About Somatic Experiencing

“Trauma is in the nervous system, not in the event.” ~Dr. Peter Levine

Somatic Experiencing is a body-oriented therapy for healing trauma and the effects of chronic stress. Trauma and chronic stress can cause the nervous system to become trapped in a constant state of survival—fight, flight, and/or freeze. The Somatic Experiencing (S.E.) approach helps guide the nervous system back to a state of balance and resilience, restoring the ability to respond to life’s challenges in healthy, adaptive ways that support well-being and a fulfilling life.

S.E. recognizes that trauma is stored in the brain stem, not in the neocortex. As trauma is held in the body, talking or thinking processes may not lead to trauma resolution. S.E. addresses trauma by gently facilitating the completion and renegotiation of the body’s self-protective and survival responses to traumatic events and circumstances.

In my work, I often weave Somatic Experiencing into movement, yoga asana, and breath practices. This may be attending to trauma as it arises during an asana sequence, or an entire session focused on trauma resolution through the Somatic Experiencing model.