Body-based healing for when talk therapy isn’t enough
Integrative approaches that work with body and mind together — for patterns that live below the surface of conscious awareness.
Brooklyn Heights · In-person & telehealth across NY
Integrative approaches that work with body and mind together
Somatic and integrative therapy uses body-based techniques alongside traditional talk therapy to access patterns that live below the surface of conscious awareness.
Our approach draws on depth hypnosis, guided meditation, inner inquiry, and somatic awareness to help you connect with what’s happening in your body, not only in your thoughts.
Using techniques like guided meditation, inner inquiry, and trance-like states, Depth Hypnosis helps you feel connected to your truest self, and explore any issues you’re facing which are often blocked by fear, judgment, or trauma.
Clients remain fully alert, aware, and participate throughout the process (so you won’t forget any of your breakthroughs!)
How this work supports healing
Somatic and integrative approaches are especially helpful for those who:
Somatic and integrative therapy can be used alone or alongside other approaches like EMDR, couples therapy, or weekly talk therapy.
Many clients find them effective for accessing core patterns, breaking cycles of self-criticism, and exploring questions about identity, purpose, and connection.
Meet your practitioner
LMSW · Depth Hypnosis & Shamanic Counseling
Body-based and integrative work requires skilled facilitation. At Middle Way Healing, Matthew Word is trained in bringing these practices into your life in a respectful way. You won’t be rushed or pushed. Instead, you’ll be supported with patience, curiosity, and care.
Read Matthew’s full background and approach →Safety and trust come first. You’re awake the whole time — it’s more like a deep meditative state than traditional hypnosis, and you remain fully in control throughout.
What a session looks like
First, you talk about what’s on your mind. Then, the helper guides you into a super calm, relaxed state. While you’re relaxed, you can think about your feelings, memories, or worries, and the helper helps you understand or work through them.
While Depth Hypnosis and Shamanic Counseling use light trance states, you remain fully alert, aware, and in control. The process is about self-discovery and connection to your own inner truth — whatever that means for you. It’s accessible to both the spiritually curious and the deeply skeptical.
It’s a kind of therapy where a helper guides you to relax really deeply and notice your thoughts and feelings. You’re awake the whole time, but it’s like your mind gets to go on a little adventure to figure out what’s going on inside you.
While Depth Hypnosis and Shamanic Counseling use light trance states, you remain fully alert, aware, and in control. It’s more like a deep meditative state than traditional hypnosis.
First, you talk about what’s on your mind. Then, the helper guides you into a super calm, relaxed state. While you’re relaxed, you can think about your feelings, memories, or worries, and the helper helps you understand or work through them.
Yes. At Middle Way, somatic and integrative techniques are practiced within a clinical therapeutic framework. Matthew Word integrates these approaches into his clinical work, so you get the benefits of body-based healing with the safety and structure of professional therapy.
Not at all. The process is more about self-discovery and connection to your own inner truth — whatever that means for you. It’s accessible to both the spiritually curious and the deeply skeptical.
Yes — with the right support. Somatic and integrative therapy offers an alternative path for trauma recovery, especially when clients are looking for something beyond talk therapy. However, we suggest these only be carried out with a trained and trusted mental health professional. We always assess safety first and adapt sessions accordingly.
Anyone who feels worried, sad, stressed, or stuck in their feelings can try it. It’s also for people who just want to understand themselves better or figure out why they feel certain ways.
Visit our blog for more on the foundations of this work. We also suggest reaching out to our coordinator for more information.
Explore what’s beneath the surface
If you’re drawn to this work, there’s likely something here for you. We’d be honored to walk with you. Our Brooklyn Heights office is convenient to nearby neighborhoods including Park Slope, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Downtown Brooklyn, and DUMBO. We also see clients virtually across New York State.
When you’re ready, we’re here. The consult is a free 15-minute conversation — we’ll listen, ask a few questions, and help you see what the work could look like.