Somatic Experiencing is a body based approach to healing trauma and interrupting behavioral patterns. SE focuses on releasing stored stress and unprocessed emotions, resolving the emotional and physical impacts of trauma.

Somatic Experiencing is gradual process of releasing stored stress, trauma, and unprocessed emotions by following sensations in the body. This modality prioritizes expanding feelings of safety to allow the nervous system to regulate and recover from traumatic events.

During a somatic session, the individual increases their awareness of their body by noticing subtle sensations, and is gently guided to follow these sensations with their awareness to release stored stress in the body. Other times, the individual may expand deeper into feelings of safety, relief, peace, joy, and trust - allowing the nervous system to recalibrate to these states of being.

This practice simultaneously rewires the nervous system, healing the impacts of trauma and forming new and supportive neural pathways.

Somatic Experiencing is the leading therapeutic modality for treating trauma-related conditions and ailments. This is because SE focuses on the impact trauma has on the nervous system. Individuals are able to process and move past traumatic events without having to relive them. Instead, SE develops body awareness by focusing on sensations in the body and gently resolving trauma at the root. SE is highly effective at treating

• PTSD and Complex-PTSD

• Anxiety and Panic Disorders

• Codependency and addiction

• Chronic pain and physical tension stemming from trauma

• Depression and low energy

• Sleeping challenges

• Relationship and behavioral challenges

• Unresolved grief

Somatic Experiencing works with the nervous system to regain balance and well-being in mind and body. The nervous system controls all other bodily systems, so the extent of benefits of SE is unquantifiable. Some common benefits include

• Reduced anxiety

• Increased emotional regulation

• Increased capacity to handle stressful situations

• Better sleep, skin, and energy

• Improvements in all types of relationships; family, friends, dating, partners, colleagues, and children

• Improved intimacy and emotional fulfillment

• Increased confidence, resilience, and clarity

• All around feeling lighter, happier, and more connected

• Greater connection to the body and emotional awarness

• Better sex and sex drive

• Unexpected weight loss or weight balancing naturally

• Boosted creativity, zest for life and feelings of fulfillment

• Access to feeling present, grounded, at peace, and turned on - whenever you want.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other forms of talk therapy approach healing through the mind (the top-down approach), promoting self-awareness and helping us process our lived experiences. It is highly affective in helping us recognize our patterns and behaviors and mentally process the past, or “the story”. SE is a body based approach that prioritizes regulating the body’s responses to trauma (the bottom-up approach), helping us resolve the emotional and physical impacts of “the story” on the nervous system.

Somatic Experiencing does not require the individual to verbalize the traumatic experience(s) in detail, if at all. Trauma doesn’t live in the mind, it lives in the body. When we are triggered our flight, fight, freeze, or fawn reactions are activated, facilitated by the nervous system. Verbalizing details of the experience is typically always avoided in SE to prevent the individual from being re-traumatized.

Individuals can feel a meaningful sense of relief after 1-2 sessions, and experience profound and meaningful progress after 6-12 sessions.

It is recommended to have weekly sessions until the individual has developed their own grounding and attunement practice, then sessions are typically more spaced out. Clients usually feel complete and satisfied with their results after 3-6 months, and in some cases up to 12 months depending on the individual.