The Somatic Release Method

What is the Somatic Release Method?

Somatic Release is an integrative body-oriented method developed by psychologist and somatic psychotherapist Maria Sideri Rossi. The method works with the relationship between body, emotion, and unconscious psychological patterns to support emotional integration and the restoration of vitality.

It is based on the understanding that emotional experience, psychological patterns, and relational dynamics are not only held in the mind but are also organized and expressed through the body.

By bringing attention to the embodied dimension of experience — including sensation, breath, posture, and internal perception — the method supports processes of emotional integration, nervous system regulation, and the transformation of unconscious patterns that may shape how we feel, relate, and respond to life.

Somatic Release integrates psychotherapeutic understanding with somatic awareness and movement-based processes, allowing emotional material that may be difficult to access through words alone to gradually emerge and be processed in a safe and regulated way.

The Role of the Body

In this approach, the body is understood as an essential source of information about our emotional and psychological life.

Experiences such as stress, unresolved emotions, or relational patterns often become reflected in the body through muscular tension, breathing patterns, posture, or subtle internal sensations. By learning to observe and engage with these bodily expressions of experience, it becomes possible to access deeper layers of emotional awareness.
Working through the body can help bring clarity to internal processes while supporting the nervous system’s natural capacity for regulation and integration.

Movement and Emotional Expression

Alongside verbal exploration and somatic awareness, the method also includes elements drawn from movement-based psychotherapy.

Movement can offer a direct pathway for emotional expression and psychological understanding, allowing patterns that are held in the body to become visible and transform through embodied experience. These processes may involve simple movement explorations, shifts in posture, or guided body-based practices that help reconnect emotional experience with the body’s natural flow.

This dimension of the work is informed by Maria’s background in Dance Movement Therapy, where movement is understood as a meaningful language through which psychological processes can be expressed and integrated.

The Three Pillars

The Somatic Release Method unfolds through three interconnected dimensions.

Embodiment

Developing awareness of the body as a gateway to emotional and psychological experience. Through attention to sensation, breath, posture, and internal perception, individuals reconnect with the embodied dimension of their inner life.

Regulation

Supporting the nervous system’s capacity to process emotional experience while maintaining a sense of safety and presence. This dimension of the work helps individuals recognize and gradually transform patterns of tension, reactivity, or emotional overwhelm.

Integration

Allowing unconscious patterns and emotional material to reorganize through embodied awareness. By gently noticing how hidden dynamics appear in the body, individuals can integrate previously unrecognized parts of themselves and restore a greater sense of coherence and vitality.

What This Work Can Support

Somatic Release offers a supportive framework for individuals who wish to explore:

↠ Emotional awareness and deeper self-understanding.
↠ The impact of stress and unresolved experiences on the body and nervous system.
↠ Anxiety and panic states as embodied experiences, supporting regulation and a sense of safety.
↠ Trauma-related patterns held in the body.
↠ Relational and emotional patterns that shape inner and interpersonal life.
↠ Reconnection with vitality, presence, and embodied aliveness.
↠ A deeper understanding of unconscious psychological dynamics.

At the same time, many people approach this work as a path of personal development—supporting embodiment, self-regulation, and greater alignment with their inner life.

While Somatic Release is not a treatment for acute psychiatric conditions, it can offer a meaningful and supportive context for individuals who are psychologically stable and wish to better understand their inner dynamics, regulate their nervous system, and work with complex internal experiences in an embodied and integrative way.

Experiencing the Method

Whether you’re seeking individual or group experiences, personal growth or professional development, I offer safe, supportive options for you to explore your path to healing and renewal.

1-On-1 Psychotherapy Sessions

A supportive container designed uniquely for you to process emotions, release tensions and restore balance in your body and mind. Through gentle, body-centered techniques tailored to your needs, you’ll be guided to reconnect with yourself, gain clarity in your choices, and experience a more natural sense of vitality

Couples Psychotherapy Sessions

A safe space to deepen connection, repair ruptures, and navigate difficulties together. Through body-centered dialogue and shared practices, you’ll learn to recognize underlying patterns, communicate more honestly, and stay present with one another even in moments of conflict.

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Somatic Release Workshops

I invite you to explore movement, body awareness, and creative expression in a supportive group setting. These workshops are designed to help you release tension, connect with your emotions, and discover new pathways to healing and personal growth through embodied practices and group dynamics.