In Person or Online Somatic Experiencing
WHat is somatic Experiencing (SE)?
Somatic Experiencing (SE™), developed by Peter A. Levine, is a body-centred approach to healing trauma, chronic stress and nervous system overwhelm. It aims to resolve symptoms of stress, shock, and trauma that accumulate in our bodies and nervous systems.
When trauma is not fully processed, it can remain in the body, contributing to symptoms such as anxiety, hypervigilance, tension and emotional overwhelm. Somatic Experiencing supports the body insafely processing these experiences, helping to build resilience and a greater sense of safety and regulation.
How is SE different from talk therapy?
Somatic Experiencing focuses on the body and nervous system, helping to release stored trauma, while traditional talk therapy focuses mainly on thoughts and emotions through conversation.
Who is SE for? What can SE help me with?
People seek SE for many different reasons – they want to try a different approach where talk therapy fell short, they want to understand their nervous system and work through triggers in a different way. You might consider SE if you are experiencing any of these below symptoms:
Psychosomatic symptoms
Some examples include:
- Autoimmune disorders
- Chronic Syndromes (ME, Fybromyalgia)
- Neck and back pain, Headaches
- Chronic Pain
- Stomach/Digestive issues
- Skin disorders
- Cardiovascular Issues
Trauma
Some examples include:
- Shock trauma – such as car accident, natural disasters, falls, medical procedures
- PTSD
- Childhood Trauma – complex PTSD
- Chronic Stress
- Sexual Violence
- Domestic Abuse
- Sudden death
Emotional DYSregulation
Some examples include:
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Overwhelm
- Depression
- Anger outbursts
- Mood swings
- Managing OCD/ADHD
- Emotional numbness/shutdown
How does SE work?
Origins
Dr. Peter Levine developed Somatic Experiencing from his observations of how wild animals recover from repeated traumatic experiences like attacks by predators (imagine gazelles eluding a cheetah).
After a threat passes, animals release fight-or-flight energy through shaking or movement and quickly return to normal. Humans often override this natural response and instead “freeze,” trapping the energy in the body and causing symptoms. Somatic Experiencing helps people release this stuck energy and move past trauma.
What is a session like?
A typical SE session mostly follows a phased trauma treatment. The gentle exploration continues until the client builds enough resilience to productively and completely engage and release the trauma energy.
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF SE
The guide below outlines the key principles of Somatic Experiencing and how it supports the body in releasing stored trauma and survival energy.
SE Video Library resources
Exercise to Release Despair
Working with PTSD
How Trauma get stuck in the body
What’s Next?
Book a session to experience it and then take it from there.
