*****CREATIVITY*****BODY******BALANCE*****NOURISHMENT*****WELNESS****RELATIONSHIP***
The Somatic Experiencing® (SE) Trauma Approach
Somatic Experiencing® was developed by Dr. Peter Levine, following his observation that animals in the wild do not appear to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD), even though they are routinely faced with life threatening situations. Dr. Levine then created tools for working with the human nervous system to reduce symptoms of stress and return the body to its regular cycles of response and rest.
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS
In the wild, an animal will flee or fight to defend itself. If it is overwhelmed and these efforts are not successful, its physiology may shift into "conservation mode", "playing dead"- like a possum. For some predators, animals that appear to already be dead will not be appetizing, and they will leave in search of fresher prey. The animal that has escaped will shudder to release the energy that has fueled its reactions and responses, followed by a deep breath. Then it goes on with its usual activities and is completely capable of responding as fully and adequately the next time that it needs to!
As mammals, humans also go into fight or flight or conservation/freeze when we are faced with something that feels like more than we can handle. Sometimes we may find the sensations uncomfortable or think that how our bodies are reacting is weird. We are masters at overriding our bodies' healthy needs, signs and signals. Or we are told not to pay attention to the feelings that something is wrong. Or we simply have had to reduce our awareness of potential threats in order to function without feeling constantly bombarded.
Our bodies, however, are still responding, even when we are not aware. Without the natural release of this energy, our memories and our bodies can be easily triggered by thoughts and experiences, even long after the original event.
Some people are afraid of getting treatment for a traumatic or overwhelming experience because they don't want to re-live it by telling the story again and again. In fact, repeating the story can continue the stress responses in the body and worsen the symptoms instead of relieve them, since the survival systems in our brains do not sort out what is real from what is imagined very well. That is why, in an SE® session, the body and other aspects of a person's experience is the focus- and sometimes the story is not even needed. If there is a time when it is important, it will be invited in careful bits and pieces, pausing to explore the body's responses along the way.
This quiet mindful exploration allows the body to reveal what is unfinished and utilize its innate abilities to heal.
Sometimes, if the work is being done in person, the practitioner may utilize gentle, hands on tactics in order to facilitate the movement of energy. (This is always with the consent of the client and in accordance with appropriate personal boundaries.) There is a continuous dialogue, in these cases, in which the client participates so that the work feels as safe as possible.