You might be hearing the term somatic more and more these days, and it’s true—it’s become a bit of a buzzword. But what does Somatic Experiencing® (SE™) really mean? SE™ is a therapeutic approach specifically designed to help resolve symptoms of stress, shock, and trauma, which can become trapped within our bodies and nervous systems. From a SE™ perspective, trauma is viewed through the lens of how it shows up in our nervous system, particularly the impact of nervous system dysregulation on daily life.

How Does SE™ Address Trauma?

SE™ is especially helpful for those stuck in ongoing cycles of fight, flight or freeze responses. The approach helps release these ingrained patterns, promoting recovery and building resilience. It’s a body-oriented therapeutic model. SE™ takes a holistic view of healing, drawing from various disciplines, including physiology, psychology, ethology, biology, neuroscience, indigenous healing practices, and medical biophysics. Dr. Peter A. Levine, the founder of SE™, has dedicated more than four decades to refining this approach.

How Does Somatic Experiencing® Work?

SE™ works by helping to release trapped survival energy that remains stored in the body after stressful or traumatic experiences. This energy can cause symptoms that make it feel like we’re stuck reliving the trauma. SE™ gently guides people to build tolerance for complex bodily sensations and emotions, which enables the body to complete its natural self-protective responses to stress. This process helps discharge the pent-up energy, bringing relief and a sense of calm to the nervous system.

Dr. Peter Levine, who developed SE™, was inspired by watching animals in the wild. Unlike humans, animals face life-threatening situations constantly but don’t carry lasting trauma. He observed that, in addition to fight or flight, animals have a third response when threatened: freezing or “playing dead.” This freeze response mobilises a massive amount of energy in preparation for action. When the threat is gone, animals naturally shake or tremble to release this energy. However, this discharge often doesn’t happen in humans, and the body remains in a state of high alert, as if still in danger. SE™ helps individuals safely release this stuck energy, effectively turning off the body’s ongoing threat response.

By allowing the body to complete these natural processes, SE™ helps people feel more grounded, connected, and resilient. It’s a powerful approach that supports a balanced state between the sympathetic (fight/flight) and parasympathetic (rest/digest) nervous systems, promoting long-term healing and a renewed sense of safety.

The SE™ Approach to Healing

SE™ isn’t limited to trauma from specific events; it’s also beneficial for developmental attachment trauma and complex PTSD. Through a “body-first” approach, SE™ practitioners assess where someone may be stuck in the fight, flight or freeze response and offer practical tools to shift these fixated physiological states. The SE™ model provides valuable skills applicable across many fields, from mental health and physical therapy to bodywork, addiction treatment, first response, and education. These skills are adaptable to many healing professions, allowing practitioners to work holistically within their existing scope of practice.

My Journey with Somatic Experiencing® 

My commitment to body-based healing has made my journey with SE™ truly transformative, personally and professionally. Currently advancing through the SE™ Professional Training and recently completing the intermediate level, I’ve deeply understood how the body holds—and can release—stress and trauma with the proper guidance. Each phase of this journey has strengthened my appreciation for the body’s innate capacity to heal.

Working somatically has also profoundly impacted my own nervous system regulation. Through this practice, I’ve discovered how slowing down, tuning into my body, and learning to pause can bring a sense of calm and balance that I once thought was out of reach. SE™ techniques have helped me develop resilience, allowing me to share these powerful tools with my clients.

Integrating Somatic Experiencing® into my practice has been incredibly rewarding, enabling me to offer clients a pathway for healing from the inside out. SE™ provides a framework to access and resolve the body’s stored responses to stress and trauma. This approach helps people understand and process their body’s reactions, ultimately cultivating a stronger foundation for well-being.

I’d be glad to connect if you want to explore Somatic Experiencing®. Whether seeking to understand your body’s responses to stress or embark on a deeper healing journey, SE™ can offer a transformative experience. This work supports tuning into bodily sensations, calming intense responses, and finding a balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems—steps closer to holistic resilience and health.

References:

Somatic Experiencing® International. (n.d.). SE 101. Somatic Experiencing® International. https://traumahealing.org/se-101/