Somatic Experiencing (SE) was developed by Peter Levine and focuses on addressing the effects of trauma. It focuses on releasing people from where they may have been stuck in a traumatic event. For example, someone may develop chronic pain in a body part that was hit in a motor vehicle accident. The pain may not be physical but may be due to not going through certain processes that release the traumatic energy; therefore, the energy stays in the body and creates tension and pain.
Furthermore, Somatic Experiencing aims to help the body release the traumatic energy and enable it to self-regulate.
Correspondingly, the focus of Somatic Experiencing is to help the client find places of safety so that the client can experience sensations relating to traumatic events in a safe way and process the trauma.
Somatic Experiencing can be very helpful for trauma and other conditions that involve a nervous system dysfunction from trauma.
Somatic Experiencing: Further Reading
Trauma Healing https://traumahealing.org
This is the official website for Somatic Experiencing. It has resources, information on training, and a place to look up therapists who have passed their official training.
Recommended Books
Healing Trauma – Peter Levine
This is a simple little book, a 12-phase Healing Trauma program. It provides the necessary information for trauma healing but not all the science behind it (if you want the scientific background, read Waking the Tiger or In an Unspoken Voice). It includes a CD with 12 guided Somatic Experiencing exercises. There are a variety of exercises or modifications that you can use for each of the 12 phases.
In an Unspoken Voice – Peter Levine
This book summarizes Peter Levine’s work in trauma. It explains the science behind the strategies of Somatic Experiencing, why some people develop PTSD and others don’t, what you can do to lessen the chances of developing PTSD after a traumatic event, and what you can do to release the trauma that has become trapped in the body after a traumatic event.
Discover more from Leona Westra, RCC
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.