What is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic Experiencing (SE®) is a body-centered approach developed by Dr. Peter Levine, designed to gently guide individuals through the process of renegotiating traumatic experiences. Unlike traditional talk therapy, SE emphasizes the role of the body in healing, recognizing that trauma is stored not just in the mind but also within the body’s nervous system
Why is This Important?
Trauma rewires our nervous system and brain, making it more likely we’ll experience states of unease, anxiety, depression, and lingering unhappiness. In somatic therapy, this is known as nervous system dysregulation, which means the body isn’t able to allow emotions to freely pass because they get stuck in the nervous system. Because the stress responses from unprocessed trauma have not been released, they influence and color the thoughts a person has, which reinforces states like anxiety or depression.
How Does Somatic Therapy Work?
What makes Somatic Experiencing different is that trauma occurs not just on a psychological level but also a physiological level.
We’ll help your nervous system release stored energies and relax in real time. Allowing yourself to be witnessed by skilled psychotherapist will help your body release stored traumatic energy felt as physical tension, or nervous system dysregulation.
I’ll help you notice and be with shifts of arousal and relaxation in your body and together we’ll help release these stored energies from built-up stress responses (fight, flight, freeze), which reorganizes your nervous system. Then I’ll use my attachment training to rewire your body and brain, building your confidence and helping metabolize and process whatever negative systems are causing you pain.
You’ll think and feel differently, almost as if someone is rearranging the furniture in your mind without you even doing anything.
Can This Be Fun?
In my professional experience, Somatic Therapy is actually one of most playful ways of approaching therapy. It’s a dynamic process of us getting to know each other and getting to know your nervous system. We can only go as fast as the slowest part of your system, and while doing so, we can help build your internal capacities for calm, connection, and contentment while also laughing along the way. Peter Levine once said “Life is meant to be playful.”
Read to start therapy? Let’s talk!
Please reach out by calling or texting my practice number which is (817) 642 – 7305, or send me an email at jenn at the holyabsurd dot com (to prevent spam bots). I look forward to hearing from you!
Helping you shift from brutal self-criticism to kindness