Somatic Experiencing And Somatic Therapy
What is Somatic Experiencing?
Somatic experiencing is a form of therapy that brings the body into treatment by developing an understanding of your own nervous system’s self-protection responses (fight, flight, freeze). The process involves developing an understanding of what did not get to happen during a traumatic event by the nervous system’s self-protection response, and completing the response so bound energy can be released.
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor of Harvard Women's Health Watch, describes some aspects of Somatic Therapy:
Body awareness: recognizing pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral spots in our bodies
Pendulating: Bringing awareness to relaxed states as well as emotions similar to those felt during the traumatic experience and then back to relaxed states
Titrating: Being guided through a traumatic memory, noting accompanying physical sensations and addressing them in real time (described further in the video below)
Resourcing: Helping people recall resources from their lives that promote feelings of calm and safety
The Slinky Presentation, demonstrated in this video by Dr. Peter Levine, creator of Somatic Experiencing. This demonstrates the effects of trauma on the nervous system using a practice called titration which is a slow release process of compressed fight or flight energy to reintegrate it back into the nervous system.
More on Somatic Experiencing
Somatic Experiencing does not require us to have conscious knowledge or memory of trauma event. It does not require us to retell our story over again. Our nervous system’s story can be heard in a safe and contained way.
Somatic Experiencing steps:
Create a sense of safety and stability
Slow down and check-in with your body while noticing internal sensations or emotions as you talk
Tune-in to your body’s wisdom and trust signals
Gain access to intuitive knowing of what next steps to take in situations to feel more present, connected, and engaged
If you’d like to know more about Somatic Experiencing and Somatic Therapy, visit Embodied Wellness, PLCC.
If you are interested in Somatic Therapy, contact Dani Fluhr, LCSW, using the button below.