What is trauma?

Somatic psychology underscores that trauma occurs when our ability to respond to a situation is overwhelmed. Trauma or PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) affects most of us. Many life events can result in trauma.

The bodies of those who have experienced trauma can be seen as "snapshots" of their failed efforts to protect themselves in a past event when in danger and harm. For example, in a fight or flee response, muscles throughout our body tighten and become 'ready' to act.  If these impulses are not able to be enacted, they remain in our physiology.

Trauma is a highly intense, incomplete biological reaction to fear, suspended in time. When we cannot carry out needed actions, we cannot release the immense energy generated by our survival attempts. Patterns of neuro-muscular alertness then continue to hold this energy. The individual then remains in an ongoing condition of heightened readiness with disruption in the central nervous system.

Trauma lives on in our physiology long after the event and can profoundly impact an individual's life, affecting their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.

What is Somatic Experiencing?

Somatic Experiencing is a body-centered approach to healing PTSD symptoms that works with our biological fight, flight, and freeze reactions and releasing stored sensations, thoughts, and feelings from the body.

Dr. Peter Levine, who developed SE, based his approach to healing trauma on extensive research, including the discovery that wild animals have an innate ability to recover from traumatic experiences in a way that humans often do not. With his deep understanding of the body's natural responses to stress and trauma, he developed SE to help humans recover from trauma similarly.

This type of somatic therapy is based on a thorough understanding of mammalian physiology and the body's responses to stress and trauma. It uses body-centered treatment methods to help clients restore their physiology, release stored sensations and emotions, and renew physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.

Somatic Experiencing therapy

Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a powerful trauma therapy that restores well-being.

As a holistic psychotherapy, SE works with our physiology to release stored incomplete survival responses and emotions from the body. The effectiveness of Somatic Experiencing in trauma healing is based on scientific research and has been pivotal in increasing the understanding of trauma and its healing.

Somatic Experiencing understands that in reaction to danger, mammals, including humans, perform natural, unconscious movements that set them up to protect themselves in the face of threat. The exact form of trauma, such as activation, disassociation, and immobility, is based on the development of survival practices.

All creatures draw from a "library" of possible reactions whenever threatened or hurt. We orient, swerve, duck, tense up, brace ourselves, pull away, battle, run away, become rigid, fall apart, etc. All these organized reactions are bodily based— they are things the body does to protect itself. When these positioning and protective responses are overpowered, trauma is present.

Together, let's explore the basics of SE, how it works, and why this specific approach to somatic therapy is such an effective and revolutionary treatment for PTSD.

How does Somatic Experiencing work?

With trauma, the state of acute arousal becomes frozen in time. Our physiology becomes fixated on fight-flight-freeze responses --leading to various physical, emotional, and psychological symptoms. 

SE is a holistic mind and body therapeutic approach that supports individuals in releasing thoughts, sensations, and emotions stored in the body related to incomplete fight, flight and freeze reactions. 

Somatic trauma therapy

The body plays a vital role in the healing process.

Somatic psychotherapy helps individuals connect with their bodies, track sensations, and understand how their bodies respond to traumatic events.

Somatic therapy techniques often are interwoven with talk therapy. Therapy helps clients restore the natural functioning of their nervous system and heal trauma-related physical and psychological symptoms.

Body-centered interventions

An SE therapist uses body-centered techniques, such as breathing exercises, gentle touch, tracking physical sensations, and guided imagery, to help individuals discharge traumatic stress stored in the nervous system. Somatic psychotherapy can help release energy related to incomplete survival responses and accompanying emotions. 

A somatic therapist tailors techniques to meet individual needs and support their healing journey. Titration of the change process and pendulation of experiences are essential components of the healing that occurs in this type of therapy. 

Benefits of Somatic Experiencing to heal trauma

Physical healing

Physical benefits of SE include reduced pain, improved sleep, and increased energy levels. Treating trauma with SE has supported physical healing from various sensations and conditions, such as headaches, chronic pain, and digestive problems.

Emotional and psychological healing

Emotional benefits of SE include reduced anxiety, increased emotional regulation, resourcing of internal supports, and improved mood. SE can help individuals work through their traumatic experiences and restore emotional balance.

Psychological benefits of SE include improved self-esteem, reduced symptoms of depression, and enhanced resilience. SE can help individuals heal from the effects of trauma and build psychological strength to help them better cope with life's challenges.

Experiences of healing trauma with SE

There are many inspiring stories of individuals affected by trauma who have used SE therapy in treating PTSD.

Healing from sexual abuse

For example, a woman who had experienced sexual abuse as a child used SE to work through her emotional trauma and physical symptoms.

With the support of her SE therapist, she was able to release trapped, incomplete fight-and-flight experiences from her body by re-negotiating the previously unfinished impulses to fight and flee from her perpetrator. She was ultimately able to restore emotional balance and heal memories of trauma. 

As a result of her SE journey and healing of her past trauma, she reported feeling more confident, empowered, and capable of helpful expression of her emotions.

Resilience after an accident 

Another individual who had survived a car accident used SE to address physical pain and emotional distress. The reactions frozen in time could get support to complete and release. 

With the help of SE interventions, he could expand his body awareness, rewire his physiology, re-negotiate the previous experience, and alleviate physical pain. This person also reported improved sleep, increased energy levels, and greater resilience to stress. 

Summary

Somatic Experiencing therapy is a powerful approach to healing trauma that offers numerous physical, emotional, and psychological benefits. Its body-centered techniques help individuals restore their nervous system, release trapped survival reactions and emotions, and support physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.

SE is a highly effective therapy, offering relief from the debilitating effects of trauma.

It is beneficial for individuals with trauma symptoms to seek support in their healing journey. SE therapy can help and is a highly effective tool for healing. Seeking a somatic therapist accelerates the recovery and resolution of trauma symptoms.

SE not only supports the release of past traumas but also unleashes new energy to live fully.

With its ability to help individuals heal from trauma and build resilience, SE helps individuals heal and thrive. By offering a holistic and body-centered approach to healing, SE has significantly impacted the lives of many who have experienced trauma.

Seek professional help

There is life on the other side of trauma. Somatic experiencing treatment can help you move toward a restored sense of well-being.

I'm a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, deeply involved in healing trauma since 2009, and would be delighted to accompany you on your healing journey. Contact me today.