Sensorimotor Psychotherapy — Pat Ogden
You don’t have to force your body to change. We can begin by listening to what it has been trying to communicate.
Translating the body's language, from nonverbal and conscious, leads to greater integration of the body and mind.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy in Brisbane
Who this therapy may suit
- You understand what happened to you, but still feel like your body is carrying the experience.
- You have experienced traumatic or overwhelming events, such as losing your health, being involved in an accident, experiencing a medical event or diagnosis, surviving a natural disaster or assault, losing a loved one to suicide, or experiencing war or other forms of violence, etc.
- You find yourself stuck in patterns you can understand intellectually, but struggle to change.
- You feel anxious, overwhelmed, shut down, disconnected, or constantly on alert.
- Your body reacts before you have time to understand what is happening.
- You notice tension, tightness, restlessness, numbness, or other physical responses when something feels unsafe.
- You have difficulty feeling your body or knowing what you need.
- You tend to disconnect, freeze, people-please, or become highly activated in relationships.
- You want to understand not only why you respond the way you do, but what your nervous system has learned to do to keep you safe.
- You have done talk therapy and gained insight, but something still feels unresolved.
- You want to develop a deeper sense of safety, choice, boundaries, and connection with yourself.
- You are ready to gently explore the relationship between your body, emotions, thoughts, nervous system and past experiences.
- You want to explore the difference between who you learned to be and who you are underneath those adaptations.
You don’t have to force your body to change. We can begin by listening to what it has been trying to communicate.
How we work
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy brings awareness of posture, movement and sensation into the therapeutic conversation. We explore how past experiences, including childhood trauma, may influence your nervous system responses and your sense of connection now.
Rather than focusing only on the story of what happened, we gently become curious about what is happening in your body right now. Together, we notice sensations, movements, impulses, emotions, thoughts and protective responses as they arise.
We work at a pace that respects your nervous system. You are never asked to relive or retell experiences before you are ready. Instead, we build awareness, choice and capacity to stay connected with yourself while exploring difficult experiences.
Our work may include:
- Noticing body sensations: becoming aware of tension, numbness, activation, collapse or other physical responses.
- Exploring protective patterns: understanding how your nervous system has learned to respond to perceived threat or disconnection.
- Tracking what happens in the present moment: noticing subtle changes in your body, emotions, thoughts and impulses as we talk.
- Working with movement and impulses: gently exploring actions your body may want to make, such as moving away, reaching out, pushing back, setting a boundary or protecting yourself.
- Building nervous system capacity: developing greater ability to stay present and regulated when emotions or sensations become intense.
- Creating new experiences: exploring different ways of responding so that your body can gradually experience greater safety, choice and agency.
- Integrating insight: connecting what you discover through your body with your emotions, relationships, beliefs and lived experiences.
The goal is not to make your body stop reacting. It is to develop a deeper understanding of why your body responds the way it does, and to create more choice in how you respond now.
Embodiment is part of this process: noticing what greater choice feels like as well as understanding it. We may explore the physical experience of a boundary, a protective movement or a moment of support, always collaboratively.
What is Sensorimotor Psychotherapy? A plain explanationWhat this isn't
- Massage or bodywork: In this space, you remain clothed and in your chair; there is no physical manipulation or hands-on therapy.
- Physiotherapy or chiropractic treatment: We are not here to treat physical injuries or adjust your body's structure.
- A relaxation technique: Grounding and emotional regulation can be part of the work, but we also explore the experiences and patterns behind your responses.
- Forcing yourself to feel your body: If connecting with yourself feels unsafe or difficult, we respect that survival response and move at your own pace.
- Reliving your trauma: A detailed retelling is not required. We work gently, at a pace that respects your capacity.
- Just a collection of body exercises: We consider your physical experience alongside your thoughts, emotions, relationships and history.
- About "fixing" your nervous system: Your patterns were intelligent adaptations. We meet them with compassion rather than trying to erase them.
- About getting rid of uncomfortable emotions: We develop your capacity to experience emotions without becoming overwhelmed or disconnected.
- A quick fix: The work takes time, and the pace depends on your needs and circumstances.
This is a therapeutic process of becoming more connected with yourself, not a process of changing or controlling your body.
Transformation is a slow journey toward wholeness, requiring enough resilience to reclaim a life that truly belongs to you.
Common questions
- Is Sensorimotor Psychotherapy the same as bodywork or massage?
No. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is a form of talk therapy that incorporates awareness of the body and nervous system. There is no massage, manipulation, chiropractic treatment, or physical treatment involved. We use your awareness of bodily sensations, movements and impulses as another way of understanding your experiences.
- Do I need to talk about my trauma in detail?
No. You do not need to describe or relive traumatic experiences in detail for this work to be helpful. We can work gently with what you notice in the present moment, at a pace that feels manageable for your nervous system.
- What if I don't feel anything in my body?
That is completely okay. Some people have difficulty noticing bodily sensations, particularly when they have learned to disconnect from their bodies as a way of coping. We don't force you to feel anything. We start wherever you are and gradually develop greater awareness and connection.
- What happens during a Sensorimotor Psychotherapy session?
Sessions involve talking about what is happening in your life while also becoming curious about what happens in your body as you talk. We may notice sensations, tension, posture, movement, emotions, impulses, thoughts and shifts in your nervous system. Together, we explore what these responses may be communicating and create space for new possibilities.
- Will I have to do physical exercises?
Not necessarily. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is not a collection of exercises that you have to perform. The body may become part of the therapeutic conversation through gentle awareness of sensations, movement, posture or impulses, depending on what is appropriate for you.
- Can Sensorimotor Psychotherapy help if I have already done talk therapy?
Yes. Many people find that they have gained significant insight through talk therapy but still experience the same emotional or physical reactions. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy can complement cognitive and verbal approaches by exploring what may be happening at a bodily and nervous-system level.
- What if I become overwhelmed during a session?
We work within your capacity and at a pace that respects your nervous system. If you notice becoming overwhelmed, disconnected or activated, we can slow down, orient to the present moment and reconnect with a sense of safety and choice. You remain in control of what we explore.
- Can Sensorimotor Psychotherapy help with anxiety?
It can be helpful when anxiety involves patterns of nervous-system activation, hypervigilance, tension, avoidance or feeling unsafe. Rather than only trying to stop the anxiety, we explore what your nervous system is responding to and how you can develop greater capacity and choice in those moments.
- Is Sensorimotor Psychotherapy only for trauma?
No. While it was developed as a trauma-informed approach, it can also be helpful for difficulties involving relationships, attachment, emotional regulation, boundaries, self-worth, anxiety and recurring patterns that feel difficult to change.
- How is Sensorimotor Psychotherapy different from traditional talk therapy?
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy includes conversation, reflection and insight while also paying attention to sensations, posture, movement and physical responses. We explore what happens in your body as you think and feel, helping you connect intellectual understanding with your lived experience. You can start to feel what safety and self-worth actually feel like in your own skin and be your authentic self.
- Do I have to believe in anything for Sensorimotor Psychotherapy to work?
No. You don't need to believe in anything specific. The approach is experiential and grounded in observing your own responses with curiosity. We work with what you can notice and what feels meaningful to you.
- How many sessions will I need?
There is no fixed number of sessions. Everyone's needs and circumstances are different. Some people seek support for a specific concern, while others choose longer-term therapy to explore deeper patterns and develop a stronger relationship with themselves.
Before we start, one important thing
This therapy is not a substitute for crisis or safety intervention. It isn't appropriate if you are currently in an unsafe or dangerous situation, or if you are at immediate risk of harming yourself or ending your life. In those circumstances you need crisis, emergency or specialised support first.
Somatic psychotherapy is also unsuitable for people who have recently faced, or are currently facing, legal allegations.
You might also be looking at
Somatic Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy
Somatic Counselling
Compassionate Inquiry
Ready to start?
Book a first session, or write to me if you'd rather ask something before you do.