Somatic Experiencing

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Somatic Experiencing (SE) is based on the understanding that symptoms of trauma are the result of a dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and that the ANS has an inherent capacity to self-regulate that is undermined by trauma. SE bases its approach on the science that mammals automatically regulate survival responses from the primitive, non-verbal brain, mediated by the autonomic nervous system (ANS). In the wild animals spontaneously "discharge" this excess energy once safe. Involuntary movements such as shaking, trembling, and deep spontaneous breaths reset the ANS and restore equilibrium. Humans disrupt this discharge through our enculturation, rational thinking, shame, judgements, and fear of our bodily sensations. Somatic Experiencing (SE) approach works towards restoring this inherent capacity to self-regulate by facilitating the release of energy and natural survival reactions stored during a traumatic event. [2] (p. 31-33).[1] (p. 85-98, 193-220).[3] (p. 255-259).


The sessions, which are normally done face-to-face, involve a client tracking his or her own felt-sense experience [1] (p. 66-72).[3] (p. 255-256). Practitioners of Somatic Experiencing are often also mental health practitioners such as psychologists, psychotherapists, physical therapists, nurses, physicians, clergy, BodyWorkers, etc. Certified practitioners must complete a training course that spans three years (216 hours of instruction) and must complete 18 hours of case consultations and 12 hours of personal sessions. SE is effective for Shock Trauma in the short term (typically one to six sessions) and Developmental Trauma as an adjunct to psychotherapy that may span years.

Somatic Experiencing attempts to promote awareness and release of physical tension that remains in the body as part of the aftermath of trauma. This occurs when the survival responses (which can take the form of orienting, fight, flight or "freeze") of the ANS are aroused, but are not fully discharged after the traumatic situation has passed. The details of this sequence are described in all the literature cited here, for example [1] (p. 92-97, 155-157, 158).[3] (p. 43-50).[4] (p. 38-40).[5] (p. 29-34).[6] (p. 273-277).

Somatic Experiencing involves a guided exploration of the physical dysregulation that is harbored in the body as a result of trauma. Sessions often do not focus on talking about traumatic experiences. Clients are educated about how the body regulates stress and learn to track the related physical sensations, feelings, thoughts, and images that arise from traumatic memories. SE hasn’t been subjected to a double-blind study.

Techniques include "titration" of the client's experience. Titration allows the client to experience small amounts of the event's distress at a time in order to release the stored energy and allow their nervous system to return to balance. In this way the client does not become retraumatized and can move through their experience creating new meaning and experience successful resolution.

Another element of SE therapy is "pendulation".[1] (p. 197-199, 205-206).[3] (p. 255).[5] (p.xix, 64). 'Pendulation' refers to the movement between regulation and dysregulation. The client is helped to move to a state where he or she is dysregulated (i.e. is aroused or frozen as is often demonstrated by physical symptoms such as pain or numbness) and then helped to return to a state of regulation. This process is done iteratively. The goal is to allow the client to resolve the difficulties, both physical and mental, caused by the trauma.

"Resources" are defined phenomenologically as anything that helps the client's autonomic nervous system return to a regulated state.[5] (p.xx, 63-79). This might be the memory of someone close to them who has helped them, a physical item that might ground them in the present moment, or other supportive elements that minimize distress. In the face of arousal, "discharge" is facilitated to allow the client's body to return to a regulated state. Discharge may be in the form of tears, a warm sensation, the ability to breath easily again, or other releases of energy which demonstrate the ANS returning to its baseline. Through this process the client's inherent capacity to self-regulate is restored.

Somatic Experiencing is useful for shock trauma and developmental trauma. Shock trauma is loosely defined as a single-episode traumatic event such as a car accident, natural disaster such as an earthquake, battlefield incident, physical attack, etc. Developmental trauma refers to various kinds of psychological damage that occur during child development when a child has insufficient attention from the primary caregivers, or an insufficiently nurturing relationship with the parent.[1] (49-55, 138-139, 167-169, 227-231).[3] (p. 99-125).


  1. ^ a b c d e f Levine, Peter A. with Frederick, Ann: Waking the Tiger. Healing Trauma. North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA, 1997 ISBN 1-55643-233-X
  2. ^ Levine, Peter A.: Healing Trauma. A Pioneering Program for Restoring the Wisdom of Your Body incl.CD. Sounds True, Inc., Boulder, CO, 2005
  3. ^ a b c d e Scaer, Robert C.: The Trauma Spectrum. Hidden Wounds and Human Resiliency. W.W. Norton & Company, N.Y. & London, 2005
  4. ^ Scaer, Robert C.: The Body bears the burden. Trauma, Dissociation, and disease. The Haworth Press, Inc., 2001
  5. ^ a b c Heller, Diane Poole with Heller, Laurence S.: Crash Course. A Self-Healing Guide to Auto Accident Trauma & Recovery. North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA, 2001
  6. ^ Macnaughton, Ian (editor): Body, Breath & Consciousness - a Somatics Anthology. North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, 2004

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