What is Somatic Experiencing®?
Somatic Experiencing® is a biophysiological method for regulating the nervous system in order to resolve the effects of trauma. Somatic Experiencing (SE) was developed by Dr. Peter Levine, who holds a doctorate in medical biophysics and in psychology, and is supported by clinical research, including Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory.
SE helps you integrate the physiological effects of trauma.
SE utilizes the awareness of body sensations through interoceptive tracking and neuroceptive attunement to help people renegotiate rather than relive trauma. Highly charged survival energies like those of flight, fight and freeze that are present in overwhelming or life threatening events can become disorganized and leave us feeling traumatized. Through SE these can be safely experienced in slow, titrated steps and gradually integrated so that healthy physiological functioning can be restored.
SE can help resolve symptoms associated traumatic experiences and chronic stress.
Research has confirmed that unresolved trauma and chronic stress are some of the most significant causative factors of disease processes. When we are continually “stressed” our nervous system loses its resiliency and we live our daily lives in a constant state of distress, which taxes all of the body’s systems. Somatic Experiencing helps the nervous system better organize and restores its ability to modulate between “ready for action” and “rest and digest” modes.
Somatic Experiencing supports and builds resiliency.
Working through the body and supporting healthy nervous system functioning can increase feelings of agency, resiliency, capacity and connection.
My approach to Somatic Experiencing® .
My education and training in Somatic Experiencing® includes receiving my Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP) certificate from the Somatic Experiencing® Training Institute, which I earned after completing three years of training, totaling over 250 hours of training. Additionally I have studied Touch Skills for Complex Trauma with Kathy Kain and Somatic Resilience and Regulation with Kathy Kain and Steve Terrell. I currently serve as an assistant at Somatic Experiencing Trainings®.
Somatic Experiencing® Sessions
I offer SE sessions at my private practice in NE Portland. I schedule free 15 minute phone introductions before scheduling new clients to ensure it’s a good fit. To schedule a phone intro click here.
Learn More
To learn more about Somatic Experiencing, you can visit www.traumahealing.org.