Somatic Experiencing is a short term trauma resolution approach that helps people increase their positive feelings and sense of emotional and physiological stability. SE is a method of working with both mind and body to help the central nervous system move through the shock and distress of a traumatic event or other overwhelming and unexpected life circumstances. The goal is to restore self regulation, improve a sense of aliveness, relaxation, clarity of focus and presence.
Life naturally presents us with unexpected circumstances and often with traumatic life events e.g., sudden illness or death of a loved one, exposure to natural disasters, crimes against oneself or family, car accidents, falls, changes in finances, divorce and shifts in family structure due to loss or change of relationships. Any one or multiple issues can produce stress to our physiology and unless dealt with, it can create symptoms of anxiety, depression, or more significant problems in overall health related problems. This is often evidenced in syndromes of chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, inflammation of joints, arthritis, and eating disorders.
From a mind-body Somatic Experiencing perspective, our bodies will experience the shock or distress of these challenging events. While we are hard-wired with a defense system, flight, fight or freeze, the problem arises when our bodies cannot complete the process of moving thru one or more of these natural expressions at the time of a traumatic event. As a result, the incident or event becomes stuck or stored in our body. The consequence can be chronic hyper- arousal, evidenced by hyper- vigilance, disconnection from others, distressing physical symptoms, aggression, withdrawal, social or academic problems, and the possible development of medical problems.
“Somatic Experiencing” utilizes awareness of body sensation to negotiate and heal rather than re-live the trauma by discussing the details of the event. SE helps guide the body by allowing highly aroused survival energy to be safely experienced and gradually discharged.
