Somatic Experiencing (SE)

What is Somatic Mindfulness?

Somatic mindfulness is training that focuses on developing awareness of internal states and sensations and is a core element of SE work. Somatic mindfulness is also used in other therapy modalities, with specific skills practice in both RODBT and DBT.

Somatic therapy focuses on the awareness of physical sensations that occur within the body as a way to explore their connection to thoughts or behaviors. Somatic therapy offers somatic awareness as well as curiosity towards spontaneous physical motions that may encourage emotional response.

Somatic Experiencing

Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body-centered & nervous system approach to for resolving trauma symptoms and relieving chronic stress. Principles of Somatic Experiencing include the belief that the body has the capacity to heal itself when supported to neurobiologically release “stuck” energy that has created cycles of dysregulation and stress. Somatic processing involves allowing the body to guide the needed discharges of energy related to flight/fight/freeze, a self-regulating nervous system.

SE is used to overcome shock trauma (single event trauma) and to treat early attachment and developmental trauma, including Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) including the following:

• Prenatal and perinatal trauma

• Inescapable attack

• Sexual trauma

• Falls and physical accidents

SE practitioners commit to persona health related to supporting their own nervous systems in response to trauma and vicarious trauma. SE has been applied in multiple professions and professional settings—psychotherapy, medicine, coaching, teaching, and physical therapy and can be used in connection to other trauma modalities including IFS and EMDR.