Living with physical symptoms that have no clear medical cause can be exhausting and isolating. You may have been told 'it's all in your head,' but we know the pain is real.
Psychosomatic or somatoform conditions are often the body's way of expressing emotional stress, trauma, or unresolved conflict that hasn't found words.
Our approach is not to minimise your experience, but to explore the powerful link between your emotional and physical health, helping you release held tension and improve your quality of life.
Understanding Complex Psychosomatic and Somatoform Conditions
For many individuals, physical symptoms such as chronic pain, fatigue, headaches, gastrointestinal distress, or dizziness persist despite thorough medical evaluations and no identifiable physical cause. These experiences can be frustrating, confusing, and isolating — especially when the symptoms are real and disruptive yet remain medically unexplained.
These types of conditions are often referred to as psychosomatic or somatoform disorders, and they reflect the powerful and intricate connection between the mind and body.
In many cases, persistent physical symptoms are influenced by emotional stress, psychological trauma, or unresolved internal conflict.
This does not mean the symptoms are “all in your head” —rather, the body may be expressing distress that hasn’t yet been fully processed or understood emotionally.
The Mind-Body Connection
Our physical and emotional systems are deeply interconnected.
When we experience chronic stress, emotional overwhelm, or past trauma, the body often responds in protective ways — sometimes by “holding” emotional pain through physical symptoms.
Over time, this can lead to a cycle of physical discomfort, increased anxiety about symptoms, and further distress.
Common psychosomatic symptoms may include:
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Chronic pain (eg, back pain, muscle tension, headaches)
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Gastrointestinal symptoms (eg, nausea, bloating, IBS-like symptoms)
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Fatigue or low energy without medical explanation
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Heart palpitations, dizziness, or shortness of breath
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Sensory disturbances or functional neurological symptoms
Therapeutic Support for Somatic Symptoms
Our psychologists specialise in helping individuals explore the emotional underpinnings of their physical symptoms in a safe, validating, and collaborative space.
Therapy does not seek to dismiss or minimise physical experiences, but rather to uncover how emotional and psychological factors may be contributing.
Through an integrative, evidence-based approach, including elements of psychodynamic therapy, somatic-focused therapies, trauma-informed care, and mindfulness-based techniques, we help clients: