Somatic Experiencing Approach
Somatic Experiencing is an important element in Dr. Bradshaw’s practice, helping clients to heal from trauma and other issues. Often, SE operates by gradually orienting the client to the here and now, enhancing personal resources (positives) and strengths, and focusing on bodily sensations to release tension and support emotional healing. The goal of SE therapy is to, gradually, increase resilience and allow you to thrive in a bigger range of human experience. Often, past trauma causes us to feel limited in our ability to cope with life, and easily triggered by certain types of situations. This can make us feel like our humanity has been reduced and that we cannot fully enjoy life or be present with what matters to us most.
SE therapy is a body-focused approach to healing trauma and stress-related conditions. SE often focuses on how your body holds and processes stress and trauma and other difficult experiences, as well as how you experience joy, confidence, fun, and other positive experiences. Sometimes, when we go through difficult or overwhelming experiences, our bodies “store the energy” and tension from those events. This can lead to a variety of physical and emotional symptoms, like anxiety, chronic pain, reactive anger, or feeling stuck in certain patterns.
Often, legacies of trauma or intensely “negative” or overwhelming experiences are the following: shame, a sense of feeling constricted/limited or out-of-control/scattered; a feeling of guilt and regret— “I should have acted differently.” Dr. Bradshaw believes that SE is a powerful shame-reducing modality, as it explains our psychological wounds in nervous system and more physiological terms, while being open to the metaphorical and poetic. For example: a common automatic response to trauma is to “freeze.” We often feel shame later for having “froze” during a trauma. Well, “freeze” is a natural automatic response that humans have evolved to deploy for specific reasons. SE has the potential to help you work through this freeze pattern and to gain relief from your shame, and even a sense of empowerment.
In therapy sessions, we’ll gently work on helping your body attempt to release this stored energy. We’ll do this by paying attention to the sensations in your body, like tightness, warmth, or tingling, and allowing these sensations to gradually move through and out of your system. It’s a bit like slowly unwinding a spring that’s been tightly wound for a long time. We will also engage this process around your emotions, mental images, and intuitions regarding your experiences.
The idea is that by reconnecting with your body and allowing it to complete the natural processes that were interrupted during the traumatic or difficult event (s), you can potentially find relief from symptoms and regain a sense of balance and well-being. We’ll move at your own pace, and I’ll guide you in noticing and safely experiencing these physical sensations/emotions/images/meanings, so you can heal from the inside out.
This therapy might help you become more aware of your body’s natural capacity to heal and recover from trauma, leading to a greater sense of calm and resilience.
SE therapy believes that individuals have the capacity to heal. The purpose of the therapy, ultimately, is to unblock those capacities so that the natural healing can transpire.
“Somatic Experiencing works by helping individuals complete the fight, flight, freeze, or fold responses that were thwarted during trauma. By gently guiding clients to reconnect with their bodily sensations, SE allows them to process and release the residual energy that is stuck in their nervous system.”
Peter Levine, PhD
Research
Somatic Experiencing is backed by a growing body of research showing it can be effective in helping people recover from trauma and stress-related conditions. Studies have found that SE can significantly reduce symptoms like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. For example, research has shown that after SE therapy, many people experience fewer flashbacks, less anxiety, and an overall better quality of life.
One study looked at people who had experienced traumatic events and found that those who went through SE therapy had noticeable improvements in their symptoms compared to those who didn’t. These improvements were seen not just in how they felt emotionally, but also in their physical health—things like reduced tension and fewer stress-related physical problems.
The idea behind this research is that SE helps to 'reset' your nervous system, bringing it back to a state of balance after it’s been disrupted by trauma. By allowing your body to complete the natural processes it couldn’t during the traumatic event (or series of difficult experiences), you can start to heal more fully. This means that SE isn’t just about talking through your experiences; it’s about helping your body let go of the stress and tension it’s been holding onto, leading to real and lasting change.
Evidence suggests that Somatic Experiencing can be a powerful tool for healing, and many people have found it to be a gentle yet effective way to move beyond the impacts of trauma.
References
Payne, P., Levine, P. A., & Crane-Godreau, M. A. (2015). Somatic experiencing: Using interoception and proprioception as core elements of trauma therapy. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 93. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00093
This study explores the principles behind Somatic Experiencing and provides evidence of its effectiveness in treating trauma by focusing on the body's physical sensations.
Leitch, M. L. (2007). Somatic experiencing treatment with social service workers following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Social Work, 52(1), 9-18. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/52.1.9
This research examines the impact of SE therapy on social service workers who experienced trauma following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, showing significant reductions in PTSD symptoms and stress-related physical problems.
Reading Recommendations
Note: this section will be updated soon with descriptions of why these books may be of potential interest to some readers, and links where to find them. These books do not replace therapy, and it's wise to check with your therapist on the appropriateness of these texts.
Peter Levine, PhD: "Awaking the Tiger"
Peter Levine, PhD: "Healing Trauma"
Peter Levine, PhD: "In An Unspoken Voice."