Somatic Experiencing®
“Go back and take care of yourself. Your body needs you, your feelings need you, your perceptions need you. Your suffering needs you to acknowledge it. Go home and be there for all these things.”
– Thich Nhat Hanh
Somatic Experiencing (SE™) is “bottom up” trauma healing method focused on restoring balance to the nervous system. It helps release trauma-related tension stored in the body, increasing awareness, flexibility and whole-person change. By centering on the body’s natural responses, SE™ works with the areas where trauma is held – whether it manifests as physical tightness, emotional numbness, anxiety, depression or other psychosomatic symptoms. The intent is to support your body in completing survival responses that were previously interrupted, allowing you to have corrective and complete experiences.
the process:
There is no one way to do SE™ and it is not protocol based, but there are things you can both expect and count on. Each session will start with a check-in and support you to connect with your resources. From there, the focus shifts to what you’d like to work on, and this work take places through the body, using story as a way to activate the state of your nervous system. I will encourage you to pause often and pay attention to the sensations that accompany the story. I will support you to move between what feels good and not so good, resourcing and challenging, (pendulation) to increase the flow of your nervous system.
This work happens slowly and gently, allowing space for things to unfold at their own pace. This slower rhythm helps access deeper layers of experiences that might not emerge in faster, mind-driven processes.
the gift:
- Give yourself time, space, and support to feel and process.
- Experience and embody your sensations and feelings.
- Improve your ability to meet life stressors without getting overwhelmed.
- Build self-regulation skills and establish healthy boundaries.
- Reduce anxiety, panic, depression, and other dysregulation symptoms.
- Strengthen your internal resources and nourish a sense of dignity.
- Foster an ability to live more from the present moment.
- Resolve and move past unresolved fight, flight, appease, or freeze reactions.
- Develop a positive and inclusive view of yourself, others, and the world.
- Gain tools to stabilize during crises and recognize early warning signs.
- Address feelings of isolation and build self-worth.
- Connect more deeply with your body and sensations.
- Distinguish past trauma from current experiences.