Noticing & Naming Feelings and Sensations

For many people navigating the impacts of trauma or family violence, noticing what’s happening inside the body can feel overwhelming or even impossible.

Learning to notice and name feelings and sensations is one of the most powerful early steps in trauma recovery. It helps the brain begin to shift out of survival mode, opens space for choice and safety, and lays the groundwork for deeper therapeutic work such as EMDR therapy.

As a trauma therapist in Hobart specialising in family violence recovery, I often support clients in gently reconnecting with their emotional and physical experiences. You don’t have to do this perfectly, and you certainly don’t have to do it alone.

What It Means to “Notice and Name”

“Noticing and naming” simply means bringing gentle awareness to your emotions, body sensations, and internal experiences, and then giving them a simple label.

For example:

• “My chest feels tight.”

• “I notice sadness.”

• “There’s a buzzing in my hands.”

• “I feel overwhelmed and my thoughts are racing.”

  
  

Naming an experience doesn’t make it bigger, it often contains it. The brain processes named experiences differently, engaging regions involved in self-regulation and calming the nervous system.

Why This Practice Supports Trauma Recovery and EMDR

In EMDR therapy, we work with both the emotional and body-based aspects of traumatic memory. Being able to notice internal experiences—without getting lost in them—can make EMDR sessions feel safer and more effective.

This practice can help you:

• Build emotional awareness

• Strengthen your window of tolerance

• Improve grounding

• Reduce the intensity of trauma triggers

• Support your capacity to stay present during EMDR processing

  
  

You don’t need to be “good” at this before beginning EMDR, but it’s an incredibly supportive skill.

Reconnecting Helps Restore Safety

For survivors of family violence, relationship trauma, or coercive control, reconnecting with your internal signals can be deeply healing. It helps rebuild:

• Safety in your body

• Trust in your own perceptions

• Confidence in responding to emotions

• A sense of control and empowerment

  
  

Trauma healing begins with these small moments of awareness.

Working With a Trauma Therapist in Hobart

If you’re looking for EMDR therapy in Hobart, or support that’s specialised in family and domestic violence, you deserve a therapist who understands the realities of trauma, safety, and the nervous system.

At Rise Counselling & Social Work, we go at your pace. We work gently with body awareness, EMDR, grounding skills, and a strong emphasis on emotional safety and empowerment.

Reflective Questions to Notice & Name feelings: