Somatic Experiencing
As a certified Somatic Experience Practitioner®, I offer one-to-one sessions in this body-based trauma therapy.
All trauma—whether arising from a single acute event or prolonged circumstances, whether recent or rooted in the past—becomes encoded in the nervous system and body. Somatic Experiencing, developed by American psychologist Peter Levine over four decades of clinical research, offers a powerful pathway to healing by working directly with these somatic imprints. This body-based modality has demonstrated significant effectiveness in addressing the effects of trauma by helping clients renegotiate overwhelming experiences through the body's own innate capacity for self-regulation.
Mindfulness lies at the heart of Somatic Experiencing. In our sessions, I weave together my years as an MBSR teacher with my dharma practice (when appropriate) to support healing from trauma—whether it's long-held, related to physical injury and pain, relational, or grief-based.
The process I take us though requires an initial commitment to at least six sessions. If you feel this could be helpful for you, feel free to set up an initial consult (at no cost) to determine if the modality (and me) feel right for your particular situation.
If you would like to learn more about SE, I suggest reading Peter Levine’s In an Unspoken Voice. You can also learn more about my training and the practice, check out Somatic Experiencing® International (SEI).
If you would like to explore working with me, I recommend booking a free 30 minute exploratory conversation.
How I work with individuals as a Somatic Experience Practitioner®
What to expect
A friendly nonjudgemental approach
Generally an initial commitment to meet weekly for six weeks
Settling / grounding practices followed by a check-in at each session
Exercises to bring you safely in touch with bodily sensations
Learning ways to regulate and orient yourself when activation arises
Practices to creatively integrate SE in daily life
Recommended resources specific to your needs
FAQs
How is SE different from therapy?
SE is a body based therapy meaning that it addresses how one holds trauma in the body and works to release it. While there will be times when the specific narrative(s) of what caused the initial trauma reaction may be part of how we work, it completely varies from individual to individual.
Do I have to meditate?
Meditation can be very helpful to start a session just to settle and to connect with the body and since it is part of how I work generally it will be part of each session. But this is not about meditation practice. In particularly most sessions start with a bodyscan meditation. I will often provide a recording of a short meditation simply as a support from week to week.
Does SE involve physical touch?
There is no physical touch involved between me and you as I’m not a licensed to offer this. Self-touch, such as a self-hug or placing your hand on your heart area, can been extremely beneficial and I will suggest it when appropriate.
Will this make my trauma go away?
SE is a very creative modality and I will work with you in the best ways I know to get to the heart of where trauma is held in your body and then find ways to release it. Things will undoubtedly shift, but to say the “trauma will go away” is not something I can guaranty. What we work towards includes developing a wider window of tolerance, as well as lessening aversion and judgement towards your trauma responses.