Somatic Therapy Therapists in Ottawa

Browse 1 therapist offering Somatic Therapy in Ottawa. Find the right counsellor or psychotherapist for your needs.

Somatic therapy is a broad term for approaches that treat the body as a central part of psychological healing. Rather than focusing primarily on thoughts or verbal insight, somatic therapy pays close attention to what is happening physically during a session: shifts in breath, tension patterns, posture, movement, and internal sensation. The underlying idea is that stress and trauma are not only stored mentally but also in the body, and that working with physical experience can be an effective pathway to emotional and psychological change.

What to look for in a Somatic Therapy therapist on Purple Lotus

  • Training in a recognized somatic modality (e.g. Somatic Experiencing, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy)
  • Experience with trauma, anxiety, or dissociation
  • Clear approach to pacing and managing activation in sessions
  • Comfort working with both verbal and non-verbal experience

1 therapist for Somatic Therapy in Ottawa

Browse 1 therapist offering Somatic Therapy in Ottawa. Find the right counsellor or psychotherapist for your needs.

Julianna Servello

Julianna Servello

I work with children, teens, adults, couples, and families who may be feeling overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected, or unsure of how to move forward. My goal is to create a warm, supportive space where you can feel comfortable being yourself while working toward meaningful and lasting change. I bring a strong clinical background to my private practice, with experience working in hospital and community settings with individuals and families navigating a wide range of mental health, emotional, relational, and life challenges. My hospital experience has given me the opportunity to work with people during some of the most difficult and uncertain periods of their lives, supporting clients and families through complex circumstances, significant transitions, illness, trauma, crisis, grief, and changes in functioning. This experience has shaped the way I practice today: with compassion, clinical thoughtfulness, and an understanding that every person’s circumstances and needs are different. My clinical work includes supporting individuals experiencing anxiety, ADHD, OCD, emotional regulation difficulties, relationship and family concerns, grief, trauma, burnout, self-esteem concerns, and major life transitions. I also support clients through prenatal and postpartum challenges and the emotional impact of motor vehicle accidents and other traumatic experiences. I work with clients across the lifespan and tailor therapy to their individual goals, strengths, personality, and circumstances. OCD is a particular area of clinical interest and expertise for me. I have extensive training and experience supporting clients with OCD and related anxiety concerns, and I understand how consuming and disruptive intrusive thoughts, uncertainty, compulsions, and avoidance can become. My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and evidence-informed, with the goal of helping clients better understand their experiences and develop greater confidence in responding to difficult thoughts, feelings, and sensations. I also provide OCD-focused clinical supervision and consultation to other clinicians looking to strengthen their knowledge and confidence in this area. I also have a strong interest in ADHD and emotional regulation. For clients with ADHD, I recognize that challenges can extend far beyond attention and organization and may affect relationships, self-esteem, emotional regulation, work, school, and day-to-day functioning. Therapy can provide a space to better understand these patterns, develop strategies that are realistic for your life, and move away from shame or self-criticism toward greater self-understanding. My approach is integrative and individualized. I draw from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), trauma-informed practice, narrative therapy, and strengths-based approaches. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all model, I consider what you are experiencing, what has or has not worked for you in the past, and what you hope to change. Together, we can identify practical strategies while also exploring the deeper patterns, experiences, and relationships that may be contributing to what you are experiencing. I believe therapy should be both clinically meaningful and genuinely human. You do not need to have everything figured out before coming to therapy, and you do not need to know exactly what you need. Sometimes people simply know that something is not feeling right, that they are exhausted from trying to manage everything on their own, or that they keep finding themselves caught in the same patterns. Therapy can provide an opportunity to slow down, make sense of what is happening, and develop a clearer path forward. Whether you are navigating anxiety, OCD, ADHD, grief, trauma, relationship difficulties, burnout, a major life transition, or simply feeling stuck, I aim to meet you where you are. My role is not to tell you who you should be or how you should live, but to work alongside you to better understand yourself, build on your existing strengths, and develop meaningful changes that fit your life. I welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with clients and, when appropriate, with families and other healthcare professionals involved in their care. My hospital background has reinforced for me the value of collaboration and continuity of care, and I believe that connecting clients with the right supports can make an important difference in their overall wellbeing. Above all, I want therapy to feel like a space where you can be honest, understood, and supported without judgment. Whether you are coming to therapy for the first time or have been in therapy before, we can start wherever you are and work together from there.

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Frequently asked questions

What is somatic therapy used for?

Somatic therapy is commonly used for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, chronic stress, and dissociation. It may also be relevant for people experiencing physical tension or symptoms they believe are connected to emotional experience. The approach works with body sensation and nervous system responses rather than relying on verbal processing alone.

How is somatic therapy different from regular talk therapy?

Talk therapy works primarily through conversation and reflection. Somatic therapy pays close attention to what is happening in the body during a session, including sensation, posture, breath, and movement. Rather than narrating an experience, you track your physical response to it. Some therapists blend both approaches.

What happens in a somatic therapy session?

Sessions involve checking in with your physical experience, identifying a focus such as a memory or a recurring sensation, and tracking how your body responds as you work with it. The therapist may guide small movements or posture shifts to support the nervous system. Sessions move slowly to avoid overwhelming the body.

Is somatic therapy evidence-based?

Research on somatic approaches is growing. Somatic Experiencing has been studied in the context of PTSD and trauma, with some studies showing reductions in symptoms. The evidence base is less established than for approaches like CBT or EMDR, but clinical use is widespread among trauma-specialized practitioners.

How long does somatic therapy take?

Length depends on the complexity of what you are working on. Some people notice meaningful shifts in a few months of weekly sessions. Trauma work, especially when it is complex or long-standing, often takes longer. Your therapist should be able to discuss what a realistic course of treatment looks like for your situation.

Can somatic therapy be done online?

Many somatic therapists offer sessions online. While in-person work allows the therapist to observe physical responses more closely, video sessions can still support body-awareness work, grounding, and sensation tracking. Check individual therapist profiles to see what session formats are available.

Is somatic therapy the same as body psychotherapy?

Body psychotherapy is a related but distinct tradition with roots in Wilhelm Reich and others. Somatic therapy is a broader term that includes approaches like Somatic Experiencing and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, which emerged from trauma research. Both use the body as a focal point, but methods and theoretical frameworks differ.

How do I find a somatic therapist in Ottawa?

Browse therapists in Ottawa who list somatic therapy, Somatic Experiencing, or trauma-focused body-centered approaches in their profile. Look for specific training credentials and experience with the concerns you are bringing, and check whether they offer in-person or online sessions.

Is somatic therapy covered by insurance in Ottawa?

Coverage depends on your extended health benefits and the therapist's professional designation. In Ottawa, sessions with a registered psychologist, psychotherapist, or clinical social worker may be eligible for reimbursement. Contact your insurance provider to confirm eligible designations and session limits.

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