What is Somatic Experiencing therapy?
Somatic Experiencing (SE): A Body-Based Approach to Healing Trauma
Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body-focused therapy designed to help people recover from trauma and stress. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which primarily focuses on thoughts and emotions, SE works directly with the body’s physical sensations, urges, and movements. It’s based on the understanding that trauma isn’t just about what happened—it’s about how the nervous system responds. SE helps people gently tune into their body’s sensations, allowing trapped survival energy to be released. This process helps the nervous system reset so that past experiences no longer feel like they’re happening over and over again.
The Origins of Somatic Experiencing (SE)
Dr. Peter Levine developed Somatic Experiencing in the 1970s after observing that wild animals, despite regularly facing life-threatening situations, rarely show signs of trauma. He wondered why humans—who have the same built-in survival systems—often struggle with lingering trauma symptoms. Drawing from psychology, biology, and medical research, Dr. Levine discovered that trauma gets stored in the body when the nervous system doesn’t fully process or release the energy from a distressing event. This led to the development of SE, a gentle, body-centered method that helps people heal by tapping into their body’s natural ability to regulate and restore itself.
The Nervous System’s Role in Trauma
SE is rooted in the understanding that trauma affects the nervous system. When we experience danger, our nervous system triggers fight, flight, or freeze responses to protect us. But if these responses aren’t fully processed, the nervous system can get stuck in survival mode. This can lead to ongoing stress, anxiety, or a sense of being emotionally numb. SE helps gently release these stored stress patterns, guiding the nervous system back to a state of balance and flexibility, making true healing possible.
What Does Somatic Experiencing Therapy Look Like?
SE sessions follow a step-by-step approach to help the body regain its natural ability to self-regulate. The first and most important step is creating a sense of safety—both in therapy and within the client’s own body. Without this foundation, processing trauma can feel overwhelming.
Once safety is established, the therapist helps the client notice and explore physical sensations, emotions, and thoughts related to their experience. Unlike traditional talk therapy, SE doesn’t focus on retelling the story of what happened. Instead, it encourages the client to pay attention to what’s happening in their body right now—helping them observe their reactions instead of being consumed by them. This process allows trauma to be safely experienced, integrated, and ultimately released.
The Benefits of Somatic Experiencing
By shifting focus beyond thoughts and engaging with the body’s sensations, SE offers several key benefits:
• Reduces trauma symptoms such as anxiety, emotional numbness, and chronic stress
• Improves emotional regulation, making it easier to navigate strong feelings without feeling overwhelmed
• Builds resilience, helping people face challenges without shutting down or becoming overly reactive
• Restores trust in the body, empowering clients to feel safe in their own skin and confident in their ability to heal
Most importantly, SE helps people move beyond just coping with trauma. It fosters a sense of calm, self-trust, and empowerment—allowing clients to fully engage with life again.
A Path Toward Healing
Somatic Experiencing offers a hopeful and gentle way to heal from trauma by working with the body rather than against it. By learning to notice and engage with physical sensations, clients can finally release the tension trauma has left behind. This approach doesn’t just help people survive—it helps them find balance, resilience, and the freedom to truly thrive.