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Geneva, IL
Naperville, IL
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Somatic Therapy

Polyvagal-informed therapy to gently calm your nervous system, release stored stress, and help you feel more present, safe, and connected in your own body.
Sound like you?
"I feel constantly on edge, and I don’t know how to relax anymore."

"No matter what I do, I can’t shake this sense of disconnection from my own body."

"I know I’m safe now, but my body doesn’t believe it. The smallest things send me into panic or completely shut me down."

"I'm always feeling like I'm in fight or flight."
Life doesn't have to stay this way. We can help!
It feels like your body is constantly in a state of tension, as if you can’t escape the feeling that something is wrong. You’re exhausted from being on high alert all the time, yet you can’t seem to relax or feel at ease. No matter how much you talk about your experiences, it’s as if your body hasn’t gotten the message—it’s still holding onto the stress and fear. You might feel disconnected from yourself, like you’re just going through the motions without really being present. The idea of feeling safe and grounded seems distant, and you wonder if you’ll ever truly feel comfortable in your own skin again. Every day feels like a battle against the invisible weight of stress and trauma that you carry.
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What is Somatic Therapy?

At Creating Space Therapy, our polyvagal-informed somatic therapy approach is rooted in understanding how the nervous system responds to trauma. When someone experiences distressing or overwhelming events, their body instinctively shifts into survival states—fight, flight, freeze, or shutdown. These responses, while protective in the moment, can become deeply ingrained patterns that make it difficult to feel safe, connected, and regulated.

Our therapy is designed to help clients reconnect with their bodies, regulate their nervous systems, and build a lasting sense of safety. Using the principles of Polyvagal Theory, we guide clients in recognizing how their nervous system shifts between survival and connection, and we offer tools to help restore balance, release stored tension, and foster resilience.

Through breathwork, mindful movement, co-regulation, and other body-based practices, we create a space where clients can explore how emotions are held in the body. This process allows them to gently process trauma, improve emotional regulation, and cultivate a sense of connection—with themselves and others. Our polyvagal-informed approach is not about pushing through discomfort but rather about working with the body's natural rhythms to create lasting healing and empowerment.

What to Expect in an Somatic Therapy Session

In polyvagal-informed somatic therapy at Creating Space Therapy, we focus on healing through nervous system regulation, body awareness, and co-regulation. This approach moves beyond traditional talk therapy by helping you tune into your body’s signals, process stored emotions, and develop tools for emotional balance in a way that feels safe and empowering.

Each session is tailored to your unique nervous system needs, supporting you in moving out of survival states—fight, flight, freeze, or shutdown—and into a place of safety and connection. You may engage in breathwork, grounding exercises, mindful movement, or guided touch awareness, all designed to help calm an overactive nervous system, release stored tension, and build resilience. Your therapist will also introduce co-regulation techniques, allowing you to experience safety and connection in a supportive therapeutic relationship.

Over time, you’ll learn to recognize how your body responds to stress and how to shift into a more regulated state with greater ease. Through this process, polyvagal-informed somatic therapy helps you rebuild trust in your body, strengthen emotional resilience, and cultivate a deep sense of safety—within yourself and in your relationships.

How Do I Know If I Need Somatic Therapy?

If you feel constantly on edge, physically drained, or disconnected from your body due to the lingering effects of grief and trauma, polyvagal-informed somatic therapy may offer the healing path you’ve been seeking. This approach helps regulate your nervous system, restore a sense of safety, and rebuild connection with yourself.
You feel stuck in survival mode
Your body holds onto stress
You struggle with emotional regulation
You feel disconnected from yourself
Relationships feel challenging
Traditional talk therapy hasn’t been enough
It may feel impossible now, but you can find relief and reconnect with your body and your life. You can live a life that feels grounded, balanced, and true to who you are. And we can help you get there.
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Polyvagal-Informed Approach to Somatic Therapy is More Effective for Trauma Healing

Traditional talk therapy can be helpful, but trauma is stored in the body, not just in the mind. Our polyvagal-informed somatic therapy goes beyond conversation, working directly with your nervous system to help you regulate, heal, and reconnect with yourself in a way that feels safe and lasting. By understanding how trauma affects your body and using body-based techniques, we help you move out of survival mode and into a state of balance, connection, and resilience.

Works with Your Nervous System, Not Against It

Instead of forcing you to revisit painful memories before your body is ready, our approach meets you where you are, helping you feel safe before diving into deeper healing. We focus on regulation first, then processing, so you’re not retraumatized in therapy.

Helps You Heal at the Root, Not Just Manage Symptoms

Trauma can manifest as anxiety, depression, or chronic stress, but these are symptoms—not the root cause. Our polyvagal-informed therapy addresses the underlying nervous system dysregulation, helping you heal from the foundation up rather than just coping with surface-level symptoms.

Builds Lasting Change by Rewiring Your Body’s Responses

​Emotional healing isn’t just about insight—it’s about teaching your body to feel safe again. Using co-regulation, breathwork, and movement-based techniques, we help you rewire your nervous system, so stress no longer controls your life, and connection feels possible again.

How Somatic Therapy Can Help You

01

Learn how to regulate your nervous system

Chronic stress and trauma can keep your body stuck in fight, flight, freeze, or shutdown mode. Together, we’ll explore how your body holds onto stress and trauma, helping you learn ways to soothe these responses, regain a sense of control, and move toward safety and balance.
02

Restore your mind-cody connection

Trauma can create a disconnect between your mind and body, making it difficult to trust your own sensations and emotions. Through breathwork, grounding exercises, and gentle movement, you’ll learn to reconnect with your body in a way that feels safe and empowering.
03

Navigate overwhelming emotions with greater ease

If you often feel emotionally reactive or completely shut down, this therapy provides tools to recognize, regulate, and respond to emotions in a more balanced way. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting what happened—it means finding a way to live with it that no longer leaves you feeling trapped or powerless.
04

Rebuild trust and safety in your relationships

Trauma can make relationships feel unsafe, leading to isolation or difficulty connecting with others. Through co-regulation and nervous system attunement, you’ll learn how to experience connection in a way that feels secure and supportive, helping you rebuild trust in yourself and others.

Our Somatic Therapists

Our team of somatic therapists at Creating Space Therapy is dedicated to helping clients reconnect with their bodies and heal from trauma, grief, and emotional distress. Using a compassionate, polyvagal-informed approach, they support nervous system regulation, guiding clients in understanding how emotions are stored in the body. Through somatic therapy, breathwork, and co-regulation, our therapists help release tension, restore balance, and cultivate a deep sense of safety and connection. With expertise in trauma-informed care, they provide personalized tools to process overwhelming experiences and build resilience. In a safe, grounding space, you’ll learn to listen to your body’s signals and move toward healing with greater ease and self-trust.
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Thelma Razo
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
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Partnering With Your Primary Therapist
Integrating Somatic Therapy with Other Therapeutic Modalities
At Creating Space Therapy, we believe that healing is most effective when it addresses the mind, body, and emotions together. Integrating somatic therapy with other modalities like EMDR, IFS, and mindfulness-based practices creates a comprehensive approach that supports your whole self.
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How does somatic therapy work with EMDR?
When you’re going through EMDR, you’re processing difficult memories and emotions. Somatic therapy helps you stay connected to your body during this process, so you don’t feel overwhelmed. It helps release any physical tension or stress that comes up, making the overall healing experience more complete and lasting.
What’s the benefit of combining somatic therapy with Internal Family Systems (IFS)?
IFS focuses on understanding different parts of yourself that may be in conflict because of trauma. Somatic therapy adds another layer by helping you notice how these parts of you show up physically—like a tight chest when you feel anxious. By addressing these physical sensations, you can make the healing process even more effective.
How does somatic therapy fit with mindfulness practices?
Mindfulness teaches you to be present and aware of your thoughts and feelings. Somatic therapy takes this further by helping you tune into your body’s signals. It’s about noticing what’s happening physically when you’re stressed or anxious and learning how to respond in a way that helps you feel better.
Why would I want to combine these therapies?
At Creating Space Therapy, we know that healing works best when you address your mind, body, and emotions together. By combining somatic therapy with EMDR, IFS, or mindfulness, we create a treatment plan that supports your whole self, helping you heal more deeply and fully.
Still unsure about Somatic Therapy? We understand.
It’s natural to feel hesitant about starting somatic therapy, especially if the approach is new to you. At Creating Space Therapy, we want to address some of the most common concerns to help you feel more confident and informed about this transformative healing process.

Somatic Therapy FAQ

Focusing on your body might feel intimidating, especially if you’re disconnected from physical sensations or have experienced trauma. In somatic therapy, we move at your pace, starting with gentle techniques that prioritize your comfort. You’re always in control, and you never have to explore sensations you’re not ready for.

You may wonder if somatic therapy will be effective, especially if you’ve tried other therapies without success. Somatic therapy is an evidence-based approach that works by addressing trauma stored in the body. Many clients find it helpful when traditional talk therapy alone hasn’t resolved deeper issues. Your therapist will tailor the process to meet your unique needs.

It’s common to fear that exploring physical sensations might trigger overwhelming emotions. Somatic therapy is designed to be grounding and empowering. Techniques like deep breathing and mindful movement are used to help you stay present and regulate emotions safely.

If somatic therapy feels unfamiliar or abstract, know that your therapist will guide you every step of the way. They’ll explain the science behind the process and how it helps release tension and heal trauma, ensuring you feel informed and supported.

You Deserve to Feel Safe and Grounded
Living with the effects of trauma and chronic stress doesn’t have to define your life. You deserve to feel safe in your own body and to have the tools to calm your mind and nervous system. At Creating Space Therapy, we believe in honoring your unique journey toward healing with the personalized care it requires. Through somatic therapy, we help you connect with your body’s natural ability to heal, guiding you to understand and soothe the stress responses that keep you feeling trapped. Our experienced therapists are here to support you every step of the way, offering compassion, expertise, and the gentle guidance you need to regain a sense of balance and peace. You don’t have to face this alone—your well-being is our priority, and we’re dedicated to helping you feel empowered and connected throughout your healing journey.
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