what is Somatic Experiencing?
Somatic Experiencing is body-oriented approach to the healing of trauma and other stress disorders. It evolved from a multidisciplinary study by Dr. Peter Levine of stress physiology, psychology, ethology, biology, neuroscience, indigenous healing practices and medical biophysics. Focusing is at the heart of this process, embedded in it, which is why we are now offering this approach.
The Somatic Experiencing approach facilitates the completion of self-protective motor responses and the release of thwarted survival energy bound in the body, thus addressing the root cause of trauma symptoms. This is approached by gently guiding clients to develop increasing tolerance for difficult bodily sensations and suppressed emotions.
Somatic Experiencing does not focus on talking about or re-living trauma. SE works at the physiological level where traumatic activation is held in the body.
Often, clients have had therapy to deal with their traumas and still have symptoms, physically, emotionally, and relationally. Perhaps they have symptoms and don’t know why.
Dr. Peter Levine found that by processing the body and guiding the discharge of stored energy in the body then homeostasis of the nervous system occurred and symptoms resolved. This seems to be the missing piece in trauma resolution, no matter how severe.
Life and life’s events can be challenging, and no matter how resilient we are over time we can start to get overwhelmed, this results in the body and mind contracting and bracing itself as a way of protecting itself.
This can result in levels of shut down or anxiety or both, we can slowly get cut off from our own aliveness and vitality. Unlike animals in the wild we don’t feel free to shake off shock and what does not feel good Instead we contain it, we hold onto it in our bodies and it builds up until our bodies break under the strain and we start to develop ongoing symptoms both physical and psychological. Somatic sessions help to identify how to let go of the stress and our habitual bracing and holding patterns. We learn to let go of the build up of stress from busy over full lives, surgery, accidents and more and instead create peace and harmony throughout the whole system in order to have the capacity to function well. The sessions are not about re-telling the story but instead releasing stress from the system in order to restore peace to the system. As this process happens the trauma event/charge loses its power and you will start to feel more like yourself and live a life of ease and pleasure.
WHO IS SOMATIC EXPERIENCE GOOD FOR?
People who have suffered from shock/trauma/ accidents
People who have tried lots of modalities and don’t seem to get results but know there is room for improvement
PTSD - discharging accumulated energy within the system
Digestive issues - more ‘rest and digest’ through the parasympathetic nervous system
Sleep - less pressure & anxiety means more rest & life force
Balancing emotions and enhancing ability to be with them
Promoting more connection throughout the body and mind
Ideal as a standalone therapy or in conjunction with talk-therapies
Post-pregnancy care and support for mothers
Aspergers, Partners and families of people on the spectrum
Sessions are designed to help find relief from accumulated stress, trauma and tension, offering tools to find more freedom and peace within. we work together to find harmony in the system in a way that feels safe and supportive which promotes ongoing health and well being.
“I have little doubt that as individuals, families, communities, and even nations, we have the capacity to learn how to heal and prevent much of the damage done by trauma. In so doing, we will significantly increase our ability to achieve both our individual and collective dreams.”