Listening In: What Is Interoception and Why Does It Matter?
When we talk about healing—whether from stress, trauma, or simply the overwhelm of daily life—we often focus on thoughts and emotions. But there’s a quieter, often overlooked part of healing that begins deep inside the body: interoception.
What Is Interoception?
Interoception is our ability to notice internal sensations—like the flutter of anxiety in your stomach, the warmth of connection in your chest, or the ache of exhaustion behind your eyes. It’s how your brain reads signals from inside the body to understand what you need. Are you thirsty? Do you feel safe? Are you holding your breath?
These may seem like small things, but they are foundational to self-awareness, emotional regulation, and feeling grounded in the present moment.
Why It Matters in Therapy
For many people—especially those who have experienced trauma, burnout, or chronic stress—the connection between mind and body can feel frayed. We may become disconnected from our inner signals as a survival strategy. This can make it harder to identify emotions, set boundaries, or know when we need rest.
Building interoceptive awareness is a gentle, powerful way to return to ourselves. In somatic and trauma-informed therapy, we often use body-based practices like breath work, mindful movement, or guided noticing to help clients re-establish this internal connection.
Over time, this helps to:
Improve emotional regulation
Reduce overwhelm and reactivity
Increase a sense of safety and agency in the body
Support nervous system resilience
How to Start Noticing
You don’t need to be an expert in body signals to begin. Start small:
Pause and notice your breath—is it shallow or deep?
Scan your body for areas of tension or ease
Place a hand on your chest or belly and see what you feel
Name your sensations without judgment (e.g. “tight,” “fluttery,” “warm”)
This is interoception in action: learning to listen inward, with curiosity and care.
Final Thoughts
Tuning into your inner landscape may feel unfamiliar at first—especially if you’ve had to numb or override it in the past. But with time and support, it becomes a powerful resource. Your body holds so much wisdom. Interoception helps you access it.
If you’d like to explore this more in therapy, I’d be honoured to walk alongside you. I offer somatic and humanistic counselling in-person in Okotoks, AB and virtually across Alberta.
Contact: arin.clarke21@gmail.com | 587-220-4174
Book online: www.warpweftcounselling.com
Psst….Want a Printable Resource?
I’ve created a beautifully designed, therapist-approved handout on interoception. It includes:
A simple definition
A body-based practice
Sensation vocabulary
Journaling prompts
A curated reading list
You can grab the full printable version in my Etsy shop here. Perfect for personal use, therapy clients, or wellness professionals.
Are you a current client? Ask me in session for access to this printable for free.
What Is Somatic Therapy?
(A Gentle Guide for Beginners)
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stuck in your head, or disconnected from your body, you’re not alone — and somatic therapy might be a good place to begin.
Somatic therapy is a body-based approach to healing that recognizes that our thoughts, emotions, and nervous systems are deeply interconnected. Rather than focusing only on “talking it out,” somatic work invites us to listen to our bodies, attend to sensation, and move at the pace of safety.
What Does "Somatic" Mean?
The word “somatic” comes from the Greek word soma, meaning “body.” In therapy, this means we pay attention to more than just your thoughts — we tune into your breath, posture, muscle tension, body temperature, and what’s happening inside, even if you don’t have words for it yet.
Why Work with the Body?
When we experience stress, trauma, or overwhelm, our bodies hold the imprint — even long after the moment has passed
You might notice:
Chronic tension or pain
Shutting down or numbing out
Feeling “too much” or “not enough”
Getting stuck in survival patterns like people-pleasing, perfectionism, or freeze responses
Somatic therapy helps us gently rebuild connection with the body, regulate the nervous system, and create new patterns that feel safer, softer, and more supportive.
How Does It Work?
In my practice, I blend polyvagal theory, interpersonal neurobiology, and humanistic counselling with somatic tools to help you feel more grounded, connected, and choiceful.
This might include:
Guided breathwork or grounding exercises
Noticing and naming internal cues (e.g., “my chest feels tight”)
Tracking nervous system states like fight, flight, or freeze
Creating rituals of safety, movement, or stillness
Learning how to listen to your “felt sense” and trust your body's signals
We always move at your pace, and you’re always in control of what we explore.
Who Is It For?
Somatic therapy can be especially supportive for people who:
Struggle with anxiety, panic, or overwhelm
Have experienced trauma or complex relational wounds
Feel disconnected from their bodies or emotions
Want to move from survival into greater ease and embodiment
Identify as sensitive, highly empathetic, or neurodivergent
Final Thoughts
Somatic therapy isn’t about “fixing” you — it’s about reconnecting with your inner wisdom, learning how to listen inward, and creating space for healing that includes your whole self. If this feels like a curious next step for you, you’re warmly invited to reach out.
Ready to begin?
I offer somatic and trauma-informed therapy in Okotoks and virtually across Alberta.
You can book a free 15-minute consult here or get in touch if you have questions.