Somatic Experiencing: The Body Remembers
What is Somatic Experiencing?
Somatic Experiencing is a method of therapy that heals chronic stress within the body to help people mentally, physically, and spiritually move past a state of being “stuck” in traumatic events. We might begin to understand our embodied response to trauma by looking at how animals regulate themselves under dangerous circumstances. Wild animals are routinely threatened by predators in their natural environments, yet they are able to recover within seconds after an assault on their safety. How can they do this while humans may suffer from incidents that occurred long ago in the past? By design, animals have evolved to quite literally “shake off” the stress hormones that their bodies produce to allow them to run faster, fight harder, or hide better so they might survive a life threatening chase by a predatory animal. Humans, on the other hand, often override these natural ways of resetting the nervous system and become burdened by feelings of fear, judgement, shame, and intrusive thinking. The build up of unreleased distressing or traumatic experiences manifests in our bodies as chronic stress leading to anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic-stress-disorder or PTSD.
Somatic Experiencing Therapy for Trauma and Chronic Stress
In Somatic Experiencing, trauma is understood as a loss of connection -- to our families and loved ones, to our communities, and most significantly, to ourselves. Simply put, our biological wiring leads us to cope with the pain of traumatic experiences by disconnecting us from our bodies. Invisible and slow-building in its nature, it is often hard to recognize. We might just feel slightly “off”, our self-esteem might feel like it’s deteriorating, our connections to others might feel weakened. We might not be able to name this experience. Somatic Experiencing is informed by science that indicates that all human beings have a capacity to triumph over trauma. Practitioners of this therapeutic method believe that trauma is curable, and the healing process can often serve as a catalyst for deep emotional awakening, and spiritual transformation. Somatic Experiencing equips folks with the self-sustaining tools to regulate their emotions with integrity and balance.
How Does Somatic Experiencing Work?
In Somatic Experiencing sessions, clients are encouraged to tune into their physical sensations. This allows the space for our bodies to connect with our internal innate healing response. This primal and natural process helps to resolve trauma symptoms by gently discharging the high levels of nervous system arousal associated with trauma, and allows our bodies return to a more manageable level of functioning. As the process of resetting our nervous system begins, integration too, naturally occurs. Our fragmented cognitive, emotional, physical, spiritual and interpersonal selves finally are given to the opportunity to come together as a whole. This process is exhilarating and deeply healing to the emotional wounds we carry.
What Happens in Somatic Experiencing Therapy
Somatic Experiencing sessions include the introduction of small doses of traumatic material/memories into the therapeutic space, and the observation of one’s physical responses to that material. These responses might include changes to posture, shallow breathing, jitters, etc. Your Somatic Experiencing practitioner will routinely check in to assess for and take note of somatic sensations that may be imperceptible to them, such as tightness in the chest, light-headedness, feeling choked-up etc. The therapist will tread lightly and gently, and will be cautious not to re-traumatize or trigger you, they do this whilst also equipping you with the tools to self-regulate. A major component to enhancing one's ability to self-regulate is the practice of “pendulating” or moving between traumatic sensations and sensations that are a source of strength, safety and comfort.
Your therapist will help you identify and find memories and places of safety, whether that is a place on your body that feels protected and far away from your trauma, or a physical respite in your mind. Guiding oneself through the process of experiencing traumatic sensations in a safe way allows you to process your trauma in its entirety.
How Can I Get Started with Somatic Experiencing Therapy at Repose?
At Repose, we believe the therapy must be flexible to accommodate the client - and not the other way around. Because of this, our therapist will often work eclectically, weaving together various aspects of different therapeutic methods and techniques to curate a deeply personalized and unique treatment protocol to best meet your individual needs. If Somatic Experiencing speaks to you and you are ready to begin your healing journey, schedule a consultation with our client concierge here. All of our therapists at Repose are trained in Somatic Experiencing techniques and are equipped with the clinical tools and emotional warmth necessary for trauma-informed support. It would be our privilege to accompany you through this journey.
- Prerna Menon, LMSW, CTP