Somatic Experiencing
What is Somatic Experiencing?
Somatic Experiencing® is a body-based and naturalistic approach to healing trauma.
Somatic Experiencing® helps us begin to access our body’s inherent and intuitive wisdom, in order to identify and access the thwarted energy of our own self-protective responses that may have been inhibited during a traumatic event.
Somatic Experiencing®. is based on the work of Dr. Peter Levine, who spent decades of his life dedicated to the research and study of trauma healing, later developing Somatic Experiencing® as a way to restore balance to the nervous system after stressful or traumatic experiences. We focus on learning tools for regulation while learning the language of our bodies, and then find ways to process and complete defensive responses, leaving us with more ease, and a richer, more vibrant life.
Trauma is stored in our bodies systems, body memories/patterns which directly impact our thoughts, emotions, judgements, belief systems, and other aspects of our selves. We can’t have a mind without the body and vice versa. We can learn to create a relationship with these patterns to find resolution and integration of things we are curious or have mixed emotions about.
My two cents about Somatic Experiencing
I am not sure that I have ever met someone who has never been through some sh*t. I think it is safe to say that all humans have been subjected to and impacted by trauma and hardship. This includes generational trauma that impacts us beyond our words or on a day-to-day basis with the environments we exist in (e.g historical events, relationships, family, beliefs about ourselves and others, etc). This also includes the identities that we hold in the world and how the system of the world interprets our identities. We can experience too much too soon, too much too fast, not enough too long, and too much too long. And because our bodies care for us so much – it holds onto our experiences and patterns we develop to protect us and love us (just like our minds do). Somatic Experiencing helps us develop a connection between our mind and body. It also allows our body to learn how to work through sensations, meanings, images, affect and behavior that are tied to these hard things we go through. To me, Somatic Experiencing feels like (1) building a home within yourself (2) a friend (3) building trust in your resiliency/self (4) reclaiming your power and ownership of who you are (5) an energetic experience. The way I approach Somatic Experiencing is leading with curiosity, tenderness and attentiveness to foster trust and exploration of your experiences.
Somatic Experiencing work allows us to attune to our bodies. This includes giving space for the mind and body to explore, to express, to breathe and to find it’s needs. It gives us the opportunity to find parts of ourselves that may feel complicated or lost and welcome them back into our care. Trauma healing also doesn’t just involve talking about the hard stuff, it is also finding and enjoying the good stuff too. Lastly, Somatic Experiencing doesn’t have to be just for trauma it can be for other presenting concerns or curiosities you have about yourself because at the end of the day we always have a mind-body connection
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