Somatic Therapy Blog
Real talk on trauma, anxiety, grief, and what it actually takes to heal.
This blog is written by Ethany Michaud, LCSW, a certified Brainspotting practitioner and somatic therapist in Indianapolis, Indiana. Every post is written to give you something useful: a framework for understanding what's happening in your nervous system, language for things you've felt but never had words for, or a reason to finally reach out.
If something lands for you, you're welcome to book a free 15-minute consultation. That's what it's here for.
What Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Feels Like: A Client's Perspective
The science of KAP is well documented. What's harder to find is someone describing what it actually feels like to be in that chair. Here's what clients tell me most often after their sessions.
Feeling Numb: What Emotional Numbness Actually Is and Why It Happens
You're not sad exactly. You're just flat. Things don't land the way they used to. Here's what emotional numbness actually is, why it happens, and why talking about it isn't always enough.
Still Carrying It Alone: Breaking the Stigma Around Men's Mental Health
If you've always figured things out alone, this post isn't here to push you. It's here to offer a different way of thinking about what you might be carrying — and whether help is worth a second look.
What Is the Vagus Nerve and Why Does It Matter for Healing from Trauma?
You keep hearing about the vagus nerve. Here's what it actually is, why it matters for stress and trauma recovery, and what you can do to support it — from an Indianapolis somatic therapist.
Why You Can't Sleep Even When You're Exhausted: Anxiety and Your Nervous System
You've done everything right. You're exhausted. And still your brain turns on the moment you lie down. Here's why anxiety and your nervous system may be keeping you awake — and what actually helps.
KAP Integration: Why What Happens After the Ketamine Session Matters Most
Everyone focuses on what the ketamine session feels like. But after three years of offering KAP, here's what I've learned: the integration is where the lasting change actually happens.
What Happens in Your First Therapy Session at CCA Therapy
The hardest part is usually before you even walk in. Here's exactly what happens in your first therapy session at CCA Therapy — no surprises, nothing to prepare, nothing to get right.
Depression vs. Sadness: How to Know When It Is Something More
Everyone gets sad. But depression is something different — more persistent, more pervasive, and more resistant to the things that normally help. Here's how to tell the difference.
Can You Do Brainspotting Online? What to Know About Virtual Brainspotting Therapy
You've been reading about Brainspotting and wondering if you have to be in the room for it to work. You don't. Here's how virtual Brainspotting therapy works — and why some clients actually prefer it.
A Non-Judgmental Approach to Addiction: What Harm Reduction Therapy Actually Is
The abstinence-only model doesn't work for everyone — and that's not a failure of willpower. Here's what harm reduction therapy actually is, and why it might be the approach nobody has offered you yet.
How Childhood Trauma Shows Up in Adults And Why It's Not Your Fault
You adapted. You survived. And you carried all of it into adulthood without a manual. Here's how childhood trauma actually shows up in adults — and why "my childhood wasn't that bad" doesn't disqualify you from healing.
Burnout Is Not Just Being Tired. What Your Body May Be Trying to Tell You
You took the vacation. You slept in. You still came back exhausted. Here's why rest alone may not fix burnout — and what your nervous system may actually need instead.
People-Pleasing and Anxiety: Why Setting Boundaries Feels Impossible
You said yes again. You didn't want to. And now you're lying awake, resentful and drained. Here's why people-pleasing and anxiety are connected — and why "just say no" doesn't actually work.
How Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Helps With Treatment-Resistant Depression
You've tried the medications. You've done the therapy. And you still wake up feeling stuck. Here's how Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy works for treatment-resistant depression — and why it helps when other things haven't.
Grieving Someone Who Is Still Alive: What Ambiguous Loss Actually Feels Like
Nobody brings you flowers for this kind of grief. No funeral, no bereavement leave — and yet the loss is completely real. Here's what ambiguous grief actually feels like and why you deserve support for it.
How Brainspotting Helps With Addiction — Getting to the Root, Not Just the Symptom
Knowing you should stop and actually stopping are two different things — and that gap isn't weakness. Here's why Brainspotting works for addiction when willpower alone doesn't.
How to Know When Grief Has Become Complicated: Signs and Support
Everyone says grief gets better with time. But what if it doesn't? Here's what complicated grief actually looks like — and why it's more common than most people realize.
A Therapist's Honest Explanation of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
You've heard about ketamine therapy. But what is it really — and is it right for you? An Indianapolis therapist who has offered KAP for 3+ years gives you the honest answer.
Why Trauma Therapy Is So Hard — And Why That's Actually a Good Sign
You started trauma therapy and somehow feel worse. Before you quit — read this. An Indianapolis trauma therapist explains why the hardest sessions are often the most important ones.
Grief in Addiction Recovery: The Loss Nobody Talks About When You Get Sober
Nobody tells you about the grief that comes with getting sober. The people you leave behind. The ease you lose. The identity that shifts. Here's why recovery grief is real — and what to do about it.