Somatic Experiencing
Sometimes talking does not solve the problem.
When I first met Dan*, he told me that he was skeptical. He had been in therapy many times before with minimal progress.
He was tired of telling his story over and over. Reliving his trauma has been exhausting and, ultimately, not very helpful.
Dan shared that in the same day, he went from feeling completely shut down and removed to getting highly activated (triggered) and feeling like he was going to explode with rage and despair.
He said, “It is exhausting just keeping it together. Yesterday, I almost had a panic attack at work. I’m not very good with words.”
He was surprised to learn that in Somatic Experiencing, he won’t need words.
The body remembers what the mind tries to forget.
Somatic experiencing (SE) is revolutionizing the way we see and treat trauma, because it looks at how our bodies store memories.
It looks at our sensations, physiological reactions, postures, and senses as holding the key to recovery.
Helping clients become in tune with the language of their bodies deepens the therapeutic process, gets to core issues faster, and creates meaningful change.
Trauma memories are approached indirectly and gradually.
Most SE therapy begins with the invitation to pay attention to what enables you to feel more settled and connected, both to yourself and to others.
Gradually, the difficult material is introduced in a safe manner that invites enhanced feelings of balance and a grounded sense of self.
Clients learn to engage and disengage through learning skills to help regulate activation in the body.
Discharge of previously incomplete defensive responses allows the natural healing process of the body to restore the nervous system to balance and increase resiliency.
You can overcome traumatic memories.
We no longer have the need to re-experience traumatic memories that can often re-traumatize individuals.
This approach allows the client to feel safe first within his/her own body.
This way of working has also proven to be effective in helping ease the suffering of dealing with depression, anxiety and panic, grief, illness, chronic pain, and high levels of stress.
*Name changed to protect client confidentiality.
Why not try Somatic Experiencing to treat your trauma and high anxiety?
Contact me, so we can begin helping you overcome the suffering.
