SOMATIC Experiencing®

What does “somatic” mean?

Somatic means “relating to the body.” When we think of traditional psychotherapy, that might seem odd. However, one common issue people struggle with is figuring out what to do with the unpleasant physical sensations caused by emotional states. Sometimes we feel panicky and anxious without the ability to calm down or focus on a task. Other times we feel depressed, unmotivated and like we are wallowing in immobility. Or sometimes we might just feel “off” somehow, but not quite sure what emotions are causing that feeling. Somatic interventions directly intervene by developing new neural pathways and behaviors that provide alternative ways of responding to your environment. Rather than addressing these feelings through our thoughts or mindset or even having to develop some sort of explanation, somatic interventions use a “bottom up” approach, addressing the feelings via sensations and behaviors in the body.

What is Somatic Experiencing? How is SE different than talk therapy?

Somatic Experiencing® (SE) is a specific type of somatic therapy developed by Dr. Peter A. Levine, a psychologist and author. It is designed to help individuals who have experienced trauma or are struggling with the effects of stress and anxiety by focusing on the body's physical and sensory experiences. Where in talk therapy, the mind is viewed as the primary channel into psychological health and well-being, in somatic therapies like SE, the focus is primarily on accessing basic nervous system responses through a variety of channels- Sensation, Imagery, Behavior, Affect/Emotion, and Mind/Meaning.

For more information about SE, please visit the SE International website.

Is Somatic Experiencing better than EMDR?

Both EMDR therapy and Somatic Experiencing® are considered somatic therapies. While many people have strong feelings about comparing EMDR therapy with Somatic Experiencing®, the synthesis of the two is an exciting and effective approach to working with trauma and emotional dysregulation.

In my practice, I seamlessly integrate the two approaches, as I strongly believe they are complimentary and build off of one another. That said, some people might prefer one technique over the other, so depending on the person we could lean more heavily into one technique. However, ultimately I aim to combine the two appoaches and frameworks to enhance the effectiveness of therapy.

For more information, please visit my page on EMDR therapy