Somatic Therapy Body Awareness Worksheet
This worksheet is designed for educational purposes only.

Somatic Therapy Worksheet

Body-Based Healing & Awareness

Embodied Awareness

Somatic therapy recognizes that the body holds wisdom, memory, and the capacity for healing. By tuning into bodily sensations, breath, and nervous system responses, we can access deeper healing and integration.

Somatic Awareness & Regulation

This worksheet guides you through body-based awareness practices to support nervous system regulation, trauma healing, and embodied well-being.

1. Body Scanning & Awareness

Body scanning involves mindfully noticing sensations throughout your body without trying to change them. This practice builds interoceptive awareness and helps you tune into your body's wisdom.

Head & Face
Neck & Throat
Shoulders & Arms
Chest & Heart
Stomach & Core
Back & Spine
Hips & Pelvis
Legs & Feet

2. Nervous System States

Understanding your nervous system states helps you recognize when you're in fight/flight (sympathetic), freeze/shutdown (dorsal vagal), or calm connection (ventral vagal). Each state has distinct bodily sensations and responses.

Ventral Vagal (Safe & Connected)
Calm, grounded, able to connect
Sympathetic (Fight/Flight)
Activated, alert, ready for action
Dorsal Vagal (Freeze/Shutdown)
Withdrawn, numb, collapsed

3. Grounding Techniques

Grounding techniques help you return to the present moment and reconnect with safety in your body. These practices can shift you from activated or shut-down states toward regulation.

Try These Grounding Practices

5-4-3-2-1 Sensory
5 things you see, 4 you hear, 3 you touch, 2 you smell, 1 you taste
Feet on Ground
Feel your feet against the floor, press down, notice the support
Bilateral Stimulation
Cross your arms, tap alternating shoulders or knees
Cold Water
Cold water on face, hands, or ice cube to activate vagus nerve
Humming/Singing
Creates vibrations that stimulate the vagus nerve
Progressive Muscle
Tense and release muscle groups throughout your body

4. Breathwork & Regulation

Conscious breathing is one of the most accessible ways to influence your nervous system. Different breathing patterns can activate or calm your system as needed.

5. Movement & Expression

Movement allows trapped energy and emotions to move through your system. This can include gentle stretching, shaking, dancing, or any movement that feels authentic to your body's needs.

6. Resourcing

Building Your Resource Toolkit

Resources are internal and external sources of strength, calm, and safety that help regulate your nervous system and support resilience.

7. Integration & Next Steps

Integration involves weaving your somatic awareness into daily life, creating sustainable practices that support ongoing nervous system regulation and embodied well-being.

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