The Benefits of Somatic Experiencing in Trauma Therapy
Trauma is a profound experience that can leave deep, lasting imprints on both the mind and body. Traditional talk therapy often focuses on cognitive and emotional processing. Being able to have language and words to describe what happened to you is incredibly important work. And a lot of folks find that even though they can name what happened to them and what they went through, their body still holds the trauma and they have difficulty relaxing, resting, and feeling into pleasure. This makes sense because research is continuing to show us that trauma is held in the body. This is where Somatic Experiencing (SE), a body-focused therapy developed by Dr. Peter Levine, offers a unique and powerful approach to healing trauma. By focusing on bodily sensations, SE provides a pathway to release the trauma stored in the body, helping individuals regain a sense of safety, control, and wholeness. Helping you feel more comfortable inside of your body or what is also known as somatic therapy is some of the most important work we do at Fig Therapy in Charlotte, NC. When you have more of yourself you’re able to show up in your life, relationships, and community with more authenticity, more compassion, and more integrity, something we all benefit from!
Understanding Somatic Experiencing
Somatic Experiencing is based on the premise that trauma is an experience of the nervous system, rather than a psychological event. When we experience a traumatic event, your body’s natural response is to go into survival mode—commonly known as the fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response. In many cases, this response is not fully resolved, leading to the trauma becoming "stuck" in the body. This unresolved trauma can manifest as chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and a variety of physical symptoms. This can happen when your stomach gets nauseous when you think about telling someone no or your throat closes up when you start to speak.
SE works by helping you complete your body's natural responses to trauma. Rather than focusing on recounting the traumatic event, SE guides you to tune into your bodily sensations, allowing the nervous system to gradually release the stored energy associated with the trauma. This process can help individuals return to a state of equilibrium, where you no longer feel overwhelmed or disconnected from your body. Dare I say you might even learn to tolerate and then appreciate sensations of pleasure and goodness. ;)
The Science Behind Somatic Experiencing
The foundation of Somatic Experiencing lies in understanding how the nervous system functions under stress. According to Levine, the nervous system is designed to regulate itself through a process called "pendulation," which involves the natural ebb and flow between states of arousal (activation) and relaxation (settling). However, during a traumatic event, this natural process can become disrupted, leading to a state of hyperarousal or hypoarousal, where the body finds itself stuck either constantly on high alert or numbed out or pinging between the two states which can be especially exhausting.
Somatic therapy sessions help to restore the nervous system's natural rhythm by encouraging the body to slowly and safely release the pent-up energy. Through techniques such as grounding, orienting, and titration (the process of introducing small amounts of traumatic material to avoid overwhelming the system), you are guided through the gradual release of trauma. This approach not only reduces the physical and emotional symptoms of trauma but also helps rebuild a sense of safety and trust within your body.
Why Somatic Therapy is Effective
One of the key reasons SE is so effective is its focus on the body. Trauma often bypasses the logical, thinking parts of the brain and gets "stuck" in the more primitive parts, such as the brainstem and limbic system, which are responsible for survival functions. Traditional talk therapies, which primarily engage the prefrontal cortex (the thinking brain), may not always reach these deeper, non-verbal parts of the brain where trauma resides. As I often tell my clients, “Logic doesn’t really matter too much with trauma. It’s so normal and expected that while you and your brain know that what you’re thinking isn’t true, it feels so viscerally true in your body.”
In a somatic therapy session we get to work directly with these non-verbal parts of the brain by engaging the body's sensations and movements. This can help you access and release trauma that might not be reachable through words alone. By working with the body, SE allows for a more holistic healing process, integrating the mind, body, and emotions in a way that promotes lasting change. In essence, you feel more integrated and whole being you.
The Role of the Therapist in Somatic Experiencing
In SE, my role as the somatic therapist is to create a safe, curious, and supportive environment where the you can explore your bodily sensations without fear of being overwhelmed. I get to be a guide, helping you to stay present and connected to your body while you move through tiny pieces of trauma. This means that I’m attuned not only to your verbal cues but also to your non-verbal signals, such as changes in breathing, muscle tension, and facial expressions. Together we notice small shifts like the softening of your shoulders, a deeper breath, your voice slowing down.
Building resources and connecting with your internal strengths is also a huge part of the therapeutic process. These resources might include positive memories, grounding techniques, or physical movements that help you to feel more grounded and calm. It’s always such a profound experience when someone reconnects to their true self. By strengthening these resources, you develop greater resilience and the ability to handle distressing sensations without becoming overwhelmed or when you do get overwhelmed you know how to be with yourself in a way to bring yourself back into a state of connection and groundedness.
The Path to Wholeness with Somatic Therapy
Somatic Experiencing offers a unique and powerful approach to healing trauma by focusing on the body’s natural ability to process and release traumatic experiences. By working directly with the nervous system and bodily sensations, SE helps you to move beyond the grip of trauma, allowing you to reconnect with your body and find more freedom and joy from the inside out. For those seeking a holistic approach to trauma therapy that addresses both the mind and body, Somatic Experiencing offers a path to deep, lasting healing and a renewed sense of wholeness.
If you’re in Charlotte, in person somatic therapy sessions are available for you. And the good news is that while we are working with your body, you can absolutely do somatic therapy virtually. We are proud to offer online somatic therapy to folks living in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas. Reach out today to learn more about how somatic therapy can help you find relief and feel freedom.