What is Somatic Experiencing®?
Somatic Experiencing® (SE) is a body-based approach to healing trauma and restoring nervous system balance. Developed by Peter Levine, PhD, with over 45 years of experience in trauma resolution, SE is grounded in the understanding that trauma is not just what happened, but how the body holds and processes the experience. Levine observed that animals in the wild, though frequently exposed to threat, rarely suffer from trauma. Their bodies naturally release stress and return to balance once the danger has passed. They might shake, tremble, or move instinctively to complete the response. Humans have this same innate capacity, but our complex brains often override these impulses, leading the body to store unresolved survival energy.
When our nervous system doesn’t complete its natural responses, we may enter a freeze or dysregulated state. This can look like anxiety, chronic tension, emotional reactivity, exhaustion, or feeling stuck in patterns that don’t match our current reality. These imprints may not come from dramatic events alone — seemingly minor moments, like being shut down emotionally as a child, ongoing stress in relationships, or years of pushing past our limits, can all contribute to unresolved survival energy in the system.
For example:
You may find yourself anxious in situations that logically feel safe (like a social event or sending an email) but your body tightens, your breath shortens, and you feel on edge.
In relationships, you might shut down when conflict arises, feel overwhelmed by closeness, or become overly responsible for others’ emotions — responses that may have once been protective, but are now limiting.
You may experience burnout, irritability, or feel like you are always in “go mode,” even when you try to rest.
Or, you may simply feel disconnected from joy, presence, or your sense of self.
Somatic Experiencing works by gently guiding awareness to the body’s internal sensations, movements, and impulses. It does not require reliving the past or retelling your trauma. Instead, it supports the completion of self-protective responses that were interrupted or suppressed. Using a slow, intentional approach, SE helps discharge stored survival energy, allowing your system to come back into balance and capacity.
With this process, people often find they:
Feel more resilient and regulated in their emotions
Develop greater self-trust and body awareness
Navigate relationships with more ease
Experience less anxiety, tension, and overwhelm
Access a sense of vitality, creativity, and grounded presence
Whether the trauma is acute, developmental, ancestral, or simply accumulated through daily life, Somatic Experiencing offers a compassionate, non-pathologizing approach to healing. It honors the body’s intelligence, allowing you to reconnect with the safety, fluidity, and wisdom that is already within you!