Many spiritual and religious traditions teach that the heart of spiritual life is the capacity to be present. Whether in prayer, meditation, contemplation, or acts of service, the ability to remain grounded rather than swept away by emotional reactivity is often seen as a foundation for spiritual growth. When we are less controlled by our impulses, fears, or habitual reactions, we become more capable of listening, discerning, and responding from a deeper place of awareness.
Yet many people discover that simply trying to "be calm" or "be mindful" is harder than it sounds. You may sit down to pray or meditate and find your mind racing, your body tense, or your emotions quickly overwhelmed. This does not mean you lack discipline or spiritual commitment. Often, it means that your nervous system has learned patterns of activation and protection that make stillness difficult.
This is where psychotherapy approaches such as Somatic Experiencing, developed by Peter A. Levine, can be deeply supportive for people who wish to deepen their spiritual lives.
Presence and the Nervous System
The human nervous system is designed for survival. When we encounter perceived danger, it quickly activates survival responses such as fight, flight, or freeze. These reactions are helpful in moments of real threat, but when the nervous system becomes chronically stuck in these patterns, it can leave us feeling anxious, reactive, or emotionally overwhelmed.
Trauma and chronic stress often leave the nervous system in a state of dysregulation — a condition sometimes called nervous system dysregulation — in which the body struggles to return to a calm baseline. Instead of moving fluidly between states of activation and rest, the body may remain in heightened alertness, shutdown, or emotional reactivity. Somatic Experiencing works directly with these patterns by gently helping the body release stored survival energy and support nervous system regulation.
As nervous system healing unfolds, many people discover something surprising: it becomes easier to be present. Stillness no longer feels threatening. Attention becomes steadier. Emotional waves become more manageable.
In other words, the capacity for contemplative presence grows naturally when the body feels safe.
Meditation and Mindfulness: Helpful, But Sometimes Not Enough
Practices such as Meditation and Mindfulness have long been central to spiritual traditions. They cultivate awareness of the present moment and help create space between stimulus and reaction. By observing thoughts and feelings without immediately reacting to them, people can develop greater emotional regulation and clarity.
However, for individuals with significant stress or trauma histories, the intersection of mindfulness and trauma can be complicated. The nervous system may be so accustomed to vigilance or shutdown that simply sitting quietly with one's experience becomes difficult — and traditional mindfulness approaches may not fully address this.
Somatic Experiencing complements mindfulness practices by working "from the body upward." Instead of beginning with concentration or stillness, it gently builds the nervous system's capacity to tolerate sensation, emotion, and presence. As nervous system regulation increases, meditation and prayer often become more accessible and nourishing rather than strained or effortful.
Becoming Aware of Nervous System Patterns
One of the central insights of somatic therapy is that many of our emotional reactions arise from patterns held in the body rather than from conscious choice alone.
For example, a person may find themselves repeatedly reacting with anxiety, anger, withdrawal, or emotional overwhelm in situations that do not logically require such intensity. These reactions often reflect old survival responses that were once necessary but are no longer needed.
In Somatic Experiencing therapy, individuals learn to notice subtle sensations in the body—tension, warmth, breathing patterns, impulses to move, or shifts in energy. These somatic practices — tracking sensations in a slow and supportive way — allow the nervous system to gradually renegotiate unresolved survival responses and release trapped activation.
As this process unfolds, people often experience:
● Less emotional reactivity
● Greater ability to pause before reacting
● Increased sense of safety in their own bodies
● A deeper capacity for stillness and reflection
These changes can remove significant barriers that previously made spiritual practice difficult.
Emotional Regulation and the Spiritual Traditions
Across many religious traditions, the cultivation of inner steadiness is considered essential for spiritual maturity.
In Christianity, contemplative writers often speak of learning to quiet the "passions" so that the heart can become attentive to God. In Buddhism, meditation practices aim to observe and transform reactive patterns of craving and aversion. In Hinduism, yoga and meditation seek to stabilize the mind so deeper awareness can emerge.
While the language differs, these traditions recognize a common reality: when we are controlled by intense emotional reactivity, it becomes difficult to perceive clearly or remain spiritually grounded.
Modern neuroscience and trauma therapy are increasingly confirming what contemplative traditions have long observed. Emotional regulation and presence are deeply connected to nervous system regulation.
Somatic Experiencing provides practical tools — including somatic experiencing exercises for building body awareness — for developing this stability at the level of the body itself.
Healing Trauma to Support Spiritual Life
Trauma does not only affect our psychological well-being; it can also influence our spiritual lives.
When nervous system dysregulation persists, spiritual practices that require stillness — such as meditation, prayer, or silent reflection — can become difficult or even distressing. People may feel restless, distracted, emotionally flooded, or disconnected.
Somatic therapy for trauma gently helps the body process and release unresolved survival responses from past experiences. By allowing these incomplete defensive responses to resolve, the nervous system can return to a state of greater equilibrium and resilience.
As this regulation develops, many people report:
● Greater capacity for calm and presence
● Less emotional overwhelm during prayer or meditation
● A deeper sense of embodied awareness
● Increased openness to meaning, reflection, and spiritual insight
The benefits of somatic therapy in this context are both psychological and spiritual: healing trauma does not replace spiritual practice — but it can remove obstacles that once made those practices difficult.
Integrating Psychotherapy and Spiritual Life
For many people, spiritual life and psychological healing are not separate journeys. They are deeply interconnected.
Psychotherapy can help us understand our patterns, heal old wounds, and develop emotional regulation. Spiritual practice can provide meaning, orientation, and a deeper sense of purpose and connection.
When these two dimensions are integrated, therapy becomes a space where emotional healing and spiritual growth can support one another.
At Psychotherapy for Spiritual Life, my approach to spiritual psychotherapy recognizes that cultivating presence — within the body, the mind, and the spirit — is central to both psychological healing and spiritual transformation. Somatic approaches such as Somatic Experiencing can help people develop the regulation and awareness needed to engage more fully with the spiritual practices that matter most to them.
If you are interested in exploring spiritually integrated psychotherapy or learning how somatic approaches can support your spiritual life, I invite you to reach out. If you're looking for somatic experiencing therapy in the Peterborough area, I'd be glad to connect. Healing the nervous system can open new possibilities for stillness, reflection, and deeper presence in everyday life.
