somatic experiencing
A body-centered approach to healing trauma and restoring balance
Somatic Experiencing is a gentle, body-oriented therapeutic method developed by Dr. Peter Levine. It helps individuals release trauma, chronic stress, and overwhelm by working directly with the body’s natural healing processes. Rather than focusing solely on thoughts or emotions, SE guides clients into a deeper awareness of their physical sensations to support true, lasting regulation.
How Somatic Experiencing Works
Reconnect With Your Body
SE focuses on the physical sensations associated with trauma—such as tightness, pressure, or restlessness—helping you tune into how your body carries your experiences.
Build Sensory Awareness
Through interoception (awareness of internal sensations) and proprioception (awareness of your body in space), SE helps you notice and understand the subtle signals your nervous system sends.
A “Bottom-Up” Approach
Instead of starting with thoughts, SE begins with the body. By gently releasing tension and stuck energy, emotional processing can unfold naturally and safely.
Regulate the Nervous System
Trauma can dysregulate the autonomic nervous system, leaving you feeling anxious, shut down, or stuck. SE supports a return to balance, promoting a felt sense of safety and well-being.
Key Techniques in SE
Titration
Approaching challenging sensations slowly and in manageable pieces, preventing overwhelm.
Pendulation
Gently guiding the body between activation and relaxation, allowing the nervous system to build resilience and capacity.
What SE Can Help With
Somatic Experiencing is used to support individuals experiencing:
Trauma (recent or long-term)
Chronic stress
Anxiety or hypervigilance
Dissociation or numbness
Emotional overwhelm
A sense of disconnection from the body
The Goal of Somatic Experiencing
By honoring the body’s innate ability to heal, SE supports the release of unresolved survival energy, helping you regain a sense of ease, empowerment, and connection—to yourself and to the world around you.