Somatic Experiencing® Trauma Therapy

Description

What is Somatic Experiencing (SE) Trauma Healing? Somatic Experiencing Trauma Healing (Dr. Peter Levine) is a deep and gentle method for growth, stress, tensions, and personal limitations that can transform into relaxation, harmony and inner freedom. We Support our nervous system to move into self-healing flow unwinding our life energy force. We’ve all heard of the flight or fight or freeze primitive brain biological response. When faced with what’s perceived as an inescapable or overwhelming threat, both humans and animals we Instinctively use these responses as survival mechanisms. These powerful instinctual mechanisms release a surge of survival energy which, if not discharged spontaneously, can get trapped, literally frozen in time, in the nervous system and muscle tissue. This frozen energy affects our body and mind and alters the conscious or unconscious way of perceiving and living life. It has an important influence in our personality ego structure over time. A trauma work session generally begins with establishing and finding resources back, a positive state, then it carefully approaches the outermost edges of the traumatic experience. Once the client begins to gently touch into difficult events or feelings the therapist helps to make sure that he/she only takes small bites (“titration”) of this material so that the nervous system can handle and support the naturally occurring variations of arousal and response within the body (“pendulation”). Self-regulation, integration and embodiment of grounding is the aim of this therapy. As a SE therapist I understand and work through the body towards integrating fragmentation: SIBAM (sensations, Imaginary, Behaviour, Affect, Movement) and support you in the integration and understanding of your body mechanisms, defences and resistances. We watch for physical signs indicating the energy release which may come in various forms such as small shivers, deep breaths, hot or cold flashes, change in temperature. Your focus inward will give you deep insights and healing. Then, slowly, we allow time for the client to reorient to the present, grounding in the here and now, connecting to inner resources and resolving conflictive states. This natural rhythm and flow is called “self-regulation” of our nervous system that digests traumatic material in the body and psyche. This is why in SE therapy moves one step at a time to support body integration.