Embodiment in Counselling

At our practice, we recognize that healing does not happen only in the mind — it happens through the whole person. Embodiment in counselling is about reconnecting with the knowledge your body holds in safe, grounded, and gentle ways. Our approach honours the body as an essential partner in emotional healing, not just a vessel that carries the mind.

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What is Embodiment?​

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Embodiment means living with awareness, curiosity, and compassion toward our bodily experience — noticing sensations, emotions, and impulses without judgment. In therapy, embodiment helps you tune in to what your body has been holding: tension, emotion, intuition, or memories that words alone might not fully reach.

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Rather than focusing solely on thinking or analysing, embodiment invites a deeper sense of presence. You might notice how your body reacts when talking about certain experiences, learn to ground yourself through breath or movement, or explore how your posture, tone, or energy reflect your inner world. These small, mindful moments help bridge the gap between what you know and what you feel.

Who is it for?​

Embodied counselling can be supportive for anyone who feels disconnected from themselves, “stuck in their head,” or cut off from their emotions. It can help with:

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• Trauma and the effects of chronic stress

• Anxiety and panic

• Emotional numbness or dissociation

• Self-criticism and body shame

• Difficulty relaxing or feeling safe in your own skin

• A desire for deeper self-awareness and authenticity

 

For trauma survivors, embodiment can be a gentle way to reclaim a sense of safety and belonging within the body — at your own pace, and always with care.

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How Does Embodiment Work?

 

In embodied counselling, your therapist will help you slow down and notice what’s happening in your body as you talk about your experiences. This might include paying attention to breath, posture, or sensations, or exploring emotions that surface physically.

 

We move gently — no forced exercises, no requirement to touch or move in any particular way. You remain in control of the process. Through mindful awareness and compassionate curiosity, you begin to listen to your body’s messages and to respond with care rather than avoidance or judgment.

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As Dr. Hillary McBride describes it, embodiment is “coming home to ourselves” — learning to inhabit your body as a place of safety, wisdom, and connection.

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The evidence

 

Embodied approaches to therapy are supported by a growing body of research in neuroscience, trauma recovery, and psychology. Studies show that body-based awareness and regulation skills can reduce anxiety, lower stress, and support trauma integration. Researchers like Dr. Hillary McBride and Dr. Bessel van der Kolk have demonstrated how reconnecting with bodily experience can restore a sense of safety, identity, and vitality.

 

While embodiment is not about techniques or quick fixes, it offers a profound way of learning to trust your own experience — gently, one breath at a time.

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Why Embodiment? 

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Including embodiment is crucial in many aspects of counselling. In our culture, many of us have learned to live from the neck up — to value productivity, control, and appearance over presence, rest, and felt experience. We push through fatigue, ignore discomfort, and treat our bodies as problems to be solved rather than parts of us that need care. We often ignore our bodies in an attempt to be strong, overcome weakness, or be selfless --- overlooking the very resource needed to accomplish goals like these in the long run.

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This disconnection can leave us anxious, tense, and emotionally distant from ourselves and others. Embodiment work helps to restore what our culture often forgets: that our bodies are not obstacles to overcome, but essential guides in our healing and aliveness.

 

By gently re-establishing trust and connection with your body, therapy becomes a space where you can experience wholeness — not just insight.

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Integrating embodiment with other approaches

 

At The Wholehearted, embodiment is woven throughout our work. We integrate it with approaches like Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to support healing on every level — cognitive, emotional, relational, and physical. Together, these approaches create a holistic, grounded, and compassionate path toward lasting change.

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Next Steps

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What would it be like to feel at home in your own body? If you are interested in counselling that includes embodiment, we invite you to book a consultation to discuss if this may be a good fit for you in counselling. ​​​​​​​​