We offer somatic experiencing in Southend at The Body Matters. Somatic Experiencing is a body-oriented approach to resolving trauma. It was developed by clinical psychologist Dr Peter Levine, the author of “Wakening the Tiger” and “In An Unspoken Voice”.
What is somatic experiencing?
Somatic Experiencing is a form of therapy aimed at relieving trauma-related stress. It was developed by Dr. Peter Levine and focuses on the body’s natural ability to heal and restore balance after traumatic events by addressing the physiological responses that are often left unresolved. It focuses on the body's physical sensations to help individuals process and release the residual energy from traumatic events. By gently guiding clients to become aware of their bodily sensations and responses, SE facilitates the completion of the body's natural stress response, promoting healing and restoring balance without necessarily delving into the traumatic event's details.
How does somatic experiencing work?
SE works by helping individuals pay attention to their bodily sensations, often through guided practices. The goal is to allow the body to process and release stored trauma energy, which can reduce symptoms of trauma and improve overall well-being. Techniques may include grounding, mindfulness, and gentle movement.
Psychotherapy and most traditional talking therapies use a “top-down” approach, which means that they will access their cognitive brain and understanding of an event to resolve the lingering symptoms of past traumas. Along with other body-oriented therapies, Somatic Experiencing uses a “bottom-up” approach to healing trauma. This means we work with the physiological symptoms relating to past trauma to release what is held in the body and to shift meanings and beliefs through tracking the felt sense.
Somatic Experiencing has been specifically developed to work with the complexity of trauma in a holistic way. The process is slow and gradual in order to avoid re-traumatisation. The first emphasis is put on building a level of resilience, safety and the mind-body connection. When we feel more resourced and stable, it is less overwhelming to get in touch with small amounts of traumatic memories or symptoms. The process is slow and subtle to give our body the time and space it needs to re-negotiate what happened or to explore uncompleted fight or flight responses. It mainly targets the autonomic nervous system and is scientifically based in neuroscience. Commonly Somatic Experiencing is done seated, however, due to its holistic approach, sessions can also include therapeutic touch work or movement where appropriate.
Why might I need somatic experiencing?
SE can benefit anyone experiencing symptoms of trauma, such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, or chronic pain. It is also useful for those who have experienced traumatic events like accidents, natural disasters, abuse, or medical procedures.
According to Peter Levine trauma is something that happens “too much, too fast, too soon.” In some cases, it may be one sudden big event, like a car crash. In other cases, it may be many small events that happened earlier in life and make us vulnerable to further incidences, that continue to have a strong impact on our nervous system. Talking about past trauma can easily be re-traumatising, but also connecting with our body in a deeper way can mean we are faced with the full intensity of trauma trapped in our body.
Many people are drawn to Somatic Experiencing because they find that the physical symptoms of hypervigilance, chronic pain, anxiety, and exhaustion are hard to access or shift through cognitive therapies. As Psychologist Albert Wong says “You can’t think your way out of trauma.” However, Somatic Experiencing requires the client to play an active role in their recovery and a willingness to engage with the body and the sensations that present themselves.
What can somatic experiencing help me with?
Somatic Experiencing has shown particularly effective in the treatment of shock trauma (sudden events that changed us from a well-functioning human being to being unable to cope.) and symptoms of PTSD. However, it also is very effective in the treatment of developmental trauma (difficult events that happened during childhood and teenage and that still affect the person in adult life).
As Somatic Experiencing is a body-oriented therapy it is also very effective in the treatment of chronic pain, chronic fatigue, anxiety disorders, digestive disorders and migraines, as these are physical conditions often linked to a traumatised or imbalanced nervous system.
Due to a focus on building embodied resilience, Somatic Experiencing can also be used in order to grow confidence, overcome fears or get more in touch with our authentic uncompromised self. This can be particularly useful for those with social anxiety as well as performers, public speakers and others who work in the public eye.
Do I need to talk about my trauma in SE sessions?
In Somatic Experiencing (SE) sessions, discussing your trauma in detail is not always necessary. SE focuses on bodily sensations and physiological responses rather than the specifics of the traumatic event. The therapist guides you to tune into your body's physical experiences, helping to process and release stored trauma energy. This approach can be less distressing for individuals who find it difficult or painful to talk about their trauma. By addressing the body's reactions, SE aims to promote healing and restore balance without requiring explicit verbal recounting of the traumatic event.
Remote Consultations Available
We continue to use remote consultations to provide our services without physical interaction, if required, by shifting some appointments to video consultations.
Read our Remote Consultations page for more information.
