BreakThrough Counselling
Somatic Therapy in Montreal
In-person somatic therapy in Montreal for teens and individuals. Online sessions across Québec and Ontario.
Release trauma stored in the body
Reduce tension held from stress and trauma, restoring a sense of safety and calm in your body.
Improve emotional regulation
Manage emotional reactions by building awareness of bodily sensations.
Increase mind-body connection
Understand how physical states affect your emotions, thoughts, and behaviours.
You’ve done the inner work, but your body still feels stuck in the past.
At BreakThrough Counselling, we help you recognize and release these physical responses to heal your mind, body, and soul.
Are you experiencing:
- Chronic tension, headaches, and body pain that just won’t go away, even without a medical cause?
- Digestive issues like nausea, stomach pain, or changes in appetite with no clear explanation?
- A sense of disconnection from your body, like you’re floating through life or stuck on autopilot?
- The feeling of being constantly “on guard” like your body is stuck in fight-or-flight mode?
- Exhaustion—battling sleep issues, fatigue, or restless nights?
- Panic attacks, racing thoughts, or tightness in your chest that feels uncontrollable?
- Feelings of worthlessness or self-criticism, despite your efforts to heal?
- Emotional shutdowns or numbness when things become overwhelming?
With Somatic Therapy, BreakThrough Counselling will help you find relief & feel grounded in your mind & body.
somatic therapy montreal
What is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy is a body-centred approach that uses the connection between your mind and body to help you heal from trauma, stress, and emotional challenges. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which focuses mostly on conversation, somatic therapy works with both your thoughts and physical sensations. We use techniques such as breathwork, gentle movement, mindfulness, and body awareness to release tension, process emotions, and restore balance. Through these techniques, you’ll learn to recognize how your body holds onto stress and develop tools to feel more grounded, present, and connected in your everyday life.
Who could benefit from Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy is effective for individuals of all ages, addressing challenges such as anxiety, stress, panic attacks, depression, grief, addiction, and unresolved trauma.
This approach is particularly beneficial for those experiencing difficulties with grounding, bodily awareness, chronic tension, headaches, and pain without an identifiable medical cause.
somatic therapy montreal
What Somatic Therapy Can Help With
Trauma
Somatic therapy addresses trauma by releasing physical tension and stress held within the body. Reconnect with yourself by creating a sense of safety and reducing the emotional weight of your traumatic experiences.
Anxiety & Panic Attacks
Learn to recognize and respond to the physical sensations that come with anxiety. Grounding techniques and body-based exercises can help you feel more calm in your mind and body while preventing panic attacks from escalating.
Anger Management
Managing anger becomes more achievable by building awareness of bodily sensations that signal rising frustration. We can help you develop healthier ways to release tension and express emotions without reacting impulsively.
Depression
Break free from emotional numbness by reconnecting with your body. Small shifts through embodied practices can restore a sense of motivation and enhance emotional well-being.
Emotional Dysregulation
Developing emotional awareness can help you recognize the physical signs of emotional shifts. This approach equips you with grounding tools to manage overwhelming feelings and stay balanced when emotions take hold.
ADHD
If you have ADHD, somatic therapy offers strategies to enhance body awareness and improve focus. It helps you monitor energy levels for better self-regulation.
Stress & Burnout
Release chronic tension and reset the nervous system. Develop sustainable practices that promote relaxation, prevent burnout, and restore balance in your daily life.
Dissociation/Feeling Disconnected
By listening to your body and physical sensations, somatic therapy reduces feelings of detachment and disassociation between what you think and what you feel.
Difficulty with Grounding or Feeling Present in the Body
Grounding becomes easier as we explore evidence-based techniques to feel rooted and connected in the moment. This improved mind-body awareness promotes stability and emotional control.
Low Self-Esteem & Low Self-Worth
Somatic therapy allows you to explore how negative beliefs manifest physically and provides tools to release these patterns. Over time, this nurtures self-compassion and a healthier relationship with your body and mind.
Relationship Issues & Attachment Wounds
Heal attachment wounds by uncovering and shifting unconscious physical patterns. We help you build trust within yourself and create healthier connections with others.
Chronic Pain
somatic therapy montreal
Modalities We Use In Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy helps you connect with your mind and body, releasing tension and creating inner peace. Our team of somatic therapists provides you with the tools to heal, grow, and stay grounded through life’s challenges.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness teaches you to pay attention to what’s happening in the present moment with curiosity rather than judgment. By tuning into your thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations, you can better understand your emotional experiences, strengthen your connection to your body, and respond in healthier ways with greater awareness and self-compassion.
Gentle Movement
Breathwork
Focused breathing techniques will help you relax, calm your nervous system, and develop emotional control, building a sense of inner stability. Learn more.
Grounding Exercises
These practices help you stay connected to the present moment and your physical surroundings, giving you tools to anchor yourself when emotions feel overwhelming. Focused breathing techniques will help you relax, calm your nervous system, and develop emotional control, building a sense of inner stability.
Emotional Freedom Technique
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) involves tapping on specific acupressure points on the body while focusing on emotional distress or negative beliefs. This process helps release emotional blockages, reduce stress, and rewire the body’s response to negative emotions, connecting the mind and body for healing.
Focusing
Yoga therapy
Through a combination of yoga and somatic awareness, you’ll reconnect your mind and body, relieving stress and improving emotional and physical well-being.
Movement and unwinding
Movement and unwinding are gentle, body-led approaches that allow your nervous system to release deeply held muscular and fascial patterns. Learn more.
Craniosacral therapy
Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands‑on technique that supports the full body’s natural ability to heal. Clients can expect to feel physical and/or emotional releases during the session. Learn more.
Somatic therapy montreal
What Progress Can Look Like In Somatic Therapy
As you work through somatic therapy, you may start to notice improvements in both your emotional and physical well-being. Positive outcomes of somatic therapy can include:
- Learning tools to regulate your nervous system, helping you stay calm, grounded, and present.
- Increasing awareness to recognize triggers and respond in a balanced way for greater stability.
- Reconnecting with your body and emotions, overcoming feelings of disconnection and numbness.
- Relief from chronic tension or pain, releasing stress stored in areas like your neck, shoulders, or back.
- Gaining the ability to process emotions without feeling overwhelmed and shutting down.
- Finding your purpose and feeling more motivated towards your goals and the life you desire.
Let go of past trauma or unresolved emotional pain to move forward with your life.
Step into a life of possibility.
Start your journey to healing with a free 15-minute consultation. Book online or contact us.
Audrey Elkeslassy, MSW, RSW
Founder and Clinical Director
Why Us
BreakThrough Counselling
We believe that true safety starts from within.
When you feel secure in yourself, that sense of safety goes with you wherever you are. But how do you find that inner safety?
You can’t always control your environment, but you can build a solid foundation within yourself. We help you develop a toolkit of resources to strengthen your confidence, self-awareness, and emotional resilience so you can navigate your world with more calm and security.
Every member of our team works from a trauma-informed place and uses what we call a “trauma lens.” This means that we understand how trauma or stress can impact the mind, body, and soul. A trauma lens helps us see how your experiences might influence how you feel, think, and respond today, even if you don’t identify your past as “traumatic.”
Are you ready to shift from surviving to thriving? Book a free 15-minute consultation.
At BreakThrough Counselling, we practice:
Trauma-Informed Care
We use evidence-based methods like EMDR, IFS, and somatic techniques to address and heal the effects of trauma.
Collaboration
We work closely with clients and other professionals to provide holistic, coordinated care that supports effective healing.
Empowerment
Our approach equips clients with tools and strategies to confidently navigate their healing journey and challenges.
BreakThrough Counselling Montreal
Meet Our Somatic Therapists
Meet our counsellors offering somatic therapy in-person in Montreal. Online sessions available across Québec.
Our Approach
How Our Somatic Therapy Works
1. We Build Safety and Resilience – Connecting with Your Body
2. We Explore at Your Pace – Honouring Your Body’s Wisdom
3. We Support Your Healing Journey – Grounded and Confident
Somatic therapy montreal
Questions About Somatic Therapy
Why do somatic therapies help when other treatments haven’t?
Emotions, stress, and trauma are stored in the body and nervous system, even if we don’t experience physical pain. When we face difficult situations or unresolved emotions, they don’t just stay in our minds—they can become trapped in our bodies. While talk therapy is great for understanding and processing these emotions mentally, it doesn’t address how these feelings are stored in the body.
Somatic therapies, however, work directly with your body’s sensations, helping to release the emotional energy that’s been held there. This approach allows for deeper healing by integrating both the mind and body, targeting areas that traditional talk therapy does not reach. Only by working with the body can we truly release these stored emotions and promote lasting healing.
What are somatic therapies, and how do they work?
How are somatic techniques used in your sessions?
In our practice, somatic techniques are used from the very beginning and are woven into most sessions. While it’s possible to have sessions dedicated solely to somatic therapy, we often sprinkle these techniques throughout the counselling process. By using somatic practices like breathwork, mindfulness, or body awareness, we enhance the therapeutic experience, allowing clients to process emotions and experiences in a deeper, more embodied way, which accelerates healing.
What should I expect during a somatic therapy session?
During a somatic therapy session, we may guide you through gentle movement, breathwork, body awareness exercises, or grounding techniques to help you tune into your body’s sensations. Techniques such as EFT (tapping) or focusing may be used to bring more awareness to areas where tension or emotion is held in your body. Sessions are paced carefully to ensure a safe, comfortable exploration of both body and mind. These techniques are designed to complement and enhance the emotional work we are doing in therapy.
Can somatic therapies help if I don’t have a history of trauma?
Yes, somatic therapies can be helpful for a wide range of concerns, even if you don’t have a history of trauma. Many people struggle with chronic stress, anxiety, depression, or physical symptoms like tension and fatigue—issues that can all be addressed through body-based techniques.
Somatic therapies are beneficial for anyone looking to improve how they respond to stress and emotional pain, ultimately improving their resilience and emotional health. Through the mind-body connection, somatic therapies can help you become more attuned to your body, reduce stress, and promote a sense of calm and balance.
How long will it take to feel better?
This varies for each person depending on the nature of their concerns and how their body responds. Some clients notice improvement after a few sessions, while others may need more ongoing work, especially if they are working through long-term stress, trauma, or deeply held tension. Since we incorporate somatic techniques into most sessions, clients often experience gradual improvements in body awareness and emotional regulation throughout their entire therapeutic journey.
BreakThrough Counselling Montreal
How To Get Started
Get started with BreakThrough Counselling using the form below. We will schedule you in for a free consultation or answer any questions you have. Our services are available in Montreal with online sessions across Québec and Ontario.
We typically respond within 1 business day.*
*By providing my phone number to BreakThrough Counselling, I agree and acknowledge that BreakThrough Counselling may send text messages to my wireless phone number for any purpose. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency will vary, and you will be able to Opt-out by replying “STOP”. For more information on how your data will be handled, please visit https://btcounselling.
Book Online
If you’re a new client, you can book a consultation directly online using the button below.
Note: You will be prompted to create a profile in order to book online.