​What Is Somatic Experiencing®?

 

Somatic Experiencing® is a body-oriented approach to trauma developed by Dr Peter A. Levine, whose pioneering work explored how overwhelming experiences affect the body and nervous system.

​

From a Somatic Experiencing perspective, trauma is not defined only by what happened to us, but also by what remains unresolved in the nervous system afterwards. When protective responses such as fight, flight or escape cannot be completed, the body may remain caught in patterns of heightened activation, shutdown or ongoing vigilance.

​

Rather than requiring a person to repeatedly retell or relive a traumatic experience, Somatic Experiencing works gently with bodily sensations, movement impulses and nervous-system responses. The process is carefully paced, helping the person develop a greater capacity to remain present while previously interrupted protective responses are gradually renegotiated and completed.

​

My Training in Somatic Experiencing

I have completed the full three-year professional training in Somatic Experiencing®. This intensive, progressive training develops specialised skills for understanding and working with trauma through the body and autonomic nervous system. Somatic Experiencing is not simply one technique that I use—it is an important part of how I understand trauma and how I work therapeutically.

​

When Somatic Experiencing Can Be Helpful

Somatic Experiencing may be helpful if you are experiencing:

• Intense or difficult-to-regulate emotions such as anxiety, panic, anger, depression, or shame
• Feeling stuck, shut down, or unable to move forward despite insight
• Racing thoughts or a mind that feels constantly “on”
• Chronic tension or persistent stress
• Physical symptoms linked to emotional trauma, including discomfort or pain without a clear structural cause
• Difficulty relaxing or feeling at ease, even in safe situations
• The after-effects of overwhelming events, medical procedures, accidents, or prolonged stress

​​

Possible Benefits

Many people experience:

• Greater steadiness in the face of stress
• Reduced physical tension and reactivity
• Increased capacity to stay present during strong emotions
• A quieter mind, less driven by racing or repetitive thoughts
• More ease and responsiveness in relationships
• A growing sense of safety and ease in daily life

​

What Happens in a Session?

Sessions include conversation alongside gentle attention to sensations in your body.

We begin with grounding and resourcing, helping your nervous system establish a sense of stability before approaching more charged material. As we track sensations, small shifts, or impulses in the body, activation may arise — sometimes as anxiety, irritation, or strong emotion.

Rather than pushing this away, we stay with it carefully and in manageable amounts. This allows incomplete survival responses to move through and settle.

Over time, this gradual process can reduce chronic tension and reactivity. As the nervous system no longer needs to remain on constant alert or in shutdown, many people notice that their thoughts become quieter and less driven.