Touch and Connection: How the Body Remembers What the Mind Forgets
- Karen Law
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
The role of therapeutic touch in reconnecting with parts of yourself that became disconnected through trauma.
When Words Aren't Enough
When we think of trauma, we often imagine memories or emotions that feel too painful to face. But trauma doesn't just live in the mind. It also lives in the body. In fact, long after the conscious mind has blocked out or minimised distressing events, the body can still hold the imprint of what happened. That’s why therapeutic touch can be such a powerful part of healing: it bypasses words and speaks directly to the parts of us that may have become frozen, disconnected, or shut down.
The Body Remembers
The body has its own kind of memory, sometimes called implicit memory. This is not the kind of memory we consciously recall, like the plot of a film or a birthday date. Instead, it lives in muscle tension, flinches, gut feelings, or the sense of being on edge even when everything seems ‘fine.’
For people who’ve experienced trauma, especially in early life, the body may have learned to expect threat or rejection even in safe situations. This can show up in chronic tension, a lack of ease in being touched, or even an absence of sensation in certain parts of the body. Therapeutic, trauma-informed touch offers a way back in, gently and safely.
The Power of Connection Through Touch
Touch is one of the earliest ways we learn about safety, comfort, and connection. If early touch was absent, inconsistent, or unsafe, the nervous system may have adapted in ways that make closeness feel difficult, even when we want connection.
Trauma-informed massage creates a space where touch is safe, respectful, and attuned to your needs. Over time, this kind of touch can support you in:
Feeling more grounded and present in your body
Softening tension patterns held for years
Beginning to trust connection again
Strengthening your ability to regulate your nervous system
It’s not about fixing or forcing anything. It’s about allowing your system to experience something different: touch that nurtures instead of overwhelms, presence instead of pressure.
Why It Matters That the Work Is Body-Based
Talk therapies can be incredibly valuable, but sometimes we're at a point where talking about the trauma can't shift how we feel. That’s where body-based approaches come in. When you experience safety through your body, rather than just being told you're safe, something begins to change on a deeper level.
That might look like breathing more easily, sleeping more soundly, or feeling less reactive. It might be a greater ability to notice your own needs and tend to them. The transformation often begins subtly, but grows stronger with each session.
Small Steps Toward Reconnection
Reconnecting with your body after trauma can feel like a big leap. That’s why it’s so important to go slowly and at your own pace. Some people begin with fully clothed sessions or simply sitting with their therapist in the same space, allowing trust to build gradually. Others start by noticing what feels okay, or not okay, during touch and using that awareness as part of the healing process.
This work honours your boundaries and supports your capacity to feel choice and control in your healing journey.
Working With Me
In my practice, I offer trauma-informed massage that gently supports nervous system regulation and helps rebuild connection with the body. Where helpful, I also draw on other trauma-informed approaches that can support emotional integration and nervous system healing.
Many of the women I work with come to me feeling disconnected, stuck in survival patterns, or unsure how to feel safe in their bodies. Over time, we work together to help restore a sense of ease, presence, and wholeness.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve felt disconnected from your body, whether due to childhood trauma, birth trauma, or other overwhelming experiences, please know that you’re not alone. The body can learn a new language of safety, one touch at a time.
💜 You don’t have to live in survival mode. I offer trauma-informed approaches that meet you exactly where you are, gently supporting your body to feel safe, connected, and whole again. When you're ready, I’m here.
Comments