The Body Remembers: What a Week at Oxford Taught Me About Healing Trauma
TL;DR: I spent a week at the Transform Trauma Conference at the University of Oxford. somatic approaches, what they can look like in a session, and the inspiration I'm bringing home to my practice.
A week on hallowed ground
I just spent a week at the Transform Trauma Conference at the University of Oxford, and I am still taking it all in.
There is something about walking through Oxford that makes you slow down. Centuries of scholarship live in those buildings. Sitting there and learning about healing felt like standing on hallowed ground.
The speakers made it even more special. I had the privilege of learning from Janina Fisher, Tara Swart, Ruby Wax, Dick Schwartz, Kristin Neff, Dan Siegel, Gabor Maté, Dr. Scott Lyons and, last but certainly not least, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk. These are people whose books sit on my shelves and whose ideas shape how I work. After more than 22 years in practice, I sat in that room as a student again, and I loved every minute.
One message came up repeatedly, from neuroscience, from psychology and from lived experience: healing trauma means working with the body, not only the mind.
Why the body belongs in trauma therapy
Trauma is not only a memory of something that happened. It is also stored in the nervous system and the body. It shows up as a racing heart, a tight jaw, shallow breathing, numbness, or a startle that fires before we can think.
Talk therapy matters. Insight matters. But many of my clients can tell their story clearly and still feel their body brace when something reminds them of it. The thinking brain understands the danger is over. The body has not received the message yet.
This is why so many speakers at Oxford stressed that trauma therapy works best when it includes a somatic component. "Somatic" simply means "of the body." A somatic approach helps clients notice what is happening inside them, build a sense of safety in the present moment, and let the nervous system settle at its own pace.
Somatic approaches, in plain language
There is no single "somatic therapy." It is a family of approaches that bring the body into the healing process. Here are some of the best known:
Somatic Experiencing, developed by Peter Levine, gently tracks body sensations so stored survival energy can release in small, manageable doses.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, developed by Pat Ogden, notices posture, movement and physical impulses linked to traumatic memories, alongside talk therapy.
EMDR, developed by Francine Shapiro, processes distressing memories while using bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), developed by Laney Rosenzweig, combines eye movements with body awareness and imagery to reduce the distress tied to a memory, often in fewer sessions.
Trauma-sensitive yoga, developed at the Trauma Center at JRI, uses choice-based movement and breath to help clients feel safe and in charge of their own bodies.
Polyvagal-informed therapy, based on Stephen Porges' theory and applied clinically by Deb Dana, helps clients recognize nervous system states and move gently toward safety and connection.
Somatic IFS, developed by Susan McConnell, brings body awareness into Internal Family Systems work with our inner "parts."
Dance and movement therapy uses movement to express what words cannot reach.
The right fit depends on the person. What these approaches share is respect for the body's wisdom and a slow, client-led pace.
What this can look like in a session
Somatic work is often quieter and simpler than people expect. In a session, you might be invited to:
• Ground by feeling your feet on the floor or the support of the chair beneath you.
• Notice where a feeling lives in the body, such as tightness in the chest or heaviness in the shoulders, without needing to change it.
• Breathe more slowly, especially with a longer exhale, to signal safety to the nervous system.
• Orient by letting your eyes move around the room and land on something pleasant or neutral.
• Pendulate between a difficult sensation and a place in the body that feels calm or okay.
• Move in small, natural ways, like pushing against a wall or rolling the shoulders, to complete a protective impulse.
You are always in charge. Nothing is forced, and stopping is always an option. Over time, these small moments of safety add up to real change.
What I'm bringing home
Beyond the techniques, I left Oxford with a deep sense of our common humanity. Trauma can make people feel completely alone. Sitting in a room full of people dedicated to healing reminded me that we are connected, and that none of us is ever truly alone.
I also left with a clear next step. The session with Dr. Dick Schwartz blew me away, and I am now committed to formal training in Internal Family Systems. IFS invites us to meet every part of ourselves with curiosity and compassion, and it fits naturally with body-based work.
I am bringing all of this back to my clients, my couples work and my practice. If you have been carrying something that talking alone has not touched, I would be honored to explore it with you. You can learn more or reach out at:
