Foundations of Trauma and Somatics
A practical introduction to somatics, body awareness, and trauma-informed practice. Build the regulated presence needed to hold safe, attuned spaces.
Foundations of T+S helps you understand your nervous system, read somatic cues, and build the regulated presence needed to hold safe, attuned spaces. This is where trauma-informed, body-led work begins. A clear, accessible starting point you can return to as you deepen your practice.
Understand how your autonomic nervous system works and how to read its signals in yourself and others through neuroception.
Learn the science of safety and connection in accessible terms. Map experiences onto the Polyvagal hierarchy and understand co-regulation.
Practice grounding, orienting, breath awareness, and mindful movement techniques that support the shift toward ventral vagal states.
Understand trauma’s impact on the body and the principles of trauma-informed care: safety, trustworthiness, collaboration, and empowerment.
Develop interoceptive awareness and learn to track autonomic expressions in posture, breath, eye contact, and vocal tone.
Move from judgment to curiosity. Learn to befriend your nervous system responses as intelligent, adaptive survival mechanisms.
Four modules designed to build your somatic foundation step by step.
Learn the core concepts of somatics and trauma-informed care, and why they are essential for your personal and professional growth.
Resources included: Somatic Foundations: Key Terms handout, Guided Soma Check-in practice, Scope of Practice & Referral Guidelines, Reflective worksheet
Discover how your Autonomic Nervous System works and how Polyvagal Theory can help you understand and manage stress and connection.
Resources included: ANS Visual Infographic, Polyvagal Essentials handout, Personal Polyvagal Mapping exercise, Window of Tolerance Self-Assessment
Learn practical techniques to deepen your self-awareness and ethically understand nervous system states in yourself and others.
Resources included: Vocabulary of Sensation handout, Guided Felt Sense exploration, Autonomic Expressions Checklist, Self-Tracking exercise
Develop practical somatic tools for self-regulation and cultivate a more compassionate relationship with your nervous system.
Resources included: My Somatic Toolkit handout, Guided regulation practices, Compassionate Inquiry journal prompts, Reflective journaling exercise
Clear, comprehensive written content you can read and revisit at your own pace.
Handouts, worksheets, guides, infographics, and checklists to support your learning.
Experiential exercises including soma check-ins, body scans, felt sense exploration, and regulation techniques.
Curated list of recommended books, podcasts, websites, and organizations for continued learning.
Connect with fellow participants in our private online community for peer support and shared learning.
Return to the material whenever you need it, including future updates to the core content.
More than a course
Join our free online community of practitioners to connect, share resources, ask questions, and support each other’s learning journey.
Graduates receive an exclusive discount code for $750 off enrollment in our full Trauma & Somatics Certificate Program. This foundations course prepares you for deeper training.
$750 value
Foundations of T+S prepares you for our full certificate programs. Graduates receive an exclusive $750 discount toward the Trauma & Somatics Certificate.
Foundations of T+S is designed for helping professionals including coaches, therapists, counselors, social workers, yoga teachers, bodyworkers, wellness practitioners, educators, healthcare workers, and anyone interested in understanding the body’s role in processing experiences and supporting resilience. It’s ideal for those new to somatic work or experienced professionals looking to fill gaps in their training.
This is a 100% digital, self-paced program. Each module includes written lessons with downloadable PDF resources (handouts, worksheets, guides) and guided somatic practices. You can learn at your own pace, anywhere.
You receive lifetime access to all core course materials including written lessons, PDF resources, guided practices, and any future updates to the content.
The program is designed to be completed over approximately 5 weeks, though you can move faster or slower based on your schedule. We recommend spacing out the modules to allow time for integration and practice.
This is a foundational mini-course providing professional development education, not a certification. It’s designed as a starting point for deeper study.
If you have prior training in SE, Hakomi, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, or similar modalities, you may want to go directly to our Trauma & Somatics Certificate or Attachment & Somatics Certificate programs. This foundations course is designed for those newer to somatic approaches.
The Somara Free Community is our online space for practitioners to connect, share resources, and support each other’s learning. As a Foundations graduate, you receive access to this community where you can continue your development alongside others on the somatic path.
Still have questions? Email us and we’ll answer anything we didn’t cover here.
Understand your nervous system. Read somatic cues. Develop the regulated presence needed to hold safe, attuned spaces for yourself and your clients.