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Somatic Experiencing Practice holds space for someone’s story as well with what presents in the nervous system. The primary focus of Somatic Experiencing is to facilitate in the healing and resolution of trauma. Trauma may result from an acute stress, a one time experience, or from cumulative stress. It is not in the event itself but rather in our experience of the event, as in being overwhelmed. From an SE perspective one becomes stuck in nervous system patterns such as in flight, in freeze, or in fight.

Trauma can include situations we know to be horrific such as war, natural disasters, neglect, sexual or physical assault, birth trauma and loss. It can also result from motor vehicle accidents, invasive medical procedures, emotional abuse and intergenerational trauma. Trauma impacts daily living including our capacity to be present, to have a range of emotion, to be regulated, have a sense of ease and can affect our cognitive thinking. And, like physical medicine were there are symptoms correlated to illnesses so are there cues specific to certain traumas.

In a Somatic Experiencing session, you might experience being asked to pause or slow down while you share your story. You will be asked to notice what any or all your senses might be telling you. You will be drawn away from thinking about the story to paying attention to familiar and unfamiliar bodily sensations. During those times when one is having difficult bodily sensations you will be asked to try to sit with the discomfort. The goal is to develop increasing capacity for hard bodily sensations as well as suppressed emotions. This will lend to completing self protective defensive responses and being able to be in the here and now. Further, in becoming more regulated we have capacity to be in relationship/connection with others and equally important with ourselves.