Trauma scrambles your body's stress signals. Somatic experiencing doesn't just address the memories; it works directly with your nervous system. Through mindful awareness of physical sensations, you can retrain your natural fight-flight-freeze responses, restoring inner balance and resilience.
SE was developed by Dr. Peter Levine, a psychologist and biophysicist who studied how animals cope with stress and trauma. He observed that animals in the wild are able to shake off the effects of life-threatening situations and return to normal functioning, while humans tend to get stuck in a state of hyperarousal or hypoarousal after experiencing trauma.SE is based on the theory that trauma is not caused by the event itself, but by the body's inability to complete its natural response to the event.
When we face a threat, our nervous system activates the fight, flight, or freeze response to help us survive. However, if we are unable to fight or flee, or if we are overwhelmed by the intensity of the situation, we may freeze and dissociate from our body sensations. This can lead to a buildup of unprocessed energy and stress in our nervous system, which can manifest as various symptoms of trauma.
SE aims to help us release this trapped energy and restore our nervous system's balance and resilience.
It does so by using a "bottom-up" approach, which means that it starts with the body sensations and works its way up to the thoughts and emotions.
By bringing awareness to our bodily sensations, we can gradually access and process the traumatic memories that are stored in our body, and discharge the excess energy that keeps us stuck in a state of distress.
SE is usually done with a trained therapist who guides us through a series of steps to help us reconnect with our body and heal from trauma. The steps are:- Establishing safety and trust: The therapist helps us create a safe and comfortable environment where we can feel supported and respected.
The therapist also helps us identify our resources, which are anything that makes us feel calm, grounded, or empowered. Resources can be internal (such as positive memories, emotions, or beliefs) or external (such as people, places, or objects).
Somatic Experiencing aims to achieve this through the following steps:
Trauma doesn't just live in your mind; it lives in your body. Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a powerful therapy that helps unlock the physical residues of overwhelming experiences. Through gentle awareness and guided exercises, SE helps your nervous system find its way back to balance. Release tension, regulate emotions, and rediscover a sense of groundedness.
Book a free consultation to explore if Somatic Experiencing cold support your healing journey.
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