Somatic Experiencing®

"I have come to the conclusion that human beings are born with an innate capacity to triumph over trauma. I believe not only that trauma is curable, but that the healing process can be a catalyst for profound awakening—a portal opening to emotional and genuine spiritual transformation."
— Peter A. Levine, PhD

 

What is Somatic Experiencing?

Somatic Experiencing® (SE) is a gentle yet powerful approach that honours the body's innate wisdom to navigate and resolve the effects of stress and trauma. Developed by Dr. Peter A. Levine, SE is not about reliving or re-enacting overwhelming events. Instead, it is a path of compassionate listening that helps restore your nervous system's natural balance, allowing you to feel more present, grounded, and alive.

 

A Gentle Understanding of Trauma

Trauma isn't the event itself, but the body's natural, intelligent response to an experience that felt like 'too much, too fast, too soon'. It's what happens inside us when our capacity to cope is overwhelmed.

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This can happen in a single moment—like an accident, injury, or medical procedure (shock trauma). It can also build up over time through ongoing stress, particularly in childhood (developmental trauma). Whether the memory is clear or feels distant, the body holds the story.

 

The Body's Wisdom: How SE Supports You

When we feel threatened and unable to protect ourselves, our nervous system activates powerful survival responses. This is a sign of its deep intelligence, not a flaw. Sometimes, however, this immense energy doesn't get a chance to resolve and is held in the body.

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This is why we can feel "stuck"—experiencing anxiety, disconnection, or challenging life patterns—even when we intellectually understand our situation.

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Somatic Experiencing works directly with your body's own language—the language of sensation. By gently attuning to this inner landscape, we create the conditions for this stored survival energy to be safely seen, felt, and integrated, allowing your system to return to a state of wholeness and flow.

 

Our Journey Together: What a Session Feels Like

Our sessions are a gentle, collaborative exploration conducted at your own pace, typically while comfortably seated. My role is to be an attuned and supportive guide for your inner journey.

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As we talk, I will gently invite your attention to the physical sensations that arise in your body—perhaps warmth, tingling, tightness, or a sense of expansion. We are not looking for anything specific; we are simply becoming curious about what is present.

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This process unfolds through several key principles that ensure you always feel safe and in control:

• Finding Your Ground: Our first step is always to connect with a sense of safety, calm, and resource within your own body. This becomes our anchor and our safe harbour.

• A Gentle Pace: We move slowly, touching upon difficult sensations in small, manageable moments so you never feel overwhelmed. This is called titration.

• Building Resilience: We learn to gently move between these challenging sensations and your places of inner resource. This rhythmic process, known as pendulation, builds your nervous system's capacity and confidence.

• Honouring Your Body's Story: This gentle process allows your body to finally complete the self-protective responses that may have been interrupted. This can feel like a natural release of pent-up energy through a deep breath, a tremor, or warmth, allowing your system to settle. This is integration.

 

Somatic Experiencing Can Support You In:

• Cultivating resilience and a greater capacity for emotional self-regulation.

• Navigating anxiety, depression, and overwhelming mood swings.

• Gently resolving the impact of shock trauma (accidents, injuries, falls).

• Working with the deep patterns of Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) and developmental trauma.

• Easing chronic fatigue, lethargy, and feelings of being "stuck."

• Softening patterns of irritability, phobias, or obsessive thinking.

• Developing a stronger sense of being grounded, connected, and present in your life.

• Building a deep and trusting relationship with yourself and your body's wisdom.

 

Begin Your Journey Home to Your Body

If you feel called to explore a path of gentle reconnection and embodied presence, I invite you to book a session.

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