What is Somatic Experiencing?
Understanding Trauma Through the Body
When it comes to healing trauma, talk therapy can be incredibly helpful—but sometimes, words alone aren’t enough. That’s where Somatic Experiencing® (SE) comes in. Rooted in neuroscience and the body's natural ability to heal, Somatic Experiencing offers a different path to recovery—one that begins not with the mind, but with the body.
What Is Somatic Experiencing?
Somatic Experiencing is a body-oriented approach to healing trauma and chronic stress. Developed by Dr. Peter Levine, SE is based on the understanding that trauma is stored in the body—not just in our memories or thoughts. It emphasizes awareness of bodily sensations (known as “somatic” experiences) as a doorway to regulating the nervous system and gently releasing trauma that has been trapped in the body.
Rather than focusing solely on recounting past events, SE helps clients track their internal experience in the present moment. This mindful, slow-paced work allows the body to complete what it couldn’t during a traumatic event—whether that’s fight, flight, or freeze—and move back into a state of balance.
Why the Body Matters in Trauma Work
When we experience something overwhelming, our nervous system can get stuck in survival mode. Even long after the danger has passed, our bodies may still be bracing for impact, leading to symptoms like anxiety, chronic pain, hypervigilance, dissociation, and fatigue.
Somatic Experiencing helps restore regulation to the nervous system. By working with the body’s natural rhythms—and honoring its signals—we can support deep, lasting healing. SE is particularly helpful for:
PTSD and complex trauma (CPTSD)
Developmental or attachment trauma
Chronic stress or burnout
Medical trauma
Accidents, surgeries, or physical injuries
Anxiety and depression linked to nervous system dysregulation
What a Somatic Experiencing Session Looks Like
In an SE session, you won’t be asked to retell your trauma story in detail. Instead, your therapist will guide you to notice internal sensations (like warmth, tightness, tingling, or breath) and support you in staying connected to the here-and-now. This might involve:
Slowing down and noticing what’s happening in your body
Exploring small, manageable pieces of a memory or feeling (known as titration)
Supporting your body to complete self-protective responses
Using grounding tools to bring a sense of safety and connection
The process is gentle, client-led, and always honors your body’s pace.
Why Clients Choose Somatic Experiencing
Many clients come to SE after trying other forms of therapy that didn’t fully resolve their symptoms. They often say things like, “I understand why I feel this way, but I still feel stuck,” or “My body reacts even when I know I’m safe.” SE can be a powerful complement or alternative to traditional talk therapy because it works with the felt sense—the body’s wisdom and instinctual responses that don’t always respond to logic or insight alone.
Final Thoughts
Healing trauma isn’t just about what happened in the past—it’s about how our bodies are holding that experience in the present. Somatic Experiencing invites us to listen more deeply to ourselves, restore our sense of agency, and move toward regulation, resilience, and wholeness.
If you’re curious about Somatic Experiencing and how it might support your healing, I’d be honored to explore that journey with you.