How to Process Trauma Through the Body: Somatic Healing Explained

When you feel really good, do you feel heavier or lighter? When you feel bad, do you feel heavier or lighter? Most people say they feel lighter when they're at peace and heavier when they're suffering. This simple truth reveals the essence of healing: we're trying to move from density to a lighter, higher vibration. In this transformative episode of the Reforged Podcast, licensed professional counselor and somatic therapist Scott Austin Martin breaks down the science and practice of somatic processing—healing trauma by connecting with the body rather than thinking your way through it. Scott explains why traditional cognitive approaches often fall short and how bringing your attention to the felt sense of the body shifts your brain into an experiential mode that allows real healing to occur. You'll learn how to move from gross to subtle awareness, how to work with uncomfortable sensations instead of avoiding them, and how to identify and release defense mechanisms that once protected you but now block your growth. This episode provides a comprehensive roadmap for anyone who feels stuck in their healing journey, struggles with dissociation, or finds themselves overwhelmed when trying to process emotions in the body. In this episode, you will learn: - The difference between the perceptional fields of thought, emotion, and body sensation - Why bringing attention to the body shifts brain activity into experiential mode - How to assess for dissociation and work with protective mechanisms - The technique of moving from "gross to subtle" when feeling overwhelmed - How to use parasympathetic breathing to downregulate your nervous system fast - The power of curiosity as a superpower for healing trauma - Why defense mechanisms that once helped you survive may now block your growth - How to "give a medal" to old protective patterns and restation them for new purposes - The practice of staying present with uncomfortable sensations without judgment - How to identify which defense mechanisms are blocking connection and growth - Why trauma isn't what happened to you, but what occurred inside you because of it - The mindful inquiry process for releasing stored trauma from the body - How to work with attachment wounds (dismissive avoidant, anxious, disorganized) - The truth that anything conditioned one way can be conditioned another way Scott emphasizes that you don't need to process every trauma—you need to identify the specific defense mechanisms that are now preventing you from being who you want to be. With curiosity, compassion, and the right somatic tools, you can release what's been holding you back and access the peace, flow, and higher vibration that's always been available to you. This episode is essential listening for anyone on a healing journey who wants to understand how to work with their body, not against it. Connect with The Authentic Masculinity Project: Beingherenow.com #SomaticHealing #TraumaRecovery #TheBodyKeepsTheScore #MensMentalHealth #NervousSystemRegulation #MindBodyConnection #TraumaTherapy #EmotionalHealing #SomaticProcessing #AuthenticMasculinity #HealingJourney #ReforgedPodcast #MentalHealthPodcast