About Somatic Experiencing Therapy
What is Somatic Experiencing (SE)?
Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a gentle, body-centered approach to healing that understands trauma and chronic stress as experiences held not only in our thoughts and emotions, but in our nervous system. Developed by Peter A. Levine, SE is grounded in the understanding that when overwhelming events occur, the body’s natural survival responses—fight, flight, or freeze—can become interrupted or stuck. Rather than revisiting trauma in an intense or overwhelming way, Somatic Experiencing helps us slowly and safely tune into the language of the body: sensations, impulses, breath, and subtle shifts that signal how the nervous system is responding.
At the heart of this work is supporting the nervous system in completing what was once interrupted, allowing stored survival energy to gently release. Through careful pacing and attunement, we build capacity to stay present with sensation without becoming flooded. As the body begins to feel safer, protective patterns can soften, and a greater sense of steadiness and resilience can emerge. Over time, this process fosters deeper regulation, self-trust, and connection—both within yourself and in your relationships—so you can move through the world with more ease and choice.
Founder Peter Levine and the birth of SE.
Learn more about the model at the SE International.
Core Principles of Somatic Experiencing
A Body-First Approach
Rather than starting only with thoughts or story, Somatic Experiencing begins with the body. We gently track sensations—tightness, warmth, breath, subtle movement—trusting that the nervous system holds important information about what has been overwhelming and what is ready to shift.
Understanding Trauma Differently
In this work, trauma isn’t defined only by what happened, but by what got stuck. When survival responses like fight, flight, or freeze couldn’t fully complete, the nervous system can remain braced. SE supports the body in safely finishing what was interrupted.
Going Slowly (Titration)
We approach difficult material gradually, one small piece at a time. This pacing helps prevent overwhelm and builds your capacity to stay present while your system gently reorganizes.
Moving Between Activation and Safety (Pendulation)
We intentionally shift attention between places of discomfort and places of steadiness or resource. This back-and-forth helps the nervous system remember that activation can rise and fall—and that safety is available again.
How the Work Unfolds
Awareness of Sensation
We notice internal experiences such as tension, temperature, breath, or subtle impulses to move. These sensations often guide the healing process more reliably than analysis alone.
Inviting Completion
Sessions may include small movements, shifts in posture, changes in breath, sound, or imagery—allowing the body to complete survival responses in its own natural way.
Natural Release and Integration
As the nervous system unwinds, you may notice spontaneous settling—perhaps a deeper breath, warmth, trembling, or a sense of grounding. These moments signal that your system is finding its way back toward balance and ease.
Let’s Dive a Little Deeper: Commonly Asked Questions
What is Somatic Experiencing therapy used to treat?
Somatic Experiencing is often used to support healing from trauma—whether a single overwhelming event or the cumulative impact of chronic stress, childhood neglect, or relational wounds. It can be helpful for anxiety, panic, PTSD, grief, and the lingering effects of medical procedures or accidents. Because it works directly with the nervous system, SE is also supportive for those who feel stuck in patterns of shutdown, hypervigilance, or disconnection, helping restore a greater sense of safety, regulation, and resilience.
In Somatic Experiencing, trauma is approached gently and indirectly through the body rather than by reliving overwhelming events. We work with small pieces of activation at a time, tracking sensations and supporting the nervous system in completing survival responses that were once interrupted. As the body safely releases stored tension and returns to regulation, the imprint of trauma can begin to soften—often without needing to retell the full story.
How is Somatic Experiencing different from traditional talk therapy?
While traditional talk therapy often focuses on thoughts, insight, and understanding your story, Somatic Experiencing works primarily with the nervous system. Instead of analyzing or processing events through conversation alone, we pay close attention to those somatic cues that signal how your system is responding in the present moment.
You don’t have to find the “right words” or fully revisit painful memories for healing to happen. By working from the bottom up—through the body—SE supports deeper regulation and change at a foundational level, allowing insight and emotional shifts to emerge organically.
What if I can’t connect to my body sensations?
That’s completely okay—and very common. Difficulty sensing the body is often a protective response, especially if you’ve experienced overwhelm or trauma. In Somatic Experiencing, we don’t force connection. We begin gently, sometimes by noticing something neutral or external—like the feeling of your feet on the floor, the support of the chair, or the rhythm of your breath.
Over time, as your nervous system experiences safety and steadiness, awareness tends to grow naturally. There is no right way to do this work. We simply follow your pace, trusting that your capacity to feel and connect will unfold when it’s ready.
Who is a good candidate for Somatic Experiencing therapy?
Somatic Experiencing can be especially supportive for those who feel easily overwhelmed, anxious, shut down, or disconnected from themselves. It’s a good fit for people who sense that talking alone hasn’t fully reached the root of what they’re carrying, or who struggle to put their experiences into words.
SE is also well suited for those healing from trauma—whether acute or developmental—as well as chronic stress, attachment wounds, or persistent nervous system activation. If you’re longing to feel more regulated, grounded, and at home in your body, this gentle, body-centered approach may offer a meaningful path forward.
Is Somatic Experiencing evidence-based?
Somatic Experiencing is supported by a growing body of research showing its effectiveness in reducing symptoms of trauma, PTSD, and stress-related conditions. Studies have found meaningful improvements in nervous system regulation, anxiety, and overall well-being following SE treatment. While it does not have the same volume of research as some longer-established trauma therapies, the evidence base continues to expand.
SE is also grounded in neuroscience and our understanding of how trauma impacts the autonomic nervous system. Its principles align with contemporary research on regulation, attachment, and the body’s role in healing—offering an approach that is both experiential and increasingly research-informed.
What does healing look like in Somatic Experiencing therapy?
Healing in Somatic Experiencing often happens quietly and gradually. It may look like feeling less reactive in situations that once felt overwhelming, recovering more quickly from stress, or noticing a new sense of steadiness in your body. Many people describe subtle but meaningful shifts—deeper breaths, softer muscles, clearer boundaries, or a greater ability to stay present during difficult moments.
Over time, healing can feel like coming back into relationship with yourself. The nervous system no longer has to stay braced or shut down. There is more choice, more resilience, and a growing sense of safety from within. Rather than erasing the past, SE supports your body in no longer living as though the past is still happening—allowing more ease, connection, and aliveness in daily life