What is Somatic Experiencing?
Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a form of trauma therapy that focuses on the body's natural ability to heal from traumatic events. It was developed by Peter Levine, a scientist and clinician who studied animal behavior and how they cope with and recover from traumatic events in the wild.
SE therapy is based on the idea that trauma (e.g., traumatic events, toxic or unstable environments, unhealthy relationships) can cause our bodies to become "stuck" in a state of arousal, leading to various physical and emotional dysregulation.
SE therapy aims to help people who have experienced trauma regulate their nervous system arousal and gradually process and resolve their traumatic experiences. It does this by focusing on the sensations in the body and helping the person to become progressively more aware of and comfortable with their physical sensations and related emotions.
SE therapy may involve techniques such as:
Focusing on the present moment and the body's sensations
Slow, mindful movements
Identifying associated emotions and meaning with physical sensations
Nervous system regulation techniques like grounding and orienting to the here and now
SE therapy is an effective trauma treatment that uses a bottom-up approach, accessing the area of the brain where trauma is encoded. It may be used with other therapies, such as Internal Family Systems (IFS) or another trauma-focused therapy. Learn more about healing through somatic experiencing with a free 15-minute consultation with Tides Center for Wellness.
