"I could talk about what happened to me all day long, but it didn't change how my body felt," explains 16-year-old Sam, reflecting on their journey through trauma recovery. "When I learned to listen to my body and work with it instead of just talking about my thoughts, that's when real healing started."
Sam's experience reflects a growing understanding in trauma treatment: sometimes the body knows what the mind hasn't yet been able to process.
Understanding Trauma in the Teenage Body
How Trauma Lives in the Body
When teenagers experience trauma - whether a single incident or ongoing experiences - their bodies remember even when their minds try to forget or make sense of what happened.
Physical manifestations of trauma:
- Chronic tension in shoulders, jaw, or stomach
- Hypervigilance and exaggerated startle responses
- Sleep disturbances and nightmares
- Digestive issues and changes in appetite
- Panic attacks and anxiety symptoms
- Disconnection from physical sensations
- Difficulty regulating body temperature
- Chronic pain without clear medical cause
Why traditional talk therapy sometimes isn't enough: Trauma affects the parts of the brain responsible for survival and basic functioning. When someone is in a trauma response, the logical, verbal parts of the brain often shut down. This means that purely cognitive approaches may not reach the deeper layers where trauma is stored.
The Teenage Brain and Trauma
Adolescent brains are already undergoing massive development, particularly in areas responsible for:
- Emotional regulation
- Risk assessment
- Identity formation
- Social connection
When trauma occurs during this crucial developmental period, it can significantly impact these natural processes. Body-based approaches help restore the natural development that trauma disrupted.
Body-Based Approaches That Transform Healing
Somatic Experiencing for Teenagers
Somatic experiencing focuses on helping the nervous system complete natural responses to threat that were interrupted during trauma.
How it works with teens: Instead of talking about what happened, we focus on what the body needs to feel safe and regulated again.
Practical applications:
- Learning to notice body sensations without judgment
- Gentle movement to release trapped energy
- Breathing techniques that restore nervous system balance
- Progressive muscle relaxation to address chronic tension
- Mindful awareness of the body's natural healing responses
Emma's experience: "I didn't even realise I was holding my breath all the time until we started doing body work. When I learned to breathe properly again, it was like someone had taken a weight off my chest that I didn't know was there."
Movement-Based Trauma Processing
Different types of movement can help teenagers process trauma in unique ways:
Structured Movement:
- Martial arts for building sense of personal power and boundary-setting
- Dance for emotional expression and body positivity
- Yoga for nervous system regulation and body awareness
- Swimming for full-body integration and rhythm
Unstructured Movement:
- Free dance to express emotions that don't have words
- Walking in nature for nervous system regulation
- Playground activities to reconnect with joy and playfulness
- Sports that provide positive physical challenge and team connection
Why movement works:
- Releases trauma energy stored in muscles and tissues
- Rebuilds positive relationship with the body
- Restores sense of personal agency and choice
- Provides non-verbal outlet for complex emotions
- Strengthens connection between mind and body
Breathwork for Nervous System Regulation
Breathing is one of the few autonomic functions we can consciously control, making it a powerful tool for trauma recovery.
Techniques adapted for teenagers:
Box Breathing for Anxiety:
- Inhale for 4 counts
- Hold for 4 counts
- Exhale for 4 counts
- Hold empty for 4 counts
- Repeat until calm
Coherent Breathing for Emotional Regulation:
- 5-second inhale
- 5-second exhale
- Continue for 5-10 minutes
- Helps balance autonomic nervous system
Belly Breathing for Trauma Recovery:
- Hand on chest, hand on belly
- Breathe so only the bottom hand moves
- Helps restore natural breathing patterns disrupted by trauma
Trauma-Informed Body-Based Therapy
Safety and Choice
Body-based trauma work with teenagers requires particular attention to:
Physical Safety:
- Clear consent for any physical interventions
- Teen maintains complete control over what happens to their body
- No touch without explicit permission and ongoing consent
- Comfortable, non-threatening environment
Emotional Safety:
- Psychoeducation about trauma responses so teens understand what's happening
- Pacing that respects the teen's readiness and capacity
- Options and choices in every intervention
- Respect for protective responses and coping mechanisms
Cultural Safety:
- Understanding cultural attitudes toward body, touch, and emotional expression
- Adapting interventions to respect cultural values
- Involving family in culturally appropriate ways
Working with Specific Trauma Responses
For Freeze Responses:
- Very slow, controlled movements
- Focus on sensation and awareness rather than action
- Building capacity for movement over time
- Celebrating small movements and changes
For Fight/Flight Responses:
- Physical outlets for excess energy
- Grounding techniques to return to the present
- Progressive muscle relaxation to address tension
- Breathing techniques to activate calming responses
For Fawn Responses:
- Practice setting boundaries with their bodies
- Learning to say no to unwanted touch or activities
- Developing awareness of their own preferences and needs
- Building sense of personal agency and choice
Integration with Other Approaches
Combining Body-Based and Talk Therapy
The most effective trauma treatment often combines multiple approaches:
Sequential approach:
- Body-based work to stabilise nervous system
- Talk therapy to process and make meaning
- Continued body work to integrate new insights
Integrated approach:
- Talk therapy that includes attention to body sensations
- Movement or breathing integrated into traditional sessions
- Body awareness as part of cognitive processing
Family Involvement
Educating families about trauma responses:
- Helping parents understand body-based trauma symptoms
- Teaching family members supportive responses
- Addressing family trauma that might be affecting the teen
- Creating trauma-informed family environment
Body-based family interventions:
- Family yoga or movement sessions
- Breathing exercises the whole family can use
- Stress reduction techniques for the entire household
- Creating calming physical environments at home
Specific Applications for Common Teen Traumas
Sexual Trauma
Body-based approaches are particularly important for teens who have experienced sexual trauma:
Rebuilding body ownership:
- Exercises that reinforce personal boundaries
- Movement that feels empowering rather than vulnerable
- Breathing techniques to stay present during triggers
- Gentle touch (self-administered) to reclaim positive body experiences
Addressing dissociation:
- Grounding techniques using all five senses
- Progressive muscle relaxation to reconnect with body
- Mindful movement to rebuild body awareness
- Safe relationship with physical sensation
Accident or Medical Trauma
For teens who have experienced physical injury or medical procedures:
Processing physical memories:
- Gentle movement to address areas of injury or medical intervention
- Breathwork to address medical anxiety and hypervigilance
- Somatic techniques to complete interrupted defensive responses
- Building new, positive associations with body care
Emotional and Psychological Trauma
Even trauma that isn't obviously physical affects the body:
Addressing stress responses:
- Nervous system regulation through movement and breathing
- Tension release for chronic stress patterns
- Body awareness to recognise early warning signs
- Physical self-care as form of emotional healing
The Role of Creative Expression
Art and Body Connection
Body mapping:
- Develop body awareness and vocabulary
- Express experiences that don't have words
- Track changes and healing over time
- Integrate mind-body understanding
Movement and music:
- Creating playlists for different emotional states
- Dance or movement improvisation
- Rhythm and drumming for nervous system regulation
- Singing or vocal expression for emotional release
Building Long-Term Resilience
Teaching Self-Regulation Skills
Body-based trauma work aims to give teenagers tools they can use independently:
Daily practices:
- Morning breathing or movement routines
- Body check-ins throughout the day
- Evening relaxation or tension release
- Mindful eating and body care
Crisis management:
- Quick breathing techniques for panic
- Grounding exercises for dissociation
- Movement options for anger or agitation
- Self-soothing touch techniques
Rebuilding Relationship with the Body
Positive body experiences:
- Activities that feel good and safe
- Nutrition and care focused on feeling strong and healthy
- Movement that brings joy rather than focusing on appearance
- Touch that is healing and nurturing (massage, warm baths, soft clothing)
Common Challenges and Solutions
Resistance to Body-Based Work
Many teens are initially resistant to body-based approaches:
Common concerns:
- "This feels weird" or "I don't like focusing on my body"
- Fear of feeling emotions or sensations they've been avoiding
- Cultural or family messages about body and emotional expression
- Previous negative experiences with body-focused interventions
Addressing resistance:
- Start very slowly with non-threatening approaches
- Provide education about why body-based work helps
- Offer choices and maintain teen's control over the process
- Respect protective mechanisms while gently expanding comfort zone
Working with Body Image Issues
Many trauma survivors also struggle with body image:
Integrated approach:
- Focus on body function and capability rather than appearance
- Movement that feels empowering rather than appearance-focused
- Addressing trauma-related body shame and disconnection
- Building appreciation for body's strength and resilience
Success Stories from Geelong
Jordan's Journey
17-year-old Jordan came to us after a serious car accident left them with chronic pain and severe anxiety about driving or being in cars. Traditional talk therapy helped with some anxiety, but the physical symptoms persisted.
Through somatic experiencing, Jordan learned that their body was still holding the defensive responses from the accident. Gentle movement work helped them complete the natural responses that had been interrupted by the crash. Six months later, Jordan was not only driving again but had started teaching other teens breath work techniques.
Mica's Transformation
After experiencing ongoing family violence, 15-year-old Mica had shut down emotionally and physically. They rarely spoke above a whisper and seemed to take up as little space as possible.
Through movement therapy focused on personal power and boundary-setting, Mica gradually began to reclaim their physical presence. Martial arts helped them feel capable of protecting themselves, while dance gave them an outlet for emotional expression. Today, Mica is a confident young person who advocates for other trauma survivors.
Getting Started with Body-Based Trauma Work
Is This Approach Right for Your Teen?
Body-based approaches can benefit most teens dealing with trauma, but may be particularly helpful for:
- Teens who find talk therapy challenging or insufficient
- Young people with physical symptoms related to trauma
- Teens who are naturally kinesthetic learners
- Young people who express themselves better through movement than words
- Teens dealing with dissociation or disconnection from their bodies
What to Look for in Body-Based Trauma Therapy
Practitioner qualifications:
- Training in trauma-informed care
- Specific education in body-based or somatic approaches
- Experience working with teenagers
- Understanding of adolescent development and trauma
Program characteristics:
- Emphasis on choice, consent, and teen's control
- Integration with other therapeutic approaches as needed
- Family involvement and education when appropriate
- Cultural sensitivity and responsiveness
Body-Based Trauma Work at Shake Counselling
At Shake Counselling in Geelong, we integrate body-based approaches into our comprehensive trauma treatment programs:
Our approach includes:
- Somatic experiencing adapted for teenagers
- Movement therapy through sports and physical activities
- Breathwork and nervous system regulation techniques
- Creative expression and body mapping
- Family education and support
- Integration with individual and group therapy
What makes our program unique:
- Therapy delivered in natural settings (courts, parks, community spaces)
- Integration of body work with activities teens already enjoy
- Peer support and group healing opportunities
- Family involvement in trauma-informed care
- Long-term follow-up and resilience building
The Path to Healing
Trauma recovery is not about forgetting what happened or returning to how things were before. It's about helping your teenager's body and mind integrate the experience in a way that allows them to move forward with strength, resilience, and hope.
Body-based approaches recognise that healing happens not just in the mind, but in the entire person - body, emotions, spirit, and relationships. When we help teenagers reconnect with their bodies as sources of wisdom, strength, and joy, we give them tools they'll use for the rest of their lives.
Ready to Begin?
If your teenager has experienced trauma and traditional approaches haven't provided complete healing, body-based therapy might be the missing piece. Contact Shake Counselling in Geelong to discuss how somatic and movement-based approaches could support your young person's recovery.
Because every teenager deserves to feel safe, powerful, and at home in their own body - and with the right support, healing is always possible.
About Shake Counselling
Shake Counselling is Geelong's leading youth mental health service for young people aged 12-25. We offer innovative therapies including basketball counselling, walking sessions, DBT, ACT, and peer mentoring programs, creating safe spaces where young people can heal and thrive.
Meet Our Team
