Title: Somatic Experiencing Therapy: Healing Trauma Through the Body
What Is Somatic Experiencing Therapy?
Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a type of therapy that focuses on the body, not just the mind.
Developed by Dr. Peter Levine, SE is based on the idea that trauma isn't only stored in memories—it’s stored in the nervous system. It’s like your body hit the “pause” button during a scary or overwhelming event and never fully let go.
So, instead of only talking about what happened, SE helps you gently notice and release those stuck survival responses—like fight, flight, or freeze—so your body can come back into balance.
The Basics: How SE Therapy Works
Imagine your body as a soda can. When something scary or stressful happens, pressure builds inside. But if you don’t slowly release that pressure, it shakes and shakes… until one day, it explodes.
Somatic Experiencing helps release that pressure slowly and safely—so you don’t live in survival mode all the time.
Here’s how a session might look:
● You sit with a trained therapist in a calm space.
● Instead of diving straight into a painful memory, you pay attention to sensations—tightness, heat, tingling, numbness, etc.
● You track what your body feels in the moment and learn to follow those sensations gently.
● As your body processes and releases the stuck energy, you start to feel more grounded, calm, and connected.
What Makes Somatic Experiencing Different?
Most traditional talk therapy is top-down—meaning it starts with the mind. You analyze, reflect, and think your way through.
SE is bottom-up—you start with the body. And that’s powerful, because sometimes, the body remembers what the mind has forgotten or buried.
SE therapy is especially helpful for people who:
● Feel overwhelmed or dissociated during talk therapy
● Struggle with anxiety or panic that seems “out of nowhere”
● Experience chronic tension, pain, or fatigue
● Live with trauma from childhood, accidents, or medical events
● Want to reconnect with their bodies in a safe, gentle way
Example Time
Let’s say you were in a car accident years ago. You walked away “fine,” but now every time you hear tires screech or someone slams on brakes, your body goes into panic mode—even if you’re not in danger.
That’s your nervous system stuck on high alert.
In Somatic Experiencing, your therapist might guide you to notice what happens in your body when you talk about driving—maybe your shoulders tense or your chest feels tight. Instead of pushing that feeling away, you’d stay with it just enough to help it move.
Slowly, your body learns it’s safe again.
Why It’s So Healing
Here’s the thing—trauma isn’t always what happened. It’s what happened inside of you as a response. If your body never got to fully process it, the stress just sits there, making you feel stuck or anxious.
Somatic Experiencing helps you:
● Release stored trauma
● Feel more connected to your body
● Sleep better, breathe deeper, and relax more easily
● Build resilience and confidence from the inside out
And the best part? You don’t have to relive or retell every detail of your trauma. Your body knows what to do—you just have to listen.
Who Is SE Therapy For?
Pretty much anyone. But it’s especially helpful for:
● PTSD and trauma survivors
● People with chronic anxiety or depression
● Those with body-based symptoms like tension, migraines, or digestive issues
● People healing from surgery, assault, or accidents
● Anyone who’s been through something overwhelming—even if they can’t quite explain it
Final Thoughts: Your Body Knows the Way
Somatic Experiencing Therapy is about coming home to your body. It’s not fast or flashy, but it’s real. And it works.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, shut down, or like your body’s still in the past—this might be the kind of support you’ve been waiting for.
Because healing isn’t just in your head. It’s in your nervous system. And with the right support, your body can find its way back to safety.
