somatic experiencing
Somatic Experiencing® (SE) therapy is a transformative approach that reconnects the body and mind to promote self-healing, offering relief from trauma symptoms and recurring stress. With decades of successful clinical practice and trials, this holistic modality revitalizes the natural mind-body connection, facilitating the processing of past experiences, full engagement with the present moment, and the cultivation of future resilience.
Somatic Experiencing acknowledges that unresolved trauma or stress can lead to enduring emotional and physical distress. Often, in response to such experiences, we resort to distractions or numbing behaviors to navigate daily life. However, our subconscious mind communicates through the body, and when we feel unsafe, we may lose touch with this subtle language.
Recognizing the body's trauma responses as natural and once vital for survival, Somatic Experiencing emphasizes that individuals are not broken but rather stuck in survival mode. Through Somatic Experiencing, individuals can safely access suppressed emotions and experiences, release stagnant energy from past trauma or triggers, and achieve profound and lasting healing. By rebalancing the nervous system, Somatic Experiencing fosters resilience to future stressors and fosters a more connected relationship with the present moment.
Understanding Somatic Experiencing (SE) Therapy
How Somatic Experiencing Works
Unlike traditional therapies, Somatic Experiencing integrates the body into the healing journey, guiding individuals from hyperarousal and constriction to a state of safety, security, and expansiveness. By viewing the body as an ally and embracing its natural release mechanisms, individuals can build confidence in navigating physical sensations and emotions without feeling overwhelmed.
Somatic Experiencing is a safe and empowering therapy modality. While it may elicit temporary feelings of activation or arousal, the discomfort is crucial for the healing process. Therapists provide support and guidance as individuals navigate through past emotions, helping them develop personalized self-soothing techniques for greater resilience and freedom from the past.
The potential benefits of Somatic Experiencing encompass a reduction in physical and emotional trauma symptoms, heightened awareness of bodily sensations and emotions, regulation of the nervous system, enhanced coping mechanisms for stress, and an overall improvement in wellbeing and quality of life.
