“Your body is not a problem to be solved. It is a home to come back to.”
— Dr. Hillary L. McBride

Often, when individuals walk into the counseling room for the first time, they carry heavy mental loads. These may show up as anxiety, depression, perfectionistic tendencies, OCD, or stubborn relational patterns they can’t seem to break. They want relief—and they’re often ready to dive into processing, reframing thoughts, and doing whatever it takes to reduce their symptoms. These strategies can certainly be effective, and for some, they’re enough to feel satisfied with treatment.

However, what if much of what contributes to overwhelming mental health symptoms isn’t just a matter of what’s happening from the neck up? What if, by neglecting the rest of the body, we’re limiting ourselves from experiencing true healing and growth? It's like trying to solve a puzzle with only half the pieces.

In her book The Wisdom of Your Body, psychologist Dr. Hillary L. McBride explores the idea that we live in a disembodied world—disconnected from our physical selves. We numb, hide, over-control, distrust, and ignore the signals our bodies send us. Disembodiment can result from trauma, cultural messages around body image, environmental stressors, and limiting belief systems.

The result? Many of us feel burnt out, anxious, or depressed. We struggle to identify how we feel and end up living on autopilot. Some of us may even start to believe our bodies are working against us.

“Trauma teaches us to disconnect from our bodies. Healing teaches us to listen again.”
— Dr. Hillary L. McBride

So, what does it look like to return to ourselves—to lean into our identity as embodied beings thoughtfully created by God? As author and psychiatrist Dr. Curt Thompson says,

“Humans are not just brains on sticks... not problems to be solved, but icons of beauty waiting to be revealed.”

To experience embodiment, we stop doing so much and start being. We begin to attune ourselves to the emotions we feel and the physical sensations that arise. We engage our senses and take notice of what’s happening around and within us. We learn to trust our bodies again.

There is a growing body of research that supports this. Of course, this work isn’t easy—and it can feel uncomfortable at first. But it unfolds over time, through small, daily decisions to pause and notice with curiosity.

The good news? You can begin today.
Here are some simple practices to help you move toward greater embodiment:

Body scan: Take a minute or two to notice what’s happening in your body right now. Do you feel tightness in your shoulders? Can you sense your heartbeat? Are you aware of your breath?
Observant walk: Go for a walk down your street or in a park. Mentally note where you see beauty—the light through the trees, the breeze on your face, birdsong in the distance.
Mindful stretching: Do some gentle stretches, paying attention to the sensations you experience in each movement.
Deep breathing: Try a breathing technique like 4-4-6 or box breathing, or simply take a few deep breaths, observing how they feel in your body. Grounding resource
Feelings wheel: Use a feelings wheel to identify the emotions that may be showing up. Don’t judge them—just allow yourself to be present with them instead of overanalyzing.

We live in a world that often tells us mental toughness means “mind over matter.” But the truth is, we find deeper, long-term resilience when we listen to our bodies, honor what they’re telling us, and gently come home to ourselves again.

Here at Atlanta Wellness Collective, we want to help. For support, contact us or schedule an appointment online.

This blog post was written by Katherine Yates.

This blog is not intended to substitute professional therapeutic advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about your health concerns and before starting or stopping therapies. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct professional advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

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