When CBT Isn’t Enough: Integrating the Body Into Thought Work
From the Therapist’s Chair
Play the audio version on Substack →
This week’s Tend to it Tuesday explored how somatic therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can work together. From the therapist’s chair, I want to talk about how I’ve seen this pairing support clients — and myself — in ways that feel both practical and profound.
CBT is a tool I’ve used for years — personally and professionally.
It’s structured, evidence-based, and deeply empowering. It offers a way to notice and shift thought patterns that might be keeping us stuck.
And in moments of overwhelm or emotional spirals, it can feel like a lifeline.
But there were also times — for me and for clients — when CBT alone wasn’t enough.
You can reframe a thought five different ways, and your body still feels frozen.
You can know a fear is irrational, but still feel your stomach drop.
This doesn’t mean CBT is broken. It just means we need a bigger toolkit.
✨ The Body Holds Its Own Story
Somatic therapy reminds us that we aren’t just brains walking around.
Our nervous system plays a huge role in how we think, feel, and respond.
Sometimes a thought feels “stuck” not because it’s cognitively untrue — but because it’s wrapped in a nervous system response that hasn’t been met with safety.
That’s why, in my practice, I don’t ask clients to choose one approach over another.
We make space for both.
🛋️ Tend to it in Therapy
Sometimes that means asking:
“Would it be okay if we explored where that thought lands in your body?”
Or, “Does it feel more helpful to stay with the story or shift to sensation?”
Or even, “What’s working right now — and what’s not?”
Clients are often the best judges of what’s landing.
And honouring that feedback is how we co-create a practice that’s not just effective — but respectful and attuned.
✨ A Somatic-Cognitive Practice to Try
The next time a critical thought pops up — one of those familiar scripts — try this:
Notice the thought.
Name it gently, like “Ah, there’s that one again.”
Then, pause. Where do you feel it in your body?
Breathe into that space. Let it be here without fixing it.
Ask: “What would this part of me need to feel less alone?”
This is how we bring both modalities into the room — not just to manage symptoms, but to build a deeper relationship with ourselves.
📣 Call to Action
If you’ve ever felt like “just thinking about it” doesn’t cut it — you’re not alone.
Let’s work together to find the practices that speak to both your mind and your body.
