What is Somatic Experiencing™?

At Repose, we are dedicated to holistic and integrative approaches to healing. One such powerful modality is Somatic Experiencing™ (SE), a therapeutic approach that taps into the body’s innate ability to heal from trauma and chronic stress. By focusing on the body’s sensations, SE helps clients process unresolved trauma, restore balance to their nervous systems, and create a deeper sense of safety and well-being.

Somatic Experiencing is a body-oriented therapeutic approach developed by Dr. Peter Levine, designed to release the physical and emotional tension caused by trauma. Unlike traditional talk therapies, SE works directly with the nervous system and the body’s internal responses to trauma. Dr. Levine’s research on the stress responses of animals in the wild inspired this method, highlighting how animals naturally recover from trauma without becoming stuck in states of hyperarousal or shutdown (Levine, 1997).

Trauma is often stored in the body, where it can create patterns of tension, dysregulation, and emotional distress. SE aims to help clients gently renegotiate their trauma by noticing and releasing the physiological effects of traumatic events, fostering resilience and emotional well-being. 

Somatic Experiencing™ & Trauma

SE focuses on the concept of trauma as a physiological event that remains trapped in the body when a person is unable to process and release the energy generated during the traumatic event. Trauma disrupts the body’s natural cycles of fight, flight, or freeze, leaving people in states of hypervigilance or shutdown, even after the danger has passed.

By working with bodily sensations rather than focusing solely on emotional memories, SE helps individuals access their body’s natural ability to self-regulate. This process enables clients to:

  • Discharge energy trapped in the nervous system.

  • Regain a sense of safety in their bodies.

  • Reduce symptoms of trauma such as anxiety, chronic pain, and emotional numbness.

  • Reconnect with themselves and the present moment.

Somatic Experiencing™ works on the belief that the body inherently knows how to heal when given the right support, and it invites clients to tune into their bodies' cues at a pace that feels safe and manageable.

Growing Recognition For Treating Trauma and Chronic Stress

Somatic Experiencing™ is gaining recognition for its effectiveness in treating trauma and chronic stress. Research has shown that SE can significantly reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and improve emotional regulation. A study published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress demonstrated that SE reduced PTSD symptoms in individuals who had experienced trauma, with improvements continuing to be observed even at 12-month follow-ups (Leitch, Vanslyke, & Allen, 2009).

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs includes SE among the recommended therapeutic approaches for trauma, especially for those suffering from combat-related PTSD (VA, 2017). The growing recognition of SE within both clinical and holistic therapy spaces speaks to its efficacy in helping clients heal from deeply rooted trauma.

How Somatic Experiencing™ Works

At the heart of Somatic Experiencing™ is the understanding that trauma lives in the body, not just in the mind. This means that talking about traumatic experiences is not always enough to fully resolve their effects.

SE uses a process called pendulation, where the therapist helps the client gently move between states of distress and comfort, allowing the nervous system to release trauma gradually. This slow, intentional engagement with bodily sensations prevents overwhelm and builds resilience.

Somatic tracking is another key technique in SE. By encouraging clients to notice and describe their physical sensations, SE helps them develop greater bodily awareness and grounding. This somatic focus often reveals emotions and memories that are stored in the body, giving clients the opportunity to release unresolved trauma in a safe and contained way.

The Benefits of Somatic Experiencing™

Somatic Experiencing offers a range of benefits for individuals dealing with trauma, anxiety, and stress-related disorders. Some of the key benefits include:

  • Restoring Nervous System Balance: SE directly addresses the body’s stress response, helping clients shift out of chronic states of hyperarousal or freeze, where trauma is often stored.

  • Reducing Trauma Symptoms: SE has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression, creating space for clients to feel more grounded and present in their daily lives (Payne, Levine, & Crane-Godreau, 2015).

  • Enhancing Emotional Regulation: Clients who engage in SE often report improved emotional regulation and resilience, leading to a greater capacity to manage life’s stressors.

  • Promoting Physical and Emotional Healing: Trauma stored in the body can manifest as physical pain, tension, or chronic health issues. SE addresses these physical manifestations, promoting holistic healing.

  • Empowerment and Self-Awareness: By developing a deeper connection with the body’s sensations, clients often feel more empowered to trust their body’s cues and make choices that align with their well-being.

Integrating Somatic Experiencing™ at Repose

At Repose, Somatic Experiencing™ is integrated into our broader therapeutic framework, which emphasizes the inseparable connection between mind, body, and spirit. Our therapists are trained to guide clients through the SE process with care and attunement, always at a pace that honors the client’s comfort and consent.

Somatic Experiencing™ at Repose is often combined with other modalities such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), mindfulness practices, and energy psychology techniques. This multi-modal approach enhances the therapeutic process, offering a range of tools to help clients navigate their healing journey.

While SE works primarily with bodily sensations, we may also incorporate light touch when appropriate, to help clients access areas of stored tension or trauma in the body. However, any form of touch is always discussed and consented to by the client. We prioritize clear communication around therapeutic interventions, ensuring that clients are fully informed and empowered to participate in their treatment.

Honoring Your Comfort and Consent Throughout the Therapeutic Process

At Repose, your safety and sense of control are at the heart of everything we do. In Somatic Experiencing™, as with all therapeutic techniques we offer, your consent is paramount. Whether working with SE, EMDR, energy psychology, or other modalities, we ensure that you have the power to give or withdraw consent at any time.

We recognize that trauma work can be deeply vulnerable, and we are dedicated to moving at a pace that respects your needs. Your comfort is our guide, and we remain attuned to your readiness as you navigate your healing journey.

Healing with Somatic Experiencing at Repose

At Repose, we see Somatic Experiencing™ as a path to deeper healing, one that works in harmony with your body’s natural rhythms. By connecting with your body’s sensations, SE opens the door to healing trauma that has been stored for years, allowing you to feel more grounded, whole, and at peace.

Our approach is holistic, integrating body-based therapies with the latest advancements in trauma treatment, creating a nurturing space for your healing journey. If you are ready to explore how Somatic Experiencing can help you heal and find balance, we are here to support you every step of the way.

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References:

-Levine, P. (1997). Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma: The Innate Capacity to Transform Overwhelming Experiences. North Atlantic Books.

- Leitch, M. L., Vanslyke, J., & Allen, M. (2009). Somatic Experiencing treatment with social service workers following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Social Work, 54(1), 9-18.

- Payne, P., Levine, P., & Crane-Godreau, M. A. (2015). Somatic experiencing: Using interoception and proprioception as core elements of trauma therapy. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 93.

- Church, D., Yount, G., & Brooks, A. J. (2012). The effect of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) on stress biochemistry: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 200(10), 891-896.

- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). (2017). Complementary and integrative health: Somatic Experiencing.