What is Somatic Experiencing?

A holistic approach

Somatic Experiencing is a holistic approach to healing trauma. Somatic Experiencing was developed by Peter Levine and is based on the idea that trauma leads to dysregulation in the nervous system. Some of the things this therapy can help with are depression, anxiety, PTSD, grief, insomnia, muscle tension, and indigestion.

During a traumatic event, we experience a sense of threat or danger, and our system mobilizes ‘survival energy’ (also known as fight, flight, or freeze). ‘Survival energy’ puts stress on the body to help us deal with threat when it is present. Such stress (survival energy) is helpful when we are under threat but often is not released when the event is over. If stress (survival energy) is trapped in our bodies, we suffer the mental, emotional, and physical effects of trauma. When we ‘feel triggered’, we experience this stress in our body. Whether we know what event caused us distress or not, Somatic Experiencing supports the release of survival energy stored in the nervous system.  

Somatic Experiencing works with body awareness, as well as sensations, images, behaviours, and emotions. At the beginning of Somatic Experiencing Therapy, your therapist may help you learn about your autonomic nervous system. Also, body awareness exercises, such as ‘resourcing’ may be part of therapy. Some of the resources you experience in therapy, you can take into your life, so you feel calmer and more resilient next time you think of or experience troublesome events. Somatic Experiencing helps you release stress stored in your nervous system and increases your capacity to feel calm and experience a fuller range of emotions.