Somatic Experiencing®

Somatic Experiencing® We tend to believe that trauma is caused by some sort of “catastrophic” or “significant” event. This, however, is not always the case.

Prolonged circumstances can also lead to trauma. Trauma can be caused by such things as: financial struggles racism assault stress at work or family life a car accident separation from a loved one marginalization on going physical, emotional or sexual abuse injury or illness child abuse death of a loved one or pet ageism earthquake or hurricane invasive medical procedures It’s important to note that trauma can come out of present circumstances as well as past circumstances.

Regardless of the scope, if you’ve experienced emotional or physical trauma you may find it hard to show up for your life in the way that you would like. High levels of stress, in addition to trauma, can cause disruption in the nervous system. This, for example, can result in panic attacks, anxiety, depression, insomnia, heightened sensitivity and digestive issues. Cognitive therapy can be very helpful. However, research shows that the re-telling of a traumatic event over and over can actually be re-traumatizing.  

In order to restore a sense of safety and well-being, trauma must be resolved at the body level through the nervous system. The lifework of Peter Levine, PhD, Somatic Experiencing (SE™) is a safe and effective way to help you recover from various levels of trauma and overwhelming stress. As a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, I will help to facilitate your ability to safely and gently release the shock of unresolved trauma that has become stuck in your nervous system and muscles. Through various gentle and effective exercises, you will learn to work with a heightened awareness of body sensations allowing highly aroused survival energies to be safely experienced and gradually discharged. This is done, in part, by breaking a traumatic experience into small, incremental steps, thus, allowing your system to renegotiate rather then re-live or re-enact trauma.

You will learn ways to ground and settle your system as well as strengthen boundaries. This work can result in many benefits such as: relief of stress symptoms greater vitality and aliveness a greater ability to focus diminished pain, anxiety, and fatigue an overall sense of well being a greater capacity to participate in one’s life Sessions are creative and collaborative. You will leave with tools and resources to help you to calm and center yourself. You may become less triggered by life’s ups and downs. For many, SE can be life-changing.