Understanding Somatic Experiencing: A Body-Based Approach to Healing Trauma

Trauma is not just a mental or emotional experience—it also takes a toll on our bodies and nervous systems. Over time, stress, shock, and trauma can build up in our bodies, leading to a variety of physical and psychological symptoms. Somatic Experiencing (SE™) is a therapeutic approach that focuses on resolving these symptoms by addressing the way trauma is stored and processed within the nervous system. It helps us break free from the stuck patterns of stress responses—like fight, flight, or freeze—and promotes healing, recovery, and greater resilience.

What is Somatic Experiencing?

Developed by Dr. Peter A. Levine, Somatic Experiencing is a body-oriented therapy that works with the nervous system to release trapped trauma energy. Unlike traditional talk therapies that focus on the mind, SE helps people address trauma on a physiological level. This approach is particularly useful for people who experience ongoing stress or trauma symptoms—such as those from PTSD, developmental trauma, or attachment issues—and helps restore balance to the nervous system.

What makes SE unique is its application across multiple disciplines. It is used by mental health professionals, doctors, physical therapists, coaches, and others to support clients in healing from trauma, stress, and a variety of other challenges. SE combines insights from several fields, including biology, neuroscience, psychology, ethology (the study of animal behavior), and indigenous healing practices.

The Science of Trauma

Trauma doesn't always look the same for everyone. It can stem from an acute life-threatening event, like an accident or assault, or from the cumulative effects of chronic stress, such as ongoing emotional abuse or neglect. Either way, trauma affects the nervous system, impairing our ability to function in a healthy, resilient way.

In a physiological sense, trauma disrupts the natural flow of energy through the body, often leaving us in a state of hyper-alertness or immobility. This dysregulation can have a profound impact on our ability to cope with stress and move forward in life.

How Somatic Experiencing Works

Somatic Experiencing works by helping the body complete defensive actions that were thwarted during a traumatic experience. For example, when faced with a threat, our bodies instinctively respond with the fight, flight, or freeze responses. However, when these responses get "stuck"—such as when we're unable to fight or flee, and instead freeze or become immobilized—trauma can become trapped in the body.

In SE, the therapist gently guides clients to become aware of the sensations in their bodies, especially those that are uncomfortable or painful. By developing a greater tolerance for difficult physical sensations and emotions, clients can begin to release the energy that was trapped during the trauma. This process helps the body complete the survival response that was interrupted, which allows the nervous system to reset and heal.

Dr. Levine's interest in the animal nervous system helped inform SE. He observed that animals in the wild are frequently exposed to life-threatening situations, but they don't show the same long-term trauma symptoms that humans do. He realized that the key difference lies in the body's ability to "complete" the freeze response—a vital part of survival when fight and flight are not possible. In animals, after freezing, they naturally shake and tremble to discharge the trapped energy. However, when humans don’t fully experience or release this energy, the body stays in a state of readiness for danger, leading to ongoing stress or trauma symptoms.

Healing Through the Body

SE focuses on this bodily response to trauma, using a "body-first" approach to healing. This means that instead of diving straight into the mental or emotional aspects of trauma, SE helps individuals reconnect with their body's physical sensations and processes, guiding them to release the energy trapped by the trauma. This is done through gentle, controlled movements, awareness exercises, and other techniques that help complete the physiological stress responses that were interrupted during the traumatic event.

The ultimate goal is to turn off the body's "threat alarm"—the state of hyperarousal that keeps people stuck in a cycle of fear, anxiety, and dissociation. When the body and nervous system return to a state of regulation, individuals can experience relief from symptoms like flashbacks, hypervigilance, and emotional numbness.

Who Can Benefit from Somatic Experiencing?

Somatic Experiencing is a versatile tool that can be applied by many types of professionals who work with people experiencing trauma and stress. This includes therapists, counselors, doctors, physical therapists, coaches, addiction specialists, and even educators and first responders. SE techniques can be integrated into existing therapeutic practices to help clients manage stress, trauma, and other health concerns from a nervous system perspective.

In particular, SE is helpful for people dealing with:

• PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

• Developmental trauma and attachment issues

• Chronic stress or anxiety

• Physical pain that has emotional roots

• Dissociation or feeling "disconnected" from the body

Final Thoughts

Somatic Experiencing offers a powerful way to address the root causes of trauma by working with the body and the nervous system. By recognizing and releasing stored trauma energy, individuals can heal in a way that reconnects their mind, body, and emotions. Whether you're a healing professional or someone who is dealing with the effects of trauma, SE provides a pathway to recovery that is grounded in science and supported by decades of clinical practice.