Relationship Rebuild & Communication Support
Service Type(s):
- Couples Counselling
- Communication Coaching
- Conflict Resolution Support
Service(s) Delivered:
- Joint Intake Session + Individual Check-ins (as needed)
- 8-Session Couples Program
- Communication Frameworks & Take-Home Exercises
This case describes a 30-year-old woman who began Sensorimotor Psychotherapy after experiencing intense anxiety and episodes of panic following an unexpected breakup. Although she understood the relationship had been strained for some time, the abrupt way her partner left, triggered a level of fear and distress that felt disproportionate to the event. She reported surges of panic, difficulty breathing, trembling, and an overwhelming sense that something terrible was about to happen. Even daily tasks felt daunting, and being alone at home would sometimes set off waves of dread that she found difficult to calm.
From the beginning, she identified a long-standing pattern of anxious attachment in relationships. She often sought reassurance, monitored subtle changes in her partner’s behaviour, and carried a persistent fear of being left. The breakup seemed to strip away the coping strategies she had relied on, leaving her raw and exposed. In our early discussions, we established the anxiety as being pre-verbal and originating from a very early stage in her life. This suggested that the separation had activated abandonment imprints rooted in her earliest developmental experiences as a baby.
Therapy initially focused on creating stability and helping her nervous system settle. We introduced grounding practices, orienting to the room, and gentle awareness of breath and bodily sensations. The early work revolved around helping her tell the difference between present-day safety and the old, implicit fear states that had been reawakened. Understanding that her body was reacting from a deeply conditioned survival place, not from a lack of strength, helped reduce her sense of shame and frustration.
Once she felt more regulated, we began using specific Sensorimotor Psychotherapy methods to address the somatic layers beneath her anxiety. Through titration, she learned to approach distressing sensations slowly and gradually rather than being overwhelmed by them. Pendulation helped her move attention between areas of tension and places that felt more settled or neutral, supporting her nervous system to reorganise and release activation in a manageable way.
As she tuned into her body, she noticed patterns she had lived with for years, such as, a tight, held diaphragm whenever she anticipated rejection, a sinking sensation in her stomach when she thought about being alone, and subtle collapse through her spine during moments of emotional fear. Bringing mindful awareness to these instinctive reactions opened space for them to shift. Over time, she experienced softening in her posture, easier breathing, and the ability to interrupt panic symptoms before they escalated.
As the therapy progressed, she reported significant improvements. Panic attacks became less frequent and shorter when they did arise. She felt more grounded when spending time alone and less preoccupied with fears of abandonment. She also began to feel more connected to be in her adult, capable part of herself, one that could comfort and support the younger, frightened parts that had been activated by the breakup.
Towards the end of therapy, she shared that the fear didn’t consume her anymore. She experienced a steadier emotional baseline, fewer physical symptoms, and a renewed confidence in her ability to self-regulate. She felt more anchored in her body and less driven by old abandonment patterns.
This case demonstrates how Sensorimotor Psychotherapy can help individuals heal anxiety and panic rooted in early attachment trauma. Through careful pacing, attuned somatic work, and a safe therapeutic relationship, clients can move toward greater emotional stability, embodied safety, and resilience.
