What to Expect in a Somatic Therapy Session: A Gentle Guide for New Clients

Stepping Into Something New

Starting therapy can feel like entering a room where everyone else already knows the rules except you. People often imagine a serious looking therapist, a long couch, and the expectation to unpack your entire life story in the first hour. Thankfully, the reality is much kinder. Somatic relational therapy is not about performing or saying the right thing. It is about slowing down, noticing what is happening inside your body, and feeling supported while you explore your inner world. At Abi Hendra Counselling and Therapy, the first session is not a test. It is a meeting, a conversation, and an invitation to breathe a little easier.

This article will walk you through exactly what to expect, so you can arrive with confidence instead of confusion.

Your First Session What Actually Happens

A Warm Welcome Not an Interrogation

Your first session begins with a simple conversation. You do not need to arrive with a perfectly organised story or a detailed emotional map. You can bring uncertainty, curiosity, tiredness, worry, hope, or a mix of everything. All of it is welcome.

I might ask what brings you to therapy, what you hope to feel more of in life, and what you want less of. Some clients dive straight into their struggles. Others sit quietly for a moment and say, “I do not know where to start.” Both are completely normal.

The purpose of the first session is not to fix anything. It is to get to know you, understand your pace, and give your nervous system a sense that this is a safe place to land.

Understanding the Somatic Part

Why the Body Has a Seat in the Room

In somatic therapy, the body is not treated as a background actor. It is part of the conversation. Not in a dramatic way and definitely not in a “please relive your trauma” way. It is more like gently tuning in to what your system is already telling you.

For example, when you talk about a stressful moment, I might ask, “As you share that, what do you notice inside?” This question is not a trap. It is simply an invitation to pay attention. You might notice your shoulders tensing or your breath becoming shallow. You might notice nothing at all, which is also useful information.

The goal is not to analyse your body like a science project. It is to reconnect with cues you may have ignored for a long time. Most people are surprised by how subtle and simple this process feels.

The Relational Part and Why It Matters

Therapy Is Not Something You Do Alone

Somatic relational therapy recognises that the connection between therapist and client is part of the healing. You are not expected to fix yourself in front of me. We work together.

This means I am not a distant expert staring at you over a clipboard. I engage, I listen carefully, and I support you with real presence. When your nervous system feels met with steadiness and compassion, something softens. You may breathe deeper. You may feel your body settling. That is the relational part doing its work.

Many people have spent years holding themselves together or minimising their feelings. Therapy becomes a place where you do not have to.

At Abi Hendra Counselling and Therapy, the relationship is grounded in respect and cultural sensitivity. You do not need to explain your entire identity for your experience to make sense here.

A Glimpse into What Sessions Feel Like

Conversation, Awareness, and No Pressure to Perform

A typical session unfolds through gentle conversation. You talk about what has been happening in your life, how you have been feeling, or what you want support with. Whenever it makes sense, we slow down and notice what your body is doing in the moment.

This may include:

• noticing breath

• sensing tension or warmth

• pausing when emotions rise

• grounding through your feet

• settling back into your seat

• using gentle imagery or mindfulness if you want to

• 
  

None of this is forced. You are always in control. The aim is to feel more connected, not overwhelmed.

A Short Client Story

Meeting the Body Where It Is

Let me introduce you to Samir, his story is typical of what many clients experience.

Samir arrived at his first session feeling restless and embarrassed by his anxiety. He said his thoughts never switched off and his heart raced even when nothing stressful was happening.

As he talked, he noticed his hands tightening in his lap. We simply paused. I invited him to breathe slowly and feel his hands resting against his legs. He looked surprised and said, “I did not realise how tense I was.”

That moment became a turning point. Over time, Samir learned to recognise what triggered his body into high alert, and how to soften those reactions. He felt more grounded, more steady, and more in control. Not because he learned a magic trick, but because he finally listened to the signals his body had been sending him for years.

Do We Use Techniques or Only Talk?

A Blend of Conversation and Embodied Awareness

Somatic therapy combines talking with body based techniques. These may include:

• slow grounding practices

• gentle movement or posture awareness

• exploring sensations linked to emotions

• breath work tailored to your comfort

• resourcing, which helps you connect with safety and steadiness

• noticing relational patterns that show up in the room

  
  

The techniques are always optional. Some clients love them. Some prefer mostly talking with occasional body awareness. Some start with talk therapy and slowly expand into somatic work. There is no right way.

What You Will Not Experience

No Forced Emotion

You will never be pushed to relive trauma or share more than you want. Healing happens through safety, not pressure.

No Abrupt Silence

Therapy is not about staring at you and waiting for you to panic. If silence happens, it is supportive and purposeful, not awkward.

No Judgement

You can bring your real self. The overwhelmed version. The confident version. The confused version. All are welcome.

No One Size Fits All Approach

Your personality, culture, sensitivity, and pace matter. Therapy adjusts to you, not the other way around.

How Somatic Sessions Help Over Time

Building Awareness and Safety

As you progress in therapy, something subtle begins to shift. You start noticing stress before it explodes into overwhelm. You become kinder to yourself. You feel more grounded in your body. You know how to calm your nervous system without fighting yourself. You feel more available for relationships, rest, and joy.

These shifts are the foundation of emotional wellbeing. Symptoms ease because your system is no longer constantly bracing for danger.

Common Concerns Before Starting Therapy

“What if I do not feel anything in my body”

Totally normal. Many people feel disconnected at first. Awareness grows naturally over time.

“What if I get emotional”

Emotions are welcome, but you will never be left alone in them. We slow down, we support, and we move at your pace.

“What if my story is too much”

Nothing about you is too much. Your feelings, reactions, and experiences make sense in the context of your life.

Who This Approach Helps

Somatic relational therapy is especially supportive for people dealing with:

• anxiety or racing thoughts

• trauma or chronic stress

• burnout

• low self worth

• emotional numbness

• relationship difficulties

• cultural or identity pressure

• overthinking that never switches off

• difficulty resting or slowing down

This approach suits anyone looking for something deeper than talk alone. It is gentle, inclusive, and grounded in real human connection.

Taking The First Step

Beginning therapy is a brave and tender step. You do not need to arrive confident or even clear about what you want. You only need to arrive as you are. Somatic relational therapy offers a way to reconnect with yourself, release tension held for years, and rebuild inner safety one session at a time.

When you are ready to explore this work, Abi Hendra Counselling and Therapy is here to support you with warmth, care, and a space where your body and mind both have a voice.