Listening In: What Is Interoception and Why Does It Matter?
Learn what interoception is and why it’s vital for emotional regulation, trauma recovery, and nervous system health. Discover how somatic therapy helps you reconnect with your body’s signals.
When we talk about healing—whether from stress, trauma, or simply the overwhelm of daily life—we often focus on thoughts and emotions. But there’s a quieter, often overlooked part of healing that begins deep inside the body: interoception.
What Is Interoception?
Interoception is our ability to notice internal sensations—like the flutter of anxiety in your stomach, the warmth of connection in your chest, or the ache of exhaustion behind your eyes. It’s how your brain reads signals from inside the body to understand what you need. Are you thirsty? Do you feel safe? Are you holding your breath?
These may seem like small things, but they are foundational to self-awareness, emotional regulation, and feeling grounded in the present moment.
Why It Matters in Therapy
For many people—especially those who have experienced trauma, burnout, or chronic stress—the connection between mind and body can feel frayed. We may become disconnected from our inner signals as a survival strategy. This can make it harder to identify emotions, set boundaries, or know when we need rest.
Building interoceptive awareness is a gentle, powerful way to return to ourselves. In somatic and trauma-informed therapy, we often use body-based practices like breath work, mindful movement, or guided noticing to help clients re-establish this internal connection.
Over time, this helps to:
Improve emotional regulation
Reduce overwhelm and reactivity
Increase a sense of safety and agency in the body
Support nervous system resilience
How to Start Noticing
You don’t need to be an expert in body signals to begin. Start small:
Pause and notice your breath—is it shallow or deep?
Scan your body for areas of tension or ease
Place a hand on your chest or belly and see what you feel
Name your sensations without judgment (e.g. “tight,” “fluttery,” “warm”)
This is interoception in action: learning to listen inward, with curiosity and care.
Final Thoughts
Tuning into your inner landscape may feel unfamiliar at first—especially if you’ve had to numb or override it in the past. But with time and support, it becomes a powerful resource. Your body holds so much wisdom. Interoception helps you access it.
If you’d like to explore this more in therapy, I’d be honoured to walk alongside you. I offer somatic and humanistic counselling in-person in Okotoks, AB and virtually across Alberta.
Contact: arin.clarke21@gmail.com | 587-220-4174
Book online: www.warpweftcounselling.com
Psst….Want a Printable Resource?
I’ve created a beautifully designed, therapist-approved handout on interoception. It includes:
A simple definition
A body-based practice
Sensation vocabulary
Journaling prompts
A curated reading list
You can grab the full printable version in my Etsy shop here. Perfect for personal use, therapy clients, or wellness professionals.
Are you a current client? Ask me in session for access to this printable for free.