A Pathway to Healing and Resilience

The Benefits of Somatic Experiencing®

Somatic Experiencing® (SE) is a powerful, body-centered approach to healing that supports individuals in addressing the effects of stress, trauma, and overwhelm.

Developed by Dr. Peter Levine, Somatic Experiencing is based on over 45 years of research into the body’s natural ability to heal.

Unlike traditional therapy approaches that focus primarily on the mind, SE taps into the innate wisdom of the body to help regulate the nervous system, process unresolved trauma, and restore a sense of balance and vitality.

What is Somatic Experiencing?

Somatic Experiencing is a therapeutic approach that focuses on the connection between the body and mind, particularly how the body processes and stores stress and trauma. Trauma often overwhelms the nervous system, leaving it in a state of dysregulation. This can manifest as anxiety, hypervigilance, physical tension, or even feelings of numbness and disconnection.

SE helps individuals gently access and release these unresolved patterns in the body. Instead of revisiting the details of traumatic events, SE focuses on how those events are held in the nervous system and works to restore balance through a process called titration—introducing small amounts of activation and release to avoid overwhelm.

This gradual, body-focused approach allows individuals to process and integrate their experiences safely, promoting a deeper sense of resilience, presence, and well-being.

How Does Somatic Experiencing Work?

At the core of Somatic Experiencing is the understanding that trauma is less about the event itself and more about how the body responds to and holds onto the experience. Trauma can disrupt the body’s natural ability to self-regulate, leaving you feeling stuck in cycles of fight, flight, freeze, or collapse.

SE works by helping the nervous system complete these incomplete survival responses. Through a process of gentle awareness and guidance, Somatic Experiencing practitioners help clients:

01. Tune Into the Body

Sessions often begin with noticing physical sensations, such as tension, tightness, or areas of comfort in the body. This practice helps build awareness of how your body is holding stress or trauma.

02. Identify Patterns of Dysregulation

Together, we’ll explore the ways your nervous system may be stuck in patterns of overactivation (fight/flight) or underactivation (freeze/collapse).

03. Release Held Energy

SE uses subtle, mindful techniques to safely release the energy stored in the body from past stress or trauma. This may involve small movements, changes in posture, or simply noticing sensations.

04. Restore Nervous System Balance

Over time, this work helps the nervous system return to its natural rhythm, fostering a greater sense of safety, ease, and connection.

The Benefits of Somatic Experiencing

Somatic Experiencing offers profound benefits for individuals dealing with a wide range of challenges. Here are just a few ways SE can support your healing and growth:

  • Resolves the Root Causes of Trauma
    Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, SE addresses the underlying dysregulation in the nervous system that trauma creates. By helping the body complete its natural survival responses, SE resolves trauma at its core, reducing the intensity and frequency of symptoms such as flashbacks, hypervigilance, and avoidance.

  • Calms the Nervous System
    Chronic stress and trauma can leave the nervous system stuck in a state of heightened activation or shut-down. SE helps bring the nervous system back into balance, reducing feelings of anxiety, overwhelm, and physical tension.

  • Builds Resilience
    By strengthening the body’s ability to regulate and recover from stress, SE fosters resilience. Clients often report feeling more grounded, resourceful, and able to navigate life’s challenges with greater ease.

  • Enhances Emotional Regulation
    Trauma and stress can make it difficult to manage emotions. SE helps individuals reconnect with their emotional landscape in a safe, embodied way, allowing them to process feelings without becoming overwhelmed.

  • Reduces Physical Symptoms
    Since trauma is stored in the body, it often manifests as physical symptoms such as chronic pain, fatigue, digestive issues, or tension. SE can help alleviate these symptoms by addressing the root cause in the nervous system.

  • Promotes a Sense of Safety and Connection
    Trauma often leaves individuals feeling unsafe in their own bodies or disconnected from themselves and others. SE helps rebuild a sense of safety, trust, and connection, both internally and in relationships.

Who Can Benefit from Somatic Experiencing?

Somatic Experiencing is a versatile approach that can benefit individuals from all walks of life. It is particularly effective for those experiencing:

  • Trauma and PTSD: SE helps resolve trauma from accidents, abuse, assault, loss, natural and man-made disasters, medical procedures, secondary trauma, and other overwhelming events.

  • Anxiety and Chronic Stress: By calming the nervous system, SE reduces anxiety and the physical symptoms of stress.

  • Depression: SE supports individuals in reconnecting with their bodies and emotions, helping to break patterns of numbness or withdrawal.

  • Burnout: SE helps restore energy and resilience, addressing the physical and emotional effects of chronic overwork or caregiving.

  • Chronic Pain: Many individuals with chronic pain find relief through SE, as it addresses the nervous system patterns that contribute to pain.

  • Attachment and Relational Issues: SE can help individuals heal from early attachment wounds and develop healthier patterns in relationships.

What to Expect in a Somatic Experiencing Session

Every Somatic Experiencing session is tailored to your unique needs and comfort level. Sessions are gentle and collaborative, with a focus on creating a sense of safety and empowerment.

Here’s what a typical session might involve:

Checking In

We’ll start by discussing how you’re feeling and identifying any areas of focus for the session.

Body Awareness

I’ll guide you in tuning into your body’s sensations, noticing areas of tension, comfort, or activation.

Titration and Pendulation

Using small, manageable steps, we’ll gently explore areas of activation in your nervous system and work toward releasing held energy.

Resourcing

We’ll identify internal or external “resources” (e.g., positive memories, comforting sensations) that help you feel safe and grounded.

Integration

At the end of the session, we’ll focus on integrating the work we’ve done, leaving you with a sense of completion and ease.

Why Choose Somatic Experiencing?

Somatic Experiencing stands apart from other therapeutic approaches because it addresses the body’s role in healing. Trauma isn’t just a psychological experience—it’s also physiological. By working directly with the nervous system, SE allows for profound healing that goes beyond symptom management to create lasting change.

SE can be particularly beneficial if you’ve tried traditional talk therapy and are looking for a deeper, more holistic approach. It’s gentle, effective, and adaptable, making it suitable for individuals at any stage of their healing journey.

Take the First Step Toward Healing

Somatic Experiencing is a compassionate and effective way to address trauma, stress, and overwhelm. By working with your body’s natural ability to heal, SE helps you move from a state of survival to a state of resilience and thriving.

If you’re ready to explore Somatic Experiencing and its benefits, I’d love to support you. Contact me today to schedule a consultation or learn more about how SE can help you reclaim balance, vitality, and well-being.

Healing is possible—and it begins here.