What is Somatic Experiencing?

Somatic Experiencing® also known as S.E. is a methodology and practice that supports our nervous system in healing from trauma and unintegrated experiences of the past. Developed by Dr. Peter Levine, this somatic approach focuses on releasing trauma stored in the body through bodily connection and nervous system regulation out of fight/flight/freeze patterns. Somatic Experiencing International offers a three year professional training for professionals wanting to gain expertise in a somatic approach to trauma healing within their field of expertise.

Our nervous system is what connects us to our felt sense of aliveness and our bodily knowing of what feels and is good for us. It supports us in experientially living through our senses moment by moment, in presence. This body to mind connection is a powerful place of deep attunement to self, openness to others and belonging within the web of life.

How Somatic Experiencing works?

Utilizing the modality and methodology of Somatic Experiencing® we endeavor to reconnect to and slowly gain safety and trust in feeling, sensing, and attuning to our experiential awareness of ourselves in the present moment. 

You will be guided and supported in tracking bodily sensations, exploring movement impulses, connecting to emotions, sensing into images, memories, words and vocal expressions that may arise. Things will be done slowly, at a pace that the body can integrate and regulate what you are experiencing. As you begin to gain greater capacity to connect to your bodily experience your nervous system will begin to regulate more effectively. A greater sense of ease, aliveness, wholeness and presence may emerge as your nervous system becomes more regulated.

In session we will establish the capacity for resourced states of bodily aliveness and safety in the present moment. When ready we may revisit states of fight, flight or freeze as they arise, allowing them to resolve through bodily awareness and expression. It is not always necessary to verbally process traumatic events although we may touch into this content in order to bring up unintegrated experiential states connected to these stories. Events and experiences from the past may come up organically to be moved through the body as clients gain the capacity to integrate and orient with more highly charged experiential states. If working in person Somatic Experiencing® Touch Therapy in tandem with Craniosacral Therapy may be introduced.

Who Can Benefit from Somatic Experiencing?

Somatic Experiencing® can assist clients in healing from myriad of symptoms and conditions including the following.

  • Attachment Disorder

  • Anxiety

  • Accidents

  • Auto-immune disease

  • Boundary ruptures

  • Car accidents

  • Chronic, difficult to treat pain related symptoms

  • Chronic Diseases

  • Depression

  • Domestic abuse

  • Endocrine system imbalances

  • Falls

  • Injuries

  • Insomnia

  • Pain management

  • Pre and post surgery

  • PTSD

  • Rape

  • Relationship issues

  • Sexual abuse

  • Shock trauma

  • Stress

  • Whiplash