somatic experiencing

a profound personal journey:

I was introduced to Somatic Experiencing shortly after my husband and I got engaged. On one hand it was a time filled with happiness, intimacy, and a sense of closeness. Simultaneously, I sensed myself standing at the edge of a substantial transformation of my identity, accompanied by apprehension and deep-seated feelings of vulnerability.

One morning, a disagreement with my partner pushed me over the edge. I erupted into a fit of rage, screaming and striking the wall adjacent to our living room window. The sheer horror and worry on my husband's face are etched in my memory. Without thinking, I rushed to the door, slipped on my shoes, and fled the house. I drove recklessly to a school parking lot, where I sobbed hysterically for awhile. Tremors wracked my body, and each breath was a struggle.

After about an hour, I pulled myself together and returned home, weighed down by guilt and shame. This kind of outburst had never been characteristic of me. I had always prided myself on being composed and reasonable, adept at providing care and comfort to others. The events of that morning felt like a complete loss of control.

My partner welcomed me back with a long, loving embrace. We discussed the incident. He had recently begun therapy with a practitioner who employed a somatic approach to healing. It was his suggestion that I explore a similar path. Following his advice, I scheduled a meeting with my first Somatic Experiencing practitioner. During that session, she provided me with insight into trauma and the biological mechanisms of the survival response. It was in that initial meeting that I came to understand that my reaction to the tiff with my husband was a classic example of the "fight or flight" response.

Therapy wasn't unfamiliar territory for me. I started my journey with therapy during my twenties when I embarked on the path of recovery from substance use disorder. Over the years, I had encountered a number of therapists intermittently. Our sessions typically revolved around delving into my upbringing, family dynamics, and pivotal life incidents that might have contributed to the development of maladaptive behaviors. The narrative often circled back to my struggles with addiction and the tumultuous relationships I had experienced. These therapists provided me with valuable perspectives to contextualize my struggles and equipped me with cognitive behavioral techniques to navigate through negative thought patterns and bolster my self-esteem. However, one aspect that was consistently missing from these therapy sessions was the exploration of trauma and it’s lasting effects on my physiology.

Through Somatic Experiencing I learned a great deal about trauma and it’s effects on the nervous system. I learned that during a traumatic event, the body's survival response may be activated but not fully discharged, leading to a state where the body's natural reactions are inhibited. This can result in lingering physical sensations, emotions, and behaviors that continue to affect the individual long after the event has ended. Case and point, my meltdown that day with my husband.

Somatic Experiencing enabled me to develop an awareness of bodily sensations and guided me in establishing a sense of security within my own body as I delved into my thoughts, emotions, and memories. It equipped me with techniques to monitor my own nervous system, allowing me to restore balance when I find myself in a state of disarray and reactivity. Situations that once provoked my fight, flight, or freeze reactions no longer trigger the same response. My capacity to remain present with and care for discomfort has expanded. As a result, I now feel more vitality, as well as a deeper and more profound connection both with myself and with others.

Like the practice of yoga, Somatic Experiencing transformed my life. It was yoga’s profound impact on my life that led me to the path of becoming a yoga teacher. Likewise, the deep and lasting effects of Somatic Experiencing prompted me to embark on the path studying Somatic Experiencing. After three years of formal study and supervision, I became an Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP).

what is somatic experiencing?

Somatic Experiencing™ (SE) is a therapeutic approach developed by Dr. Peter A. Levine to address the effects of trauma, stress, and other overwhelming experiences on the body and nervous system.

Somatic Experiencing views trauma and overwhelming stress as primarily physiological experiences, rather than merely psychological ones. It emphasizes that trauma and stress are often stored in the body and, as such, working at the level of the body is essential to the healing process.

Somatic Experiencing helps to rewire the neural pathways linked to fear, anxiety, and traumatic experiences, strengthening nervous system regulation and promoting greater emotional balance and resilience.