somatic experiencing (SE)

Benefits of Somatic Experiencing

By facilitating the release of unresolved physical tension and promoting self-regulation skills, SE helps individuals move from a state of chronic hyperarousal or shutdown toward a sense of wholeness, resilience, and vitality. Clients often report feeling more present, more in control of their emotions, and safer in their own skin.

Somatic Experiencing vs. Broader Somatic Therapy

SE is a specific, highly specialized modality within the broader, often unregulated, field of somatic therapy. A general somatic therapist may have varying levels of training, whereas somatic experiencing certification is a 3 year rigorous, standardized program specifically focused on healing trauma through nervous system regulation. 

Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body-oriented therapeutic approach designed to help individuals heal from trauma and other stress-related disorders by addressing the physiological effects "trapped" in the body. Developed by Dr. Peter A. Levine, SE operates on the principle that trauma is not just a psychological event, but a physical experience that impacts the nervous system.

How Somatic Experiencing Works

Traumatic events can overwhelm the body's natural "fight, flight, or freeze" survival responses, leaving a massive amount of pent-up energy and dysregulation in the nervous system. This trapped energy can manifest as a variety of physical and emotional symptoms, including:

  • PTSD symptoms and flashbacks

  • Anxiety and Panic Attacks

  • Chronic pain and muscle tension

  • Chronic inflammation and digestive issues

  • Sleep problems

  • Depression and mood swings

Unlike traditional talk therapy, which primarily uses a "top-down" approach (changing thoughts to change feelings), SE uses a "bottom-up" approach, starting with increasing awareness of bodily sensations (interoception) to help complete the interrupted stress responses and restore balance to the body and mind.

Techniques Used in SE

  • In a safe and supportive environment, a trained SE practitioner will gently guide clients through specific techniques to process and release the trauma energy in manageable increments. Key techniques include:

    • Tracking: Learning to notice and describe subtle bodily sensations (e.g., warmth, tingling, tightness, or numbness) without judgment, which helps foster the mind-body connection.

    • Titration: Addressing the traumatic material in small, "bite-sized" doses to prevent the nervous system from becoming overwhelmed or re-traumatized.

    • Pendulation: Gently moving a client's awareness back and forth between sensations related to the trauma and areas of the body that feel calm, resourced, or neutral. This builds the body's capacity to handle stress and return to a regulated state.

    • Resourcing: Identifying and reinforcing internal and external resources (e.g., a supportive person, a safe place, or a feeling of strength) to help the client feel safe and grounded.

    • Movement & "Acts of Triumph": Encouraging natural physical movements or symbolic actions that the body needed to complete during the original event (e.g., pushing back against a boundary or running in place) to discharge trapped survival energy.