonconforming and racialized brings additional layers of oppression. These intersecting oppressions can manifest as body-related anxieties, feelings of hyper-visibility or invisibility, and internalized shame.

Essie Dennis (2022) further highlights the importance of addressing these intersections in Queer Body Power, arguing that queer and trans* bodies of colour face unique challenges that must be acknowledged in therapy. For body-centred therapy to be truly effective, therapists need to create space for clients to explore how their embodied experiences are shaped by these multiple forms of marginalization. This means asking questions like, “How does your racial identity influence your relationship with your body?” or “How has societal ableism impacted how you feel in your physical self?”

A body-inclusive intersectional approach must also consider the ways in which disability shapes a client’s relationship with their body. Many disabled trans* and queer clients experience both physical and emotional pain related to their disabilities, and this can complicate their efforts to reconnect with their bodies. For these clients, somatic work must be adapted to ensure accessibility. This might involve offering modifications for grounding exercises or using art therapy to express bodily sensations that feel too difficult to communicate verbally or physically.

Intersectionality in body-centred therapy also means recognizing how socioeconomic factors influence access to resources and healthcare. Many trans* individuals face financial barriers to accessing gender-affirming medical care or somatic psychotherapies. Acknowledging these realities in therapy can help clients process the frustrations and inequities they encounter and explore how they can care for their bodies within their current circumstances.

Ultimately, adopting an intersectional approach in any somatic psychotherapy therapy approach lets therapists see the full complexity of each client’s embodied experience. By addressing how race, class, disability, and gender intersect to shape the body, therapists can offer a more nuanced, compassionate, and effective approach to healing. This ensures that trans* and queer clients are not just seen through the lens of gender identity but as whole individuals whose bodies have been shaped by a multitude of social and personal factors.

The Healing Power of Community in Body-Centred Therapy

While body-centred therapy focuses on individual healing, the power of community in this process cannot be overlooked. For trans* and queer individuals, who often face societal exclusion, finding spaces where their identities and bodies are affirmed can be transformative. Somatic psychotherapy, when offered in a group setting or when supplemented with community support, has the potential to deepen healing by fostering a sense of belonging and shared understanding.

Caterina Nirta (2018) in Marginal Bodies, Trans Utopias discusses how trans* bodies, when seen through a collective lens, challenge the dominant societal structures that seek to marginalize them. In community spaces, these bodies are celebrated for their diversity and resilience, and the healing process is not just about individual empowerment but also about collective resistance and affirmation. For many trans* clients, connecting with others who share their struggles can help them realize they are not alone in their journey. Whether through group therapy, trans*-led community support groups, or activist circles, being in community can reduce the isolation and shame that so often accompany the experience of being in a marginalized body.

Community healing also provides a space where clients can witness others reclaiming their bodies, which can be an incredibly validating experience. Seeing others move freely and authentically in their bodies can inspire individuals to take similar steps in their own journey. For many trans* and queer individuals, especially those who have felt disconnected from their bodies due to dysphoria, watching others in the process of body reclamation can spark hope and offer new possibilities for what living in their body could feel like.

Moreover, community spaces often offer an environment where different body types, gender expressions, and identities are not just accepted but celebrated. This collective validation can be particularly healing for trans* clients who have spent years internalizing shame and feeling out of place in heteronormative or cisnormative spaces. Being part of a community where their body is not othered but affirmed can help them rebuild their relationship with their physical self.

In addition, somatic group work can amplify the benefits of individual body-centered therapy. Group settings can allow clients to share their experiences of body-related anxieties, dysphoria, or trauma in a supportive and non-judgmental space. These shared experiences often lead to collective insights, where the group as a whole can witness and support each other’s growth. This communal witnessing is a powerful aspect of healing, as it reinforces that healing does not happen in isolation but is a collective process.

For therapists, creating or recommending community spaces where trans* and queer clients can access support and share their embodied experiences is a key part of body-centred therapy. Whether it’s facilitating group therapy or connecting clients to local trans* and queer networks, therapists can help clients see that healing the body is not only about reconnecting with themselves but also about finding solidarity with others.

Conclusion: Embracing the Body’s Role in Healing

Healing is a multifaceted journey, particularly for trans* and queer individuals whose relationships with their bodies may have been shaped by years of societal scrutiny, shame, and disconnection. Body-centred therapy offers a powerful way to bridge the gap between verbal processing and embodied experience, providing a path for clients to reclaim their bodies as sites of authenticity, strength, and self-acceptance.

As we’ve explored, somatic practices—whether through grounding exercises, mindful movement, or somatic art therapy—help clients process emotions and memories stored in the body. For trans* and queer individuals, this reclamation is not just personal; it is an act of resistance against the societal forces that have tried to define them. By integrating the body into therapy, clients can move from shame to empowerment, developing a deeper, more compassionate relationship with their physical selves.

Community plays a vital role in this process. Healing is not something that happens in isolation—it is fostered and deepened when individuals find solidarity with others who share similar experiences. In community spaces, trans* and queer bodies are celebrated for their diversity, and the act of witnessing others in their healing journey can inspire profound growth.

If this resonates with you—whether you are a therapist looking to deepen your practice or a client seeking a therapist who understands the importance of body-centred work—I invite you to connect with me, Clayre Sessoms. As a Certified Sensorimotor Psychotherapist and a Board Certified Art Therapist (RCAT, ATR-BC), I specialize in helping trans*, nonbinary, and queer clients navigate the complexities of identity and embodied healing. Together, we can explore how body-centred therapy can help you reclaim your body and move forward on your healing journey.

If you’re interested in learning more, I encourage you to bookmark this blog and return for further insights and resources on somatic therapy, queer mental health, and creative therapeutic practices. You deserve a space where your body is seen, valued, and embraced.

References

Dennis, E. (2022). Queer body power. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Hamel, J. (2021). Somatic art therapy: Alleviating pain and trauma through art. Routledge.

Nirta, C. (2018). Marginal bodies, trans utopias. Routledge.

Ogden, P., & Fisher, J. (2015). Sensorimotor psychotherapy: Interventions for trauma and attachment. W. W. Norton & Company.

Pole, N. (2017). Words that touch: How to ask questions your body can answer. Singing Dragon.

Salamon, G. (2010). Assuming a body: Transgender and rhetorics of materiality. Columbia University Press.