The Somatic Experiencing® Approach
Somatic Experiencing® (SE®) is a natural somatic approach invented by Peter Levine to work with trauma in human beings. It is an amazing approach that works with discharging extra energy stored in the nervous system from traumatic experiences from your history. This creates more freedom in your body to experience yourself at a deeper level. I have found this approach to be very impactful in working with people with history of trauma, PTSD, panic, anxiety and fear.
According to the website www.traumahealing.org, “Somatic Experiencing® is a body-oriented approach to the healing of trauma and other stress disorders. It is the life’s work of Dr. Peter A. Levine, resulting from his multidisciplinary study of stress physiology, psychology, ethology, biology, neuroscience, indigenous healing practices, and medical biophysics, together with over 45 years of successful clinical application. The SE approach releases traumatic shock, which is key to transforming PTSD and the wounds of emotional and early developmental attachment trauma.”
In my experience, Somatic Experiencing helps you to complete your action plan and your self-protective responses that weren’t safe at the time to allow. This helps release trapped energy stuck in the body, which addresses the root cause of trauma symptoms. It is a gentle approach that helps guide you to be able to tolerate the uncomfortable sensations and emotions without re-activating you.