The Body Holds the Healing: Listening to the Wisdom Within

Recently, I came across an exciting article by Cathy Malchiodi, PhD—"The Body Holds the Healing". Malchiodi's words resonated so deeply with what I shared in my last newsletter. I felt this was the perfect next step in our conversation about embodiment, trauma healing, and self-discovery.

Why the Body Matters in Healing

Malchiodi's piece underscores an increasingly recognized truth: our bodies are not just witnesses to our life experiences—they hold the memory and the path to healing. The phrase "the issues are in our tissues" sums it up. Body-based therapies and somatic approaches help us access these bodily memories, offering gentle ways to release what no longer serves us.

Embodiment and the Felt Sense

Embodiment is the practice of tuning into our bodies—learning to listen to the subtle sensations, tension, breath, and movement. It's about creating a "felt sense," where we become aware of physical signals and emotions long before we can express them with words. Malchiodi describes how trauma, stress, and emotional wounds often store themselves in our nervous systems, shaping our day-to-day reactions and overall well-being. The Power of Creative Expression

Expressive arts therapy draws on movement, sound, and visual art to tap into this body wisdom. Creative modalities can bypass the logical mind, giving voice to embodied feelings and supporting emotional regulation. Malchiodi and others highlight that even simple practices—like body scans, mindful breathing, and free-form art—can help restore connection between mind and body.

How I Work with Embodiment in My Practice

The foundation of my work rests on a simple but profound principle: non-judgment and compassionate witnessing. When you come into my office, I'm not here to "fix" you or convince your body to transform. You are not broken—you are simply in the process of remembering who you truly are.

The key to coming into relationship with your body is approaching it from a place of non-judgment, gentle witnessing, and without an agenda—not even an agenda to heal or transform. Your body already knows its own way to healing. What it needs most is to be held in compassionate presence, to be allowed to move and express at its own pace, on its own terms.

In our sessions together, I keep you company as you remember. I create a safe container where your body can unfold without pressure or expectation. Sometimes healing looks like tears. Sometimes it looks like stillness. Sometimes it looks like a shift in how you breathe or a quiet realization. All of it is welcome. All of it is the body's wisdom at work.

This approach—meeting you and your body with curiosity rather than agenda—is where the real transformation happens. Not because I'm doing something to you, but because you're finally allowed to be exactly as you are, witnessed and held with care.

Simple Practices to Get Started

• Body Scan with Curiosity: Spend a few minutes checking in with each part of your body, noticing sensations without judgment. Meet each sensation as if you're meeting an old friend.

• Breath Awareness: Are you breathing deeply or shallowly? Notice the rhythm and simply allow it to be what it is.

• Gentle Movement: Let your body move in whatever way feels natural—stretching, swaying, walking. There's no "right" way.

• Sensation Journaling: Write about physical sensations rather than emotions—describe what you feel in your body without trying to change it.
  

The Invitation

Our bodies have always been trying to guide us, protect us, and heal us. Sometimes, all we need is a safe space to listen. Embodiment is not about perfection; it is about curiosity, compassion, and coming home to yourself.

If you're interested in exploring these ideas further, I'm here to walk alongside you on that journey—keeping you company as you remember your own wholeness.

With care, Mariya Garnet

I offer a somatic, creative, compassionate, and empowering therapeutic space. I hold unconditional positive regard for my clients and see their light, yet I am not afraid to gently challenge you to step into your fullness.

I am practicing under clinical supervision. If your benefit plan covers Registered Psychotherapists, my services may be covered by your insurance. I also have some limited availability for sliding scale sessions.

Book a Consultation