Somatic Experiencing
Somatic Experiencing®
(SE) is an innovative approach to the resolution and healing from trauma.
Trauma may be loosely defined as an inability to cope that creates a sense of overwhelm in the body and mind. The symptoms of trauma range from headaches, migraines, visual disturbances, allergies, TMJ, depression, digestive disturbances, to back pain, and more. The basic result is a sense of stuckness, not feeling like oneself, and not being able to fully enjoy your life.
Dr. Peter Levine developed SE by observing how animals utilize innate mechanisms to regulate and discharge the high levels of arousal associated when encountering life-threatening situations in the wild.
Unlike humans, who have been trained to use the rational faculties of the mind to cope with stressful situations, these animals do not hold the tension of overwhelm in their bodies. Instead, they exhibit a natural ability to “self-regulate”, to restore themselves to equilibrium after being attacked. Thus, they do not get traumatized into “dysregulation” as people do after a triggering event. As Dr. Levine puts it, “Traumatic symptoms are not caused by the dangerous event itself. They arise when residual energy from the event is not discharged from the body. This energy remains trapped in the nervous system where it can wreak havoc on our bodies and minds.”
"I love Somatic Experiencing. After trying many other types of natural treatments, my sinuses have cleared, and my hip pain has noticeably improved." - Mary L., 31 yr.
By focusing on the client’s perceived awareness of body sensations (or somatic experiences) SE helps to "renegotiate" and complete unresolved physical and emotional symptoms associated with trauma. Tapping into these perceived body sensations called the "felt sense", you are guided to “titrate” between the stuck patterns from past experience, and the awareness of new possibilities and “inner resources”. It is this titration that safely and gradually discharges built up and frozen energy, and "completes" the release of this energy. This allows the nervous system to regain its inherent capacity of self-regulation, assisting in the relief of chronic symptoms.
"All the things that were naggingly frustrating - relationship issues, an extra 20 pounds, stress - are becoming easier to manage. SE sessions have given me the insight and the freedom to do what I need to do for myself." Carrie A., 42 yr.
Unacknowledged feelings from the past are unconsciously stored in your body and can alter your behavior, your emotions and your thinking. What the mind won’t admit, the body never forgets. Release frozen memories, feelings and issues from your body’s tissues to free old patterns, procrastination and fear, and restore the ability to live your life to its fullest.
What can I expect?
VM sessions can last anywhere from 25 to 50 minutes. The patient may be either seated or lying down. The therapist “listens” with their hands to evaluate the movement and restrictions of specific organs, and utilizes soft manual forces to release the ligaments and fascial tissue of the restricted organ to restore its normal motility, mobility and function.
What are the benefits?
Proper body alignment and breathwork help you learn to balance your energy on a daily basis.
Somatic Experiencing with Gloria Gonzalez
$75/session; or $65/ea for series of 3
Possible Signs of Trauma
One
Procrastination and feeling stuck
Low energy
Breath holding
Inability to make commitments
Lack of desire to follow-through
Lack of coordination, bumping into things, dropping things
Spaciness
Impulsivity, l ack of patience to think things through thoroughly
Weak personal boundaries, or excessively self-reliant
Inability to full enjoy life
Two
Broken speech
Hypervigilance
Difficulty sleeping
Nightmares
Moodswings
Frequently stressed
Panic attacks
Phobias
Frequent crying
Diminished sexual drive
Accidents (ie, motor vehicle as well as everyday household accidents)
Three
Chronic pain
Chronic fatigue
IBS, constipation, diarrhea
Auto-immune disorders
Endocrine dysfunctions such as thyroid dysfunction
Phobias
Stuttering
Four
Fear of abandonment
Feelings of helplessness or hopelessness
Fear of sudden death
Excessive shyness
Muted emotional responses, loss of affect