Therapy vs. Somatic Coaching:
What’s the Difference—And Why Coaching Might Be the Fast Track to Healing
When someone is struggling—maybe feeling stuck in a relationship cycle, lost in their body, or burned out from talking about the same issues over and over—their first thought is often,
“I should find a therapist.”
Therapy is a wonderful and sometimes life-saving path. I respect it deeply. I’ve used therapy off and on for years myself, with numerous therapists.
But it's not the only option—and for many people, especially those with trauma, relationship challenges, or emotional dysregulation, therapy alone can feel like a slow grind. You talk about the problem. You get insight into the problem. And then… you keep talking.
If that’s where you are—circling the same issues, intellectually “getting it” but not feeling any better—you’re not broken. You’re just trying to think your way out of something that needs to be felt.
That’s where somatic coaching comes in.
And that’s where I come in.
What Is Somatic Coaching?
Somatic coaching is a body-based, experiential approach to emotional healing and personal growth. Instead of just talking about your feelings or your past, we actually practice new ways of being—in your body, in your nervous system, and in your relationships.
You don’t just learn how to regulate your emotions; I show you how to do it in real time, right there in session with me.
It’s hands-on. It’s dynamic. It’s alive.
And yes—it can be uncomfortable, vulnerable, and messy (I call that the “goo”).
But it’s also where the transformation happens.
So How Is It Different From Therapy?
Let me be super clear: therapy can be beautiful. And necessary. Especially if you're working with trauma, grief, or long-term mental health concerns. But somatic coaching offers something most talk therapy doesn't:
🔹 It’s not about what happened, it’s about what you feel
You don’t have to rehash every detail. Your nervous system already knows what happened. Emotions show up in the body whether or not we’re talking about the exact moment the trauma occurred. So we work directly with those feelings as they arise in real time.
🔹 We don’t just talk about the pattern, we act it out
Let’s say your arguments with your partner always end the same way. In a coaching session with me, we step into that moment. I become your partner, and we practice the conflict. You say what you’d normally say—and I show you, with real-time feedback, how that lands emotionally. Then, we try other approaches, and you feel how those land instead.
It’s like couples counseling on steroids—even if your partner isn’t there.
🔹 I coach your nervous system, not just your mind
If your heart is racing, if your chest tightens, if tears show up unexpectedly—I’m not just sitting there watching. I’m with you. Regulating my own system, helping you co-regulate yours. I’ll tell you how I’m feeling in my body as we work. I’ll ask what you feel in yours. And we’ll stay with it together until the wave passes and something new becomes possible.
That’s not “thinking your way out of it.”
That’s healing.
Why Coaching Works Faster (And Lasts Longer)
I often say: Coaching is the fast track to healing.
That’s not just a slogan—it’s an outcome I see over and over again with my clients.
Here’s why:
It’s skills-based. I don’t just tell you what’s not working—I show you how to do it differently, and we practice it until your body gets it.
It’s experiential. Change doesn’t happen through more information. It happens through experience. That’s why we role-play, drop into your body, and try out new ways of showing up, right in session.
It builds emotional muscles. When you learn how to regulate through sadness, anger, disappointment, or fear—with me beside you—you develop real, embodied confidence. You start trusting yourself. And when those feelings come up outside of our sessions, you know what to do.
A Client Scenario: When the Pattern Finally Breaks
One client I worked with came to me after years of therapy. They could explain their trauma, name their attachment style, and knew exactly how their relationships kept breaking down. But none of that was changing how they actually showed up in the moment.
In our sessions, we re-created the exact kind of fight they often had with their partner. They practiced saying what they’d normally say—and I gave honest, compassionate feedback on how it landed for me. Together, we worked through new ways of expressing the same feeling with more clarity, vulnerability, and emotional safety.
We didn’t just talk about conflict resolution.
We did it. Over and over. Until it felt natural.
Now, that client has tools they actually use in real time. They know how to slow things down, speak from emotion instead of defense, and repair conflict without spiraling. That’s the power of somatic coaching.
What About Trauma?
Trauma doesn’t live in your thoughts.
It lives in your body.
When something painful happens—whether it's emotional, physical, or relational—your nervous system remembers. Even if you can explain it or analyze it, you might still feel stuck, overwhelmed, or numb.
That’s why talk therapy can only go so far. You can't think your way out of a trauma response. You have to feel your way through it, safely, with someone who knows how to walk with you into that space.
In my work with trauma clients, we often visit those stuck emotional states:
👉 The heartbreak that never got processed
👉 The disappointment that got swallowed
👉 The child inside who never felt safe or seen
Sometimes we sit with those feelings together.
Sometimes we bring in the inner child, the protector, or the part of you that’s still afraid.
Sometimes we just breathe, stay connected, and feel what wants to be felt.
And when the emotion runs its course, something shifts. You feel more space. More softness. More you.
That’s how we heal trauma—through the body, in real time, with support.
But Coaching Isn’t Regulated… Isn’t That a Red Flag?
Yes, coaching isn’t regulated like therapy is—and that’s a valid concern.
That’s also why I want to be clear: I’m not just a coach. I’m a trained somatic practitioner, a certified sexologist (soon to be board-certified), and I’ve spent years training in trauma-informed, experiential modalities. I’m accountable to a code of ethics, and I take my responsibility to my clients seriously.
This is not the “rah-rah hype” kind of coaching.
This is body-based, emotionally attuned, heart-centered work.
And it gets results.
Should You Try Therapy or Coaching?
If therapy has worked for you—amazing.
If you have a great therapist—keep them.
But if you’ve been going for years and still feel stuck…
If you’re drowning in insight but starving for change...
If your relationships aren’t getting better, even though you know all the “right” things to say…
Then maybe it’s time to try something different.
Maybe it’s time to get into your body.
To practice healing instead of just talking about it.
To let someone show you how, not just tell you what.
That’s what somatic coaching is.
And that’s what I’d love to do with you.
Let’s Work Together
If you’re in Kansas City or anywhere nearby (or even virtually), and you're ready to explore somatic practices, nervous system regulation, or trauma healing through coaching—I’d love to connect.
Whether you're navigating heartbreak, struggling in your relationship, or just want to feel better in your own skin… coaching could be the path you've been looking for.
Reach out with your questions—I’m here.
You don’t have to stay stuck.
You just have to start.
