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We often think of healing as something that happens in the mind—through talk therapy, journaling, insight. But what if your body is holding onto the pain, too? Somatic therapy says: it is.

Somatic therapy is a body-centered approach that focuses on how the nervous system stores and releases trauma. It’s grounded in neuroscience and growing in popularity for one simple reason—it works, especially for those who feel “stuck” after traditional therapy.

What Is Somatic Therapy?

“Somatic” means “relating to the body.” This form of therapy recognizes that trauma isn’t just remembered—it’s felt, stored, and replayed through body sensations, muscle tension, posture, breath, and movement.

Somatic therapy uses body awareness, breathwork, and gentle movement to help release tension, regulate the nervous system, and promote emotional healing.

Why Talk Alone Isn’t Always Enough

Many trauma survivors say, “I’ve talked about it a hundred times, but I still feel like I’m there.” That’s because trauma lives in the body, not just the brain.

Fight-or-flight responses, frozen reactions, and chronic tension don’t always respond to logic. They respond to somatic release.

How Somatic Therapy Works

A typical session might include:
<ul>
 	<li aria-level="1">Breathing exercises to calm the nervous system

</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li aria-level="1">Body scans to build awareness of internal sensations

</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li aria-level="1">Gentle movement to release trapped energy

</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li aria-level="1">Guided visualization or grounding techniques

</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li aria-level="1">Conversation, but focused on bodily experience—not just thoughts

</li>
</ul>
The goal is to complete the body’s unfinished stress responses and return to a felt sense of safety.

The Science Behind It

Somatic therapy is supported by neuroscience. Research shows:
<ul>
 	<li aria-level="1">The vagus nerve (which connects the brain to the body) plays a key role in regulating stress

</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li aria-level="1">Polyvagal theory explains how safety cues in the body shift us out of fight-or-flight

</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li aria-level="1">Movement and breath impact cortisol levels, heart rate variability, and emotional resilience

</li>
</ul>
Who Benefits Most

Somatic therapy is especially helpful for:
<ul>
 	<li aria-level="1">People recovering from trauma or PTSD

</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li aria-level="1">Those in addiction recovery

</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li aria-level="1">People who struggle with dissociation, numbness, or anxiety

</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li aria-level="1">Anyone who feels “disconnected” from their body

</li>
</ul>
How to Start

You can begin somatic practices today:
<ul>
 	<li aria-level="1">Try 3 minutes of focused breathing

</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li aria-level="1">Do a body scan before bed

</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li aria-level="1">Walk slowly and mindfully for 5 minutes

</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li aria-level="1">Place a hand on your heart when overwhelmed

</li>
</ul>
Or work with a somatic therapist trained in modalities like Somatic Experiencing, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, or trauma-informed yoga.

Final Thought

Healing isn’t just in your head. It’s in your chest, your shoulders, your breath, your bones. Somatic therapy reconnects you to your body—and through it, to peace.

Breathe, Move, Heal: The Science Behind Somatic Therapy

Relapse. For many people in recovery, it’s the word they fear most. It can feel like defeat, like erasure of all the work done, like a shameful return to square one. But here’s the truth that’s often left out of the conversation: falling isn’t failing. In fact, relapse—while painful—can be a profound teacher on the recovery journey.

The idea that recovery must be perfect in order to be real is not only unrealistic—it’s dangerous. It keeps people silent. It drives shame. And worst of all, it convinces people to give up when they need compassion the most.

Let’s reframe the way we talk about relapse. Let’s explore what it really is, what it isn’t, and how it can actually deepen—not destroy—your path to healing.
<h2>What Is Relapse—Really?</h2>
Relapse isn’t always dramatic. It doesn’t always happen in a burst of crisis. Sometimes, it starts quietly: missed meetings, old thoughts, isolation, or self-neglect. It builds, sometimes slowly, until the person uses again—whether it’s one night or a prolonged return to substance use.

What’s important to remember is this: relapse is a behavior, not an identity. It doesn’t define your worth. It doesn’t erase the progress you’ve made. And it doesn’t mean you’re incapable of recovery.

Many people experience relapse on their journey. In fact, research suggests that 40–60% of individuals in recovery from addiction relapse at some point. That number isn’t proof that recovery doesn’t work. It’s proof that recovery is hard—and that healing is rarely linear.
<h2>The Danger of Perfectionism in Recovery</h2>
There’s a powerful myth in recovery culture that goes something like this: If you relapse, you weren’t serious enough. You didn’t try hard enough. You failed.

This thinking is toxic. It turns a stumble into a sentence. It reinforces shame instead of support. And it convinces people that if they’ve slipped, they might as well give up.

But recovery isn’t about perfection. It’s about resilience. It’s about learning how to get up, not how to never fall.

You can love your sober days and still have hard ones. You can feel proud of your progress and still need support. You can relapse—and still be in recovery.
<h2>What Relapse Can Teach Us</h2>
Relapse doesn’t come out of nowhere. It’s usually the result of an emotional, mental, or behavioral buildup. If you’re willing to explore what happened—without self-blame—you can gain powerful insight into yourself and your recovery needs.

Here’s what relapse can teach you if you let it:
<h3>1. Where Your Triggers Live</h3>
Maybe it was a specific person, a stressful event, or a place you thought you could handle. Maybe it was loneliness or overconfidence. Relapse shows you where your triggers are still active and what boundaries might need to change.
<h3>2. What’s Missing from Your Support</h3>
Sometimes relapse signals a gap in your support system. Were you attending meetings? Reaching out to people? Keeping up with therapy? Did you feel safe being honest about your urges before it happened?

Use the experience to reassess your network and reconnect with those who hold you accountable and uplift you.
<h3>3. How You Cope Under Pressure</h3>
Stress, grief, boredom, anger—these emotions are all part of life. If you turned to substances again, it might mean you still need better coping tools or more practice using the ones you have.

Relapse can be the prompt to deepen your emotional skillset—not a reason to give up.
<h3>4. What You Truly Want from Recovery</h3>
Relapse can clarify your why. It can reignite your desire for health, stability, peace, and freedom. It reminds you of what’s at stake—and what’s possible when you’re sober.

Sometimes it takes stepping off the path to realize how much you value it.
<h2>The Importance of Responding, Not Reacting</h2>
After a relapse, your next move matters. This is the moment to lean into recovery—not away from it.

Instead of reacting with shame or avoidance, try this:
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Pause and Reflect: What led up to it? What did you feel before, during, and after?

</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tell Someone Safe: Don’t keep it to yourself. Shame grows in silence. Recovery grows in connection.

</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Recommit Without Punishing Yourself: You don’t need to “make up for it.” You just need to begin again.

</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Adjust Your Plan: Maybe it’s a new routine, more meetings, a different sponsor, or a return to treatment. Use what you learned to strengthen your foundation.

</li>
</ul>
<h2>Talking About Relapse Without Shame</h2>
If we want people to recover, we have to make it safe for them to be honest. That means removing the stigma from relapse and creating space for real conversations.

Whether you’re the one who relapsed or someone supporting a loved one, choose words that heal, not harm.

Say:
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">“You’re not alone.”

</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">“This doesn’t erase how far you’ve come.”

</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">“Let’s talk about what you need now.”

</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">“You still deserve support, care, and recovery.”

</li>
</ul>
Because you do. Always.
<h2>Relapse and the Recovery Timeline</h2>
Some people relapse in their first week. Some after five years. Some never do. There is no “normal” timeline for recovery—only your timeline.

If you’ve relapsed, don’t let that moment rewrite your entire journey. You’ve already done something extraordinary by choosing to recover. You’re still capable of growth, of peace, of a substance-free life that feels worth living.

Your story isn’t over. Not even close.
<h2>Final Thoughts: From Falling to Forward</h2>
In many ways, recovery is like learning to walk again after being knocked down. You wobble. You stumble. You fall. But falling isn’t failing. It’s part of learning where your strength is—and where it needs support.

So if you’ve relapsed, breathe. You haven’t ruined anything. You haven’t lost your chance. You’re not back at the beginning. You’re just gathering the wisdom that comes from being human—and healing anyway.

Take what you’ve learned. Reach out. Get back up. And keep walking.

Because every step forward, even after a fall, still counts.

Falling Isn’t Failing: What Relapse Can Teach Us About Recovery

Addiction can feel isolating, silent, and shameful. It convinces people to keep their struggles hidden—to pretend everything is fine, to numb the pain, to stay quiet. But recovery asks something different: it asks you to speak. To be heard. To listen. And to tell the truth, maybe for the first time in a long time.

The conversations we have—whether in therapy, group meetings, with family, or even just with ourselves—aren’t just supportive background noise to recovery. They are the recovery. Because healing isn’t just about abstaining from substances. It’s about rebuilding connection, honesty, and trust—often one word at a time.

In this blog, we’ll explore why communication is so powerful in the recovery process, how to talk in ways that support healing, and how to listen in ways that make space for change.
<h2>Why Conversation Is Central to Recovery</h2>
Addiction often thrives in secrecy and shame. Many people struggling with substance use have gotten used to hiding their pain—sometimes even from themselves. Breaking that cycle starts with speaking.

Words help us do something powerful: externalize our internal experience. They give shape to what we’re feeling, what we’ve been through, and what we want to become. Whether it's to a therapist, a sponsor, a friend, or a journal—saying it out loud often brings relief, clarity, and direction.

But it’s not just about getting things off your chest. The conversations you engage in throughout recovery also shape how you think about yourself, your story, and your future.
<h2>What You Say: The Power of Language in Recovery</h2>
The way we speak during recovery isn’t just communication—it’s transformation. Words influence how we view ourselves and what we believe is possible. Here’s how language can either support or sabotage healing:
<h3>1. Name the Truth Without Shame</h3>
Saying “I have a problem” or “I’m in recovery” can be terrifying. But there’s power in naming what’s real. It cuts through denial. It opens doors. It shifts recovery from something vague to something active.

Avoid self-destructive language like “I’m hopeless” or “I’m just a mess.” Instead, try:
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">“I’m struggling, but I’m trying.”

</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">“I’m learning how to cope.”

</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">“I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’m not where I was.”

</li>
</ul>
Shifting your language from judgment to honesty supports healing without reinforcing shame.
<h3>2. Speak with Self-Compassion</h3>
The way you talk about yourself matters. Try replacing criticism with curiosity. Instead of “Why do I always screw up?” ask, “What can I learn from this?”

Speak to yourself like someone you love. Like someone who deserves grace. Because you do.
<h3>3. Set Boundaries Out Loud</h3>
Recovery often requires new boundaries—around people, places, habits, and conversations. And boundaries are only effective if you express them.

Examples:
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">“I’m not drinking, so I won’t be going to the party.”

</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">“I can’t talk about that right now, but I’ll let you know when I’m ready.”

</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">“Please don’t bring that up in front of me.”

</li>
</ul>
Boundaries are an act of protection, not punishment. And using your voice to set them is a critical recovery skill.
<h2>What You Hear: Why Listening Can Be Healing Too</h2>
Recovery isn’t just about expressing yourself—it’s also about what you let in. The conversations you listen to can reinforce your progress, challenge your thinking, or, sometimes, pull you backward.
<h3>1. Listen for Empathy, Not Just Advice</h3>
Sometimes, what you need isn’t a solution—it’s to feel heard. Choose support networks that offer empathy first. A good sponsor, therapist, or friend won’t rush to fix you. They’ll sit with you in your mess. That space to be understood is often what makes healing possible.
<h3>2. Tune Out Toxic Voices</h3>
Not everyone around you will support your recovery. Some people may minimize your efforts, mock your boundaries, or try to pull you back into old behaviors.

You have every right to limit those voices. Curate your environment—online and off—so that the messages you hear most often support the version of yourself you’re becoming.
<h3>3. Learn from the Stories of Others</h3>
Whether it’s through support groups, memoirs, podcasts, or personal conversations, listening to the experiences of others in recovery can be incredibly affirming.

You’ll hear parts of your story in theirs. You’ll gather ideas for what to try, what to avoid, and what’s possible. You’ll remember that you’re not alone—and that’s one of the most healing truths there is.
<h2>Conversations That Change Everything</h2>
Certain conversations in recovery become turning points. Not because they’re perfectly worded—but because they’re honest, vulnerable, and real.

Here are a few examples of conversations that often shape recovery:
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The First Ask for Help: That phone call to a friend, a hotline, or a treatment center. It doesn’t have to be eloquent. It just has to be real. “I don’t want to live like this anymore. Can you help me?”

</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The Truth-Telling Talk: Sharing your story in group or with a therapist for the first time. Saying the things you thought you’d take to your grave. And finding out you’re not rejected—but welcomed.

</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The Apology Conversation: Reaching out to someone you hurt, not to erase the past but to take responsibility and show growth.

</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The Future Talk: Telling someone, “Here’s what I want from life now,” and speaking your dreams out loud.

</li>
</ul>
Every one of these conversations is a step toward healing—not just from addiction, but toward wholeness.
<h2>How to Have Better Recovery Conversations</h2>
If you’re looking to improve how you communicate during recovery—whether with others or yourself—here are a few tips:
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Practice Saying the Hard Thing: Truth gets easier with practice. Start with someone safe.

</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Use “I” Statements: Own your experience without blaming or deflecting.

</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Pause Before Reacting: Recovery teaches emotional regulation. Take a breath before responding.

</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Ask for What You Need: “Can you just listen?” or “Can I share something without advice?”

</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Write It First: If a conversation feels too scary, journal it out. Then say it when you’re ready.

</li>
</ul>
<h2>Healing Through Honest Dialogue</h2>
Words are more than just air—they’re action. In recovery, what you say helps shape who you become. And what you hear becomes part of the story you’re rewriting.

So talk. Even when it’s uncomfortable. Even when your voice shakes. Speak your truth. Ask for help. Say no. Say yes. Say, “I’m trying.” Say, “I’m healing.”

And just as importantly—listen. Listen to the parts of yourself that are learning to trust again. Listen to others who’ve walked this road and made it through. Listen to the quiet voice that says, Keep going.

Because recovery isn’t silent. It’s spoken. And conversation—messy, brave, honest conversation—might just be the most powerful tool you have.

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We Accept Most Major Insurance

Have a Questions? Drop us a line!

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Drop us a line!