Somatic Therapy in Maine: Healing Anxiety Through the Body
Did you know anxiety affects over 40 million adults in the U.S.? It’s one of the most common mental health challenges—and it often shows up in the body. Somatic therapy helps you release tension, reconnect with yourself, and feel more in control.
At Eastern Shore Counseling in Portland, Maine, our therapists are trained in body-based approaches to anxiety. We offer holistic care that blends somatic therapy with mindfulness, breathwork, and talk therapy. If you're tired of feeling stuck in your head, somatic work can help you feel safe in your body again.
Key Takeaways:
Somatic therapy is a holistic, body-based approach to treating anxiety.
It helps release stored tension and supports long-term emotional regulation.
Eastern Shore Counseling offers somatic therapy in Portland, Maine.
Josh Masterson, LCSW, provides personalized treatment for anxiety using somatic and trauma-informed methods.
What Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy is a mind-body approach that helps people heal from anxiety, trauma, and chronic stress by working directly with the body. Unlike traditional talk therapy, somatic therapy uses practices like breathwork, body awareness, and gentle movement to help regulate the nervous system.
At Eastern Shore Counseling, somatic therapy is often combined with:
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)
Sensorimotor psychotherapy
Somatic Experiencing
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
These approaches allow clients to notice and release physical symptoms of anxiety—like tension, tightness, or restlessness—and reconnect to a sense of safety and calm.
How Somatic Therapy Helps with Anxiety
Anxiety often lives in the body: rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing, clenched muscles. Somatic therapy works by gently helping your body let go of these patterns. Over time, this leads to a more regulated nervous system and a sense of grounded calm.
Techniques Used:
Body scans to identify areas of stored tension
Grounding exercises to help you feel present
Breathwork to regulate the nervous system
Movement practices to support emotional release
These practices are designed to be gentle, supportive, and trauma-informed. They're especially helpful if you’ve tried talk therapy before but still feel stuck.
Meet Josh Masterson, LCSW: Somatic Therapist in Portland, Maine
Josh Masterson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with advanced training in somatic approaches for trauma and anxiety. He brings a warm, grounding presence to each session and works with clients to tune into the wisdom of the body.
Josh Masterson, LCSW, Somatic Therapist
Josh’s approach is ideal for people who feel:
Trapped in cycles of anxious overthinking
Disconnected from their body or emotions
On edge or burnt out, even after talk therapy
He integrates somatic therapy with mindfulness, attachment work, and nervous system regulation tools to help you build long-term resilience.
What to Expect from Somatic Therapy at Eastern Shore Counseling
Your First Session:
Your initial consultation is a chance to share your goals and history. You’ll talk with Josh about what’s been going on in your body and mind, and get a feel for how somatic work might support you.
Ongoing Sessions:
Each session is personalized and may include a mix of talk, mindfulness, and body-based exercises. You’ll learn to:
Recognize early signs of anxiety in the body
Release tension through movement or breath
Build tools for grounding and regulation
Over time, clients report feeling more connected to themselves, more capable of navigating stress, and more empowered in their daily lives.
Take the First Step Toward Feeling Better
Somatic therapy offers a different way to heal—through the body, not just the mind. If you’re in Portland, Maine and struggling with anxiety, you don’t have to do it alone.
Schedule your free consultation with Josh Masterson, LCSW, today. He’ll walk alongside you as you reconnect with your body, reduce anxiety, and move toward a calmer, more grounded life.