Ep. 50 - How Somatic Therapy Heals Trauma & Anxiety: A Deep Dive with Amy Hagerstrom, LCSW

The Holistic Counselor

Welcome back, my fearfully and wonderfully made humans! In this episode, Diana explores the increasingly popular term somatic with expert Amy Hagerstrom, LCSW. Amy specializes in somatic experiencing and the Safe and Sound Protocol, helping adults struggling with anxiety, trauma, and midlife stress. She shares her personal journey, how somatic therapy transformed her mental health, and practical ways it can help individuals process stored trauma and regulate their nervous systems.

If you've ever felt like traditional talk therapy wasn't enough or wondered how trauma gets stored in the body, this episode is for you.

Key Topics Covered:

• Amy’s personal story and how she found somatic therapy

• The difference between talk therapy and somatic therapy

• Understanding the mind-body connection and its impact on trauma

• How chronic pain, anxiety, and depression relate to stored trauma

• Practical exercises to help regulate the nervous system

• The role of polyvagal theory in healing trauma

• Grounding techniques and their importance in daily life

• Safe and Sound Protocol and how it aids in nervous system regulation

Practical Exercises & Takeaways:

• Grounding Exercise: Focus on feeling the chair beneath you, your feet on the ground, and how your body makes contact with surfaces.

• Pendulation Technique: Shift attention between areas of discomfort and areas that feel neutral or good in the body.

• Mindful Check-ins: Ask yourself: Am I thirsty? Hungry? Holding tension? Bringing awareness to bodily sensations can help improve self-regulation.

Recommended Resources:

• Waking the Tiger by Peter Levine

• In an Unspoken Voice by Peter Levine (for clinicians)

• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

• Polyvagal Theory in Therapy by Deb Dana

• TraumaHealing.org (for more on Somatic Experiencing)

• The Embody Lab (for body-based courses and workshops)

Connect with Amy Hagerstrom:

• Website: www.amyhagerstrom.com

Connect with Diana S. Rice:

• Website: www.throughthevalleytherapy.com

• Podcast: The Holistic Counselor Podcast

• Instagram: @TheHolisticCounselorPodcast

Closing Message: Be kind to yourself. Our bodies endure so much in this world, and learning to trust and regulate our nervous systems is a journey. Remember to trust in the Lord, guard your heart, and renew your mind. See you next time!