How Trauma is Held in the Body

"Trauma is not simply a memory in the mind, but a set of bodily sensations, a set of reactions and feelings that have not been fully processed. The body holds the experience until it can be felt, understood, and released." By Eugene Gendlin

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I learned Focusing-Oriented Therapy (FOT) from my teacher, Leslie Ellis, whose work deepened my understanding of how trauma is not merely a psychological experience but something deeply woven into the fabric of our bodies. In FOT, trauma is understood as something that leaves its imprint not just in the mind, but in the body's sensations, emotions, and unresolved experiences. The body becomes a storehouse for trauma, a place where feelings and memories get trapped and can’t be fully processed or verbalized in the moment of crisis. The magic of FOT lies in its ability to reconnect us with these sensations and help release the stored trauma, guiding us toward healing through presence and embodied awareness.

Trauma, as it lives in the body, often shows up as a felt sense—a deep, physical knowing we may not fully understand. For example, you might feel a tightness in the chest, a knot in your stomach, or an overwhelming heaviness in your limbs. These sensations, though subtle, carry the emotional weight of past trauma, lingering long after the event itself. In FOT, the focus is on slowing down and tuning into these bodily sensations, no matter how vague they may seem. By bringing attention to these areas, we can begin to understand what has been left unresolved, unlocking a path toward healing.

Often, trauma also leaves behind emotions that weren’t fully processed at the time—fear, grief, anger—that become trapped in the body. These emotions can get stuck, creating physical tension or shutting down the ability to feel fully present. For example, someone who has experienced abuse might feel chronic anxiety or carry tightness in their shoulders. In FOT, the goal is to gently reconnect with these emotions, offering a compassionate space to release them, rather than keeping them locked in the body. This process allows for the emotional expression and healing that didn’t happen in the moment of trauma.

One of the most profound ways trauma is held in the body is through the freeze response. This is the body’s natural defense mechanism during extreme stress, where it may feel immobilized or numb. But if the trauma isn’t processed, that “freeze” can persist, leaving us feeling stuck or disconnected. FOT helps us bring attention to these stuck sensations, gradually allowing them to release. By tuning into these frozen parts of the body, we begin to restore flow and movement—healing the body’s freeze response in a gentle and manageable way.

At the heart of FOT is the deep recognition that the body is not just a container for trauma—it is also a place of wisdom and healing. The body carries our experiences, but it also holds the potential for release and recovery. By tuning into our bodily sensations with compassion, we can reclaim our connection to ourselves, helping to heal not just the mind, but the physical, emotional, and spiritual layers of our being. Trauma can be released when we meet it with presence, awareness, and care—allowing the body to reawaken and restore its natural flow.