Somatic Movement and Embodiment Groups in Strongsville, Ohio
Somatic movement groups at Oasis Counseling Solutions use gentle movement, breathwork, and body awareness to help participants release tension stored in the nervous system and process stress and trauma through the body. Clinically facilitated by a licensed therapist — not a yoga instructor. Available in-person at Strongsville and virtually across Ohio. One of the only programs of its kind in the greater Cleveland area. Contact us to inquire about the next session.
What Are Somatic Movement Groups?
Somatic movement groups are clinically facilitated sessions in which participants use the body as the primary tool for healing rather than talk alone. The word "somatic" comes from the Greek word for body, and somatic approaches are grounded in a well-established body of neuroscience research showing that trauma, chronic stress, and emotional pain are stored in the body as physiological patterns — not only as memories or thoughts — and that body-based interventions can access and shift those patterns in ways that talk therapy sometimes cannot reach.
In a somatic movement group at Oasis Counseling Solutions, participants move through gentle, guided sequences designed to activate the body's natural capacity for nervous system regulation. The movements are neither athletic nor performative. They are slow, awareness-based, and adapted to each participant's comfort level and physical ability. Sessions integrate breathwork and body scan practices to deepen the body awareness that underlies the therapeutic effect, followed by verbal processing that connects physical experience to emotional understanding.
What distinguishes this program from wellness offerings, yoga classes, or fitness groups is clinical oversight. Each session is designed and facilitated by a licensed therapist trained in somatic approaches. Participants are not simply moving and breathing — they are engaging in a clinically structured process with a trained professional who can track what is happening therapeutically and respond accordingly. This is the distinction that makes somatic movement groups at Oasis a therapy offering rather than a wellness activity, and it is why this program is one of the only offerings of its kind in the greater Cleveland area.
Who Benefits from Somatic Movement Groups?
Somatic movement groups are particularly well-suited for people who have already done significant talk therapy work and feel that something remains unresolved in the body, as well as those who are new to therapy and find body-based entry points more accessible than verbal processing.
- Talk therapy veterans who feel stuck in the body — insight and understanding have not fully changed how they feel physically
- Trauma survivors whose symptoms are somatic — chronic physical tension, hypervigilance, numbness, disrupted interoception
- People with chronic stress and burnout who have difficulty relaxing or discharging physical tension
- First responders, healthcare workers, and caregivers with occupational stress held in the body
- Mindfulness and body awareness practitioners who want a clinically supported somatic context
- Current individual therapy clients who want to address the body as a complement to their ongoing work
What Happens in a Somatic Movement Group Session
Sessions typically run 60 to 90 minutes. There is no performance expectation. You move within your own comfort range throughout. Here is the general structure of a session at Oasis Counseling Solutions.
Grounding
Each session begins with grounding — practices designed to bring awareness into the present moment and into the body. Grounding typically includes brief breath awareness, noticing points of contact between the body and the floor or chair, and orienting to the room. This phase establishes a sense of safety and presence before any movement begins.
Guided Movement Sequences
The facilitator guides participants through gentle, somatic movement sequences. These are slow, awareness-based movements — not exercise. They are designed to activate specific areas of the nervous system, release held tension patterns, and restore a sense of ease and spaciousness in the body. Modifications are always offered and all participants move within their own comfortable range. No movement experience is required.
Breathwork and Body Scan
Movement is followed by breathwork and a guided body scan — systematic attention to different areas of the body to notice sensation, temperature, tension, or ease without trying to change anything. This phase deepens the interoceptive awareness that is at the core of somatic work. The facilitator guides the pace and offers language for noticing and naming physical experience.
Verbal Processing
The session closes with facilitated verbal processing in which participants have the opportunity to connect body experience to emotional awareness. This phase is voluntary — no one is required to share. The facilitator holds the space and helps bridge the somatic experience to insight and integration. The group format provides a sense of community and shared experience that amplifies the therapeutic effect of the individual work.
In-Person and Virtual Options
In-Person — Strongsville
In-person somatic movement groups are held at the Oasis Counseling Solutions Strongsville office at 17637 Shurmer Rd. The in-person format allows for the full range of somatic work including floor-based sequences and direct facilitated guidance in a shared physical space. The group environment in-person provides an additional layer of co-regulation through physical proximity.
Wear comfortable clothing that allows for gentle movement. Bring or arrive in something you can move in freely.
Virtual — Statewide Ohio
Virtual somatic movement groups are available to any client in Ohio. You will need a quiet space where you can move comfortably, with enough room to extend your arms and take a few steps in any direction. A device with a working camera is required — camera participation is necessary so the facilitator can observe and guide your movement throughout the session.
A yoga mat or soft surface is helpful but not required. Stable internet and a device with camera and microphone are the only technical requirements.
Also available as a complement to individual therapy and telehealth sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Somatic Movement Groups
What is somatic movement therapy?
Somatic movement therapy uses the body as the primary tool for processing stress, trauma, and emotional pain. Through gentle movement, breathwork, and body awareness exercises, participants learn to recognize and release tension patterns stored in the nervous system. It is grounded in neuroscience research showing that trauma and chronic stress are held in the body as physiological patterns, and that body-based interventions can produce lasting change that talk therapy alone sometimes cannot reach.
Do I need movement experience to join a somatic group?
No. Somatic movement groups at Oasis Counseling Solutions are designed for all bodies and all levels of physical ability. There are no complicated movement sequences or fitness requirements. The focus throughout is on awareness and gentle exploration, not on doing the movements correctly or performing for the group. The facilitator provides modifications as needed and participants are encouraged to move within their own comfortable range at all times.
How are somatic groups different from yoga?
Somatic movement groups at Oasis are clinically facilitated by a licensed therapist trained in somatic approaches. The goal is nervous system regulation and trauma recovery, not fitness, flexibility, or spiritual practice. Sessions include verbal processing that connects body experience to emotional awareness — something a yoga class does not provide. The clinical framework makes these groups distinctly different in purpose, method, and outcome from any yoga or wellness class. Participants are engaging in a therapeutic process, not a fitness activity.
Can I do somatic movement groups virtually?
Yes. Virtual somatic movement groups are available to any client in Ohio. You need a quiet space where you can move comfortably, a device with a working camera, and a stable internet connection. Camera participation is required throughout the session so the facilitator can observe and guide your movement safely. Virtual groups provide the same clinical content and facilitation as in-person sessions. Learn more about virtual services at Oasis.
Does insurance cover somatic movement groups?
Coverage depends on your specific plan and how the group session is billed. Contact Oasis Counseling Solutions at (216) 200-8811 or admin@ocsohio.com to discuss your insurance coverage and any out-of-pocket costs for somatic group sessions. Sliding scale options may be available for eligible clients.
Group Schedule and Pricing
Session Schedule and Pricing
Group session schedule and pricing are available upon inquiry. Contact us at (216) 200-8811 or admin@ocsohio.com to ask about the next available group, format options, and current pricing. Both in-person Strongsville and virtual Ohio groups are available.