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What is Somatic Experiencing?

 

Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body-oriented approach to heal trauma, and other stress-related conditions. Developed by Peter Levine, SE provides a framework to assess where you might be stuck in the fight, flight or freeze response and provides tools to resolve these fixated physiological states. Trauma may begin as acute stress from a perceived life-threat or as the end product of cumulative stress. Both types of stress can seriously impair your ability to function with resilience and ease.

 

What is Developmental Trauma?

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Developmental trauma occurs anytime from conception through our younger developmental stages, when we did not receive the support we needed to help us build a solid neural foundation and secure attachment system.

 

It can develop from a singular occurrence that was not adequately addressed or an ongoing stressful situation or environment. Developmental trauma works directly with the younger parts that live within us. The healing of developmental trauma is a slow process allowing for the time necessary to integrate changes.

 

What happens in a session?

 

With both developmental trauma and shock trauma treatment, our sessions focus on increasing awareness of your physical self and the relationship between your body and mind. As you increase your awareness, you become aware of patterns of survival or management strategies.

 

The work facilitates the release of blocked energy in the body and addresses the root causes of trauma symptoms. We work to increase your awareness of, and capacity to respond to triggers in new and less reactive ways, gently guiding you to develop increasing tolerance for difficult bodily sensations and suppressed emotions. This increasing tolerance builds your capacity to experience both the challenging and the pleasurable experiences in your life.

 

Touch or intentional touch can also be integrated into the work to help increase physical awareness. 

 

How long is a session?

 

Sessions generally last one hour

 

What conditions respond well to Trauma Focused Treatment?

 

Working with trauma by working with the body (somatically) can address trauma resulting from a wide variety of stressors such as:

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• Accidents

• Adoption

• Attachment disorder

• ADHD

• Birth Trauma

• Chronic Pain

• Combat

• Connective Tissue Disorders

• Death and Dying

• Developmental Trauma

• Disabilities

• Emotional Abuse

• Grief

• Intergenerational Trauma

• Invasive Medical Procedures

• Learning Disabilities

• Loss

• Medical Trauma

• Natural Disasters

• Neglect

• Sexual or Physical Assault

• Stress Management

• The stressors of ongoing fear and conflict

• War