Why Talking Alone Isn’t Enough: Healing Trauma Through the Body

When we think about healing trauma, most people imagine sitting with a counsellor, talking through painful memories, and finding meaning in what happened. And while talking therapies are incredibly valuable, they often don’t tell the whole story.

That’s because trauma isn’t just stored in the mind—it’s stored in the body.

The Body Keeps the Score

If you’ve ever experienced sudden panic, a racing heart, or tension in your shoulders for “no reason,” you’ve felt how the body remembers. Trauma imprints itself deep into the nervous system and tissues, often leaving behind anxiety, chronic tension, digestive issues, or disturbed sleep long after the mind understands the experience.

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score, describes trauma as something that leaves a physical “footprint” in the body. Which explains why people sometimes say, “I know I’m safe now, but my body doesn’t feel it.”

Why Talking Isn’t Always Enough

Counselling and psychotherapy are wonderful for helping us process memories, find clarity, and develop coping tools. But sometimes the words don’t touch the body’s lingering patterns. You may understand your trauma perfectly well, and yet still feel trapped in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses.

This is why many people seek out body-based therapies alongside talking.

How Craniosacral Therapy Helps

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on approach that works with the body’s natural rhythms and encourages the nervous system to settle. With light, supportive touch, a therapist listens to areas of tension and allows the body to gradually release long-held stress.

Clients often describe sessions as deeply calming—sometimes the first time in years they’ve felt truly safe in their own body. Over time, this can ease anxiety, improve sleep, release tension, and restore a sense of peace and balance.

Healing Is a Journey

Trauma healing is rarely about one single method—it’s about finding the right combination of support for you. Talking therapies help us make sense of the story. Craniosacral Therapy helps the body let go of it. Together, they create a more complete path to recovery.

If you’d like to explore how Craniosacral Therapy could support your healing journey, I’d love to hear from you. You can find out more or book a session.