Trauma can affect a person’s life in many ways, from emotional burdens to physical pain. Conventional talking therapies may not be sufficient for some people to achieve healing or relief. Somatic Experiencing (SE)® is a method that works with the immediate physical response in the present to the traumatic overwhelm that was experienced. It was developed by Peter Levine for the treatment of trauma.
What is Somatic Experiencing?
Somatic Experiencing (SE)® is a body-oriented approach to resolving traumatic stress. The method is suitable for overcoming shock trauma such as accidents, medical procedures or profound losses, as well as for transforming early attachment and developmental trauma. The aim of Somatic Experiencing (SE)® is to restore the nervous system’s natural self-regulation. It is immaterial whether the events are recent or long past. The response of the nervous system and hormonal system is the same. In SE, therefore, the event itself is not worked on; instead, the work helps to resolve the response of one’s own system in the present and shift it towards regulation.
How Does a Somatic Experiencing Session Work?
An SE session takes place in a calm environment. I work together with you to recognise and regulate the body’s responses to stress and trauma. Through deliberate attention to body responses, the accompanying emotions and inner images, the underlying story can reassemble itself and the body can complete its biological reactions. Typical tools of SE are slowing down, pausing, attending to involuntary movements of the body and pendulating between the burden and what feels good. With agreement, touch can also be helpful. Sessions are individually adapted to offer the best possible support. How many sessions are needed varies and depends on various factors.
Benefits of Somatic Experiencing
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Somatic Experiencing can help to ease trauma symptoms such as anxiety, depression and physical pain, but can also simply make life more enjoyable and relaxed.
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It can be used for aftercare and preparation for significant experiences.
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It promotes the ability to cope better with stress and traumatic reactions.
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It can contribute to developing a deeper understanding of one’s own body and one’s reactions to particular triggers and situations.
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The therapy can also be effective for many other emotional burdens.
How Does Somatic Experiencing Differ from Other Trauma Therapies?
Somatic Experiencing differs from other trauma therapies through its focus on the body and its expression of stress and trauma. In contrast to conventional therapies, which often rely solely on conversation and cognitive processing, Somatic Experiencing focuses equally on the body and on exploring and regulating physical responses. Because these responses are immediate and involuntary, it is often possible to work in a profound and lasting way with this type of therapy.
Conclusion
In Somatic Experiencing you have your body, biology and a reliable counterpart on your side, to engage in the here and now with burdensome situations and patterns in your biography.
