By Dr. Nilsana Charkhande, PsyD, RCC, CCC, ACS — therapist and clinical supervisor with 15+ years treating trauma, anxiety, depression, and family concerns.
Trauma lives in more than memory
Trauma does not only live in thoughts or stories. It often shows up in the body through tension, racing heartbeats, shallow breathing, numbness, or a sense of being on alert. You might understand “what happened” and still feel stuck. That is because the nervous system learns to protect you by staying ready for danger. Healing asks the mind and the body to reconnect in ways that feel safe, compassionate, and steady.
What is a somatic approach?
Somatic therapy pays attention to the body’s signals during therapy. Sessions include gentle awareness of breath, posture, and sensation, along with supportive talk therapy. By noticing small shifts in the body, you can learn to recognize triggers earlier, calm the nervous system, and build a feeling of safety from the inside out.
Somatic work is not about reliving trauma. It is about creating enough safety to sense what you feel now, in small steps, with support. Over time, your body can learn that the threat has passed and that it is possible to rest again.
Signs the body is holding trauma
- Chronic tension in the jaw, neck, shoulders, or stomach
- Sleep difficulties or frequent fatigue
- Feeling numb or disconnected during stress
- Startle response, irritability, or panic without a clear cause
- Trouble concentrating or remembering after a stressful event
These experiences are common survival responses. They can change with consistent care.
How sessions may look
Collaborative pacing: We decide together what feels manageable. You set the speed.
Grounding and breath: Simple practices to help the body settle and feel present.
Tracking sensation: Naming warmth, tightness, or movement to understand what the body is saying.
Choice and control: You always choose which exercises to try and when to pause.
Integration: Linking body awareness with thoughts and emotions so that relief lasts beyond the session.
Why this helps
When the nervous system learns safety through real, felt experiences, symptoms often lessen. Many people notice fewer triggers, a greater emotional range, and a greater ability to rest and connect with others. Somatic therapy can be used on its own or alongside approaches like EMDR, CBT, or mindfulness to support whole-person healing.
Creating a compassionate space
My practice is built on respect, collaboration, and cultural sensitivity. I welcome your pace, your boundaries, and your lived experience. Together, we create a therapeutic space where you can explore without pressure, and where small wins are noticed and celebrated. Safety and trust are the foundation for every step we take.
Getting started
If your body feels stuck in survival, you are not alone. With gentle, somatic care, it is possible to feel grounded, connected, and more at home in yourself. If you are ready to explore a compassionate, body-based approach to healing trauma, I would be honored to support you.
Contact Dr. Charkhande to schedule a consultation and begin your healing process.
By Dr. Nilsana Charkhande, PsyD, RCC, CCC, ACS.
Her clinical work focuses on trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, OCD, addiction, eating concerns, family relationships, and self-harm. Her training includes EMDR, CBT, DBT, hypnotherapy, art therapy, and Safe and Sound Protocol.
