Somatic Experiencing
“Trauma is in the nervous system, not in the event.”
Dr. Peter Levine
Soma in Ancient Greek, means body
Experiencing - means what we experience/feel/sense in the present time.
Somatic Experiencing is what our body is experiencing in the moment, in the now.
SE is a gentle and affective body-focused approach to treating trauma and it was developed by Dr. Peter Levine.
It is a different form of therapy and healing.
With SE, we pay attention to the body first and that’s why it is bottom up approach.
You are going to learn to listen to your body.
You will learn to recognize your traumas and/or overwhelming experiences in your body and you will learn to recognize where in your body it feels natural and/or safe.
You will learn about your own nervous system and how to experience it in the moment, how to allow it to be as is and how to manage and self regulate it.
You will learn that you can live your life with painful experiences that has happened to you, but they are no longer hijacking your nervous system for hours up to hours, each time when you see/smell/hear/feel/taste something triggering.
You will learn to manage it, respect it and differentiate between then and now.
And mostly, you will learn that you are a whole of all your parts and that all is connected and available for self regulation, growth, acceptance and healing.
Your body is your compass.
Your body houses your experiences, feelings, and sensations.
It holds your past and present and responds to your thoughts and feelings about the future.
Your body is your compass that holds an internal pendulum. If you listen to it, you will become more aware of yourself and your needs.
Your body is your recourse; it communicates with you all of your life.
You may want to learn to listen to your body, so you can gain essential guidance for making decisions and being who you want to be.
The mind and the body are one.
You may say: “I have no issues with my body, but I don’t connect to it; my issues are in my thinking and actions.”
Fair observation and many will think that way. However, you’re thinking is in your head, which is connected to your body.
Your feelings, thoughts, and actions are manifested in your physical body as sensations, which will affect your mental state and vice versa.
Soul Image.
The reason that I say “Soul Image” and not “Body Image” is because our view of who we are is much deeper than the image that we see on the outside. How we view ourselves is more than what’s on the surface.
Many of us will pay more attention to the external image and ignore the body’s signals and feel no connection between mind/thoughts and sensations/body.
Connect mind and body.
The goal is to work from within. It’s about finding peace and self-acceptance, as we try to connect the mind and body by paying attention to both.
This allows you to live life to the fullest potential while being free from self and external judgment. It is about listening to your mind and body and being kind to both.
This allows you to be a whole person. When you choose to work on yourself, so you can feel better and make some changes in your life, the whole body should participate in this process.
How do we make that connection?
If you are willing to be open, together we will work on ways to make a better connection with your body and learn tools to help your mind and body function as one.
Some modalities can be used to make that connection, such as somatic work, mindfulness, grounding, centering, breathing, and others.
The main goal is for you to feel more in tune with your whole self, thus being more centered and connected with both mind and body.
Sensations and feelings.
“Body awareness can reduce impulsivity and promote emotional regulation and clearer thinking.” (Paulus)
Feelings are part of our emotional reactions, and sensations are part of our somatic/psychical reaction.
So, when we talk about the body, we will talk about sensations; and when we talk about feelings, we will talk about emotions.
With time, you will be able to recognize both the differences and similarities.
Learn to interpret sensations.
As you learn to track or pay attention to sensations produced by your nervous system, you will begin to sense your feelings and thoughts both mentally and physically. Anger, sadness, fear, stress, joy, and peace are expressed not just by words, but also by how the body responds.
When you want to bring balance to your body, it is necessary to bring awareness of sensation that is pleasant or neutral.
By practicing being calm when you experience stress, fear, and anger, you will learn to distinguish between sensations of distress and sensations of well-being.
This will make you more aware of when you are experiencing a stressful situation. As you experience those sensations, you will learn to transfer the pleasant and neutral sensations to areas that feel unpleasant.
It is about awareness and practice.
Feelings don’t have a calendar.
This statement was made by one of my mentors as I shared an old childhood memory.
As I shared that memory, I noticed that my body started to experience many sensations, both physical (sense of warmth, cold, nausea, shivers) and mental (scared, anxious, confused, angry, tense).
I started to think, “Why? I’m not five years old anymore. I am way older. What is going on here? Why does my body feel like I am five years old now?”
This is when he made the statement that my story took me back to body sensations of the past.
Becoming present
I learned to track a neutral and a pleasant sensation and shift those to the areas that felt uncomfortable and tense.
This allowed me to ground myself and take a deeper breath, which helped me to self-regulate my body, my feelings, and my mind. I found balance again.
Some connections can’t be made.
There are many things in life with which we are not going to be able to connect. Although somatic is a great healing tool, not everyone will show a positive response.
It depends on you, and that is the beauty of being your own self.
The important thing is to remember to keep an open mind and to allow yourself to think, feel, and see where the work takes you.
However, regardless if you connect to your body, if you accept it or not, if you believe in the mind and body connection or not… your body is yours from the day you became a human until the last day of your life.
Let’s work on your compass.
You deserve to feel well, safe, and free. It’s time for some self-care.
There are so many ways of treatment, but there is only one you. So, learn to connect with both your mind and body, because the connection allows for growth and provides a balance that will put you on the right path that leads to wholeness.
As I always say, I will meet you where you are, and we will go from there.
Contact me today!
