Find Somatic Therapy in Montreal
Somatic therapy is an umbrella term covering several distinct body-based psychotherapy methods, including Somatic Experiencing, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and Hakomi, each with different training and focus. Promptd lists somatic therapists across Canada by modality and training so you can find someone qualified to work with your specific goals rather than booking blindly under the broad label.
Somatic therapy is an umbrella term covering several distinct body-based psychotherapy methods, including Somatic Experiencing, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and Hakomi, each with different training and focus. Promptd lists somatic therapists across Canada by modality and training so you can find someone qualified to work with your specific goals rather than booking blindly under the broad label.
Montreal, right now
Providers listed26
Accepting new clients20
Typical reply time~21 hours
Average session$153/h
Live numbers from provider profiles on Promptd. Every price and availability status is published by the provider.
26 Somatic Therapy specialists in Montreal
Provider overview
26
Practitioners available
20
Accepting new clients
$153/h
Average session price
21h
Average response time
3
Specialties: Therapy, Family mediation and Assessment
5
Languages spoken
Looking for somatic therapy in Montreal?
We'll personally help you find someone who fits.
Takes two minutes. We'll send you providers that fit.
Get matchedSomatic Therapy pricing in Montreal by professional title
| Profession | Avg. hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Social Worker | $155/hr |
| Psychotherapist | $164/hr |
| Counsellor | $127/hr |
| Psychologist | $223/hr |
| Art Therapist | $150/hr |
| Music Therapist | $100/hr |
Somatic Therapy pricing near Montreal compared to nearby cities
| City | Avg. hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Montreal | $147/hr |
| Westmount | $147/hr |
| Outremont | $147/hr |
| Mont-Royal | $147/hr |
| LaSalle | $147/hr |
| Longueuil | $147/hr |
Somatic Therapy provider breakdown by gender in Montreal
Female (92%)
Other (4%)
Male (4%)
Somatic Therapy provider breakdown by service mode in Montreal
In-person and online (85%)
Online only (12%)
In-person only (4%)
From the blog
Advice and answers from our team on finding the right care.
Related specialties
Related topics in Montreal
Your questions, answered
What is somatic therapy?
Somatic therapy is psychotherapy that treats the body and the nervous system as central to healing, not just the thinking mind. It works from the understanding that stress and trauma get stored in physical patterns such as muscle tension, breath-holding, and nervous system activation, and that these patterns often keep running long after the original event. Sessions combine verbal work with body awareness, breath, and sometimes gentle movement.
What are the main types of somatic therapy?
The most established types in Canada are Somatic Experiencing (SE), developed by Peter Levine, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, developed by Pat Ogden, and Hakomi. All three are body-oriented trauma approaches but differ in technique and training pathway. Newer methods include Somatic Internal Family Systems and neurosomatic models. Each modality requires substantial post-graduate training, so the specific modality a therapist lists tells you something about how they work.
What happens in a somatic therapy session?
Sessions usually begin with a check-in about what is present in your body in the moment, such as sensations, breath, muscle tension, and energy levels. The therapist guides you to track these signals as you talk about what brought you in, noticing where the body activates and where it settles. Techniques include pendulation (moving between activation and calm), titration (processing in small doses), and slow orienting exercises. Some people combine somatic work with EMDR therapy for a more comprehensive trauma approach.
How is somatic therapy different from talk therapy?
Talk therapy such as CBT works primarily through changing thoughts and beliefs. Somatic therapy assumes that some experiences, particularly trauma and chronic stress, get held in the body below the level of words, where talking alone cannot fully reach them. In practice, somatic sessions include more attention to physical sensations, slower pacing, and less emphasis on cognitive analysis. Many clients come to somatic work after feeling like they understood their issues intellectually but nothing had shifted.
What does somatic therapy help with?
Somatic approaches are most commonly used for trauma and PTSD therapists and PTSD, including complex and developmental trauma where events are layered over years. They are also effective for anxiety therapists and panic, since both involve nervous system dysregulation. Chronic pain, depression counselling, and dissociation are other common presentations. Somatic work is not a fit for every concern but is often the right choice when symptoms feel stuck in the body.
Does somatic therapy really release trauma stored in the body?
The idea that trauma is literally stored in specific body parts is a simplification, but the underlying mechanism has strong research support: chronic stress dysregulates the nervous system, and the body keeps responding as if past threat is still present. Somatic therapy helps the nervous system complete the threat response it could not complete at the time, which often produces meaningful reductions in physical symptoms. Evidence is strongest for PTSD, particularly when somatic methods are combined with other trauma-focused approaches.
How do I know if I need somatic therapy?
Common signs include feeling stuck despite previous talk therapy, physical symptoms like chronic tension or gut issues that track with your emotional state, feeling disconnected from your body or numb, being easily overwhelmed by stress, and reactions that seem disproportionate to current events. A trauma history is a common reason but not a requirement. A brief consult with a somatic therapist can clarify whether this approach fits your situation.
Can somatic therapy be done online?
Yes, and many Canadian therapists have adapted their work for video sessions. online therapy somatic therapy works well for body awareness, breath, and most verbal processing, and it allows clients to practice self-regulation in their own environment. Some techniques that involve hands-on contact or nuanced observation of posture still work better in-person therapy, so ask each therapist how they deliver their particular method.
How long does somatic therapy take?
Single-event trauma or specific symptoms often shift within 10 to 20 sessions. Complex trauma or long-standing patterns typically take 6 months to 2 years or longer of regular work. Pacing is slower than most talk therapies by design, because pushing through defences can backfire. Many clients drop to monthly or as-needed sessions once their nervous system has more stability.
What training should I look for in a somatic therapist?
Look for a licensed mental health professional first (registered psychotherapist, psychologist, or social worker in your province), then check their specific somatic training. Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Certified, and Hakomi Certified Practitioner are well-regulated credentials. Ask how many years they have practiced the method, whether they receive ongoing consultation, and which populations they work with most often.