Trust Your Body, Not Just Your Brain

When was the last time you made a decision that felt right in your body, not just logically on paper or otherwise?

Many of us live entirely in our heads. We are trained from an early age to value thinking over feeling and logic over instinct. Yet in therapy, time and time again, I see that real change happens when people begin to trust what their body is telling them.

Because here is the truth: your body often knows what your brain is trying to ignore.

Many of the clients I work with are skilled at thinking their way out of problems. They can analyse, rationalise, and explain just about anything. But underneath all of that, their nervous system is quietly running the show.

If your body has learned that certain situations are unsafe, it will respond long before your brain has a chance to catch up. Anxiety, tension, numbness, and avoidance; these are not random. They are messages.

Ignoring those signals, or trying to logic your way past them, will only get you so far.

What this looks like in practice

I see it all the time:

• A client says a relationship is "fine," but their body clenches every time their partner enters the room.

• Someone insists they are "over" an experience, yet they feel sick when reminded of it.

• They push themselves into constant activity, but their body is exhausted and begging them to stop.

The body is not the problem here. It is the messenger.

If you have grown up in environments where tuning into your body was discouraged, this work can feel strange at first. For some, it can even feel unsafe.

In Internal Family Systems (IFS), we often see that certain parts of the self have learned to dismiss or distrust bodily signals. They (the parts) believe that staying in your head is safer.

Through IFS, Brainspotting, and somatic work, I help clients reconnect with the body in a way that is grounded and manageable. This is not about being constantly flooded with sensation. It is about learning to listen and respond with compassion.

What to reflect on

If this is resonating, here are a few questions to sit with:

• When do I override what my body is telling me?

• What sensations do I often ignore or push away?

• What would it mean to trust my body’s signals, even if they seem inconvenient?

Final thought

The body carries wisdom that the brain cannot access alone. Real change is not just about thinking differently. It is about helping your whole system feel safe enough to live differently.

If you are ready to explore this work, you can book a call with me here. Learning to trust your body is one of the most powerful steps you can take towards lasting change.