We offer Somatic Therapy, which is a body-based therapeutic approach, that helps you understand, and gently shift what's happening beneath the surface.
Sometimes what you've experienced doesn't show up as a thought or a feeling you can name. It shows up as tension you can't shake, a constant low-level alertness, or a sense of being shut down or disconnected without quite knowing why.
That's the body holding what the mind hasn't fully processed yet.
Somatic Therapy, also called body-based therapy, focuses on the connection between mind and body. Rather than working only through conversation, it brings attention to physical sensations, breath, and movement as a way of understanding and shifting what's happening beneath the surface. It's especially effective for trauma, anxiety, chronic stress, and anything that feels stuck even after years of talk therapy.
What Somatic Therapy tends to make possible:
At The Artful Life, somatic approaches are woven into individual therapy sessions and can be combined with other therapeutic tools like EMDR, Creative Arts Therapy, and Expressive Arts.
Yoga Therapy is offered as a somatic pathway in its own right — using mindful movement, breathwork, and body awareness to support emotional regulation and overall wellbeing. Sessions are available in person at our Salem and Beverly counseling centers or via telehealth.
Founded in 2016 by Natalie and Madelene, The Artful Life is the North Shore's only Expressive Arts Therapy group practice of its kind. What started as a single studio has expanded into two locations in Beverly and Salem, MA, with a full team of masters-level licensed therapists serving clients of all ages.
Our approach has always been whole-person.
Somatic Therapy fits naturally within that framework because healing that only happens from the neck up rarely goes as deep as it needs to.
Our work is guided by four core beliefs:
Talk therapy works primarily through conversation and cognitive processing. Somatic Therapy brings attention to the body — physical sensations, breath, posture, and movement — as an additional pathway into healing. For many people, especially those working through trauma or chronic stress, the body holds what words haven't been able to fully reach.
Yoga Therapy is one form of somatic, body-based work. It uses mindful movement, breathwork, and body awareness to support emotional and physical wellbeing. At The Artful Life, Yoga Therapy is offered as part of our broader somatic approach and can be incorporated into individual therapy sessions depending on what fits you best.
Somatic Therapy tends to be especially valuable for people working through trauma, PTSD, anxiety, chronic stress, and nervous system dysregulation. It is available for adults, teens, and children, and can be combined with other therapeutic approaches like EMDR, Creative Arts Therapy, and individual or group therapy.
None at all. Our somatic therapy is always adapted to your individual needs, comfort level, and physical capacity. There is no performance involved and no experience required.
Yes, these are evidence-based approaches recognized by most insurances. We accept insurance from a range of providers including Aetna, WellSense, Carelon, Point32 Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and United Healthcare/Optum. See our full, up-to-date coverage list here.
Your body may be trying to tell you something. This is where you learn to listen.
Adults (18+)