Somatic Experiencing

What is Somatic Therapy?

Somatic therapy takes as its basic orientation the recognition that mind and body are not separate. Where traditional “talk therapy” preferences the experiences of the mind and cognition, somatic therapy sees the inclusion of the body as essential in the healing of trauma, release of stress and in overall wellness, both physical and mental.

Science is now affirming what many cultures and wisdom traditions have long known—that our mind/body has an innate ability to process and integrate emotional, spiritual and physical stress when given supportive conditions to do so.

While talking about your problems, feelings and needs is a part of somatic therapy, a somatic approach also helps you to cultivate awareness of your body by inviting movement, identifying and exploring alternatives to habituated pattern of physical stress and developing knowledge of your nervous system. You may be asked to notice what you feel in your body, track body sensations and physical manifestations of feelings, and be invited to explore gentle movement, breath awareness, mindfulness and other somatic skills. These skills can help your nervous system build capacity to process and integrate distressing experience, both past and present, without getting overwhelmed or retraumatized.

An aim of somatic therapy is to support mind/body in deepening and broadening awareness of yourself and the world with presence and vitality. Somatic therapy can help you to move from habituated patterns towards empowered, effective and life affirming choices in response to both the past and present.

What is Somatic Experiencing? 

I am trained in Somatic Experiencing (SE), a gentle method of working with mind/body in the integration of stress and trauma. SE draws from scientific understandings of the physiology of stress and nervous system functioning, as well as wisdom traditions, in helping the body to complete self protective responses, release energy and integrate experience that may have become stuck as the result of traumatic incidents, chronic stress or overwhelm.

Like other animals, humans have nervous systems that help us to know when we feel safe to relax and play, and when we feel threatened, scared, self-protective or overwhelmed.  Sometimes our nervous systems respond in the present based on habituated responses that were formed in the past. When this happens, we can develop secondary stressors, such as chronic judgment and self-doubt, blame and shame, as well as mental and physical illnesses that further compound our experience of stress and overwhelm. 

A goal of SE is to help the nervous system complete self-protective responses that may have been initiated in response to stress but got stuck, interrupted or otherwise repressed. With completion comes integration—the ability to make meaning of our experiences and to feel affirmed in our basic goodness and resilience. Completion and integration of experience support an increased sense of presence, more self-acceptance, fewer distressing emotions and more confidence in our ability to manage ongoing or future adversity.

Who can benefit from Somatic Experiencing?

Somatic experiencing is helpful for many people who are struggling with the aftermath of a traumatic experience, PTSD, chronic stress, as well as those who are anxious, depressed, feel stuck in life or wish to rekindle a more vital relationship with themselves and others.

Everyday events like conflict at work or home, minor injuries and medical procedures, even positive events, can initiate physiological responses that we are not always able to complete or integrate.  SE can support your mind/body in accessing its innate healing wisdom to recover, reset and restore vitality as you meet with presence whatever may arise in life.

Somatic Therapy Reading List

Dana, Deb (2018). The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy. 

Fay, Deirdre (2021). Becoming Safely Embodied: A Guide to Organize Your Mind, Body and Heart to Feel Secure in the World. 

Johnson, Kimberly Ann (2021). Call of the Wild: How We Heal Trauma, Awaken to Our Own Power, and Use It For Good. 

Macnaughton, Ian (2004). Body, Breath and Consciousness.