Have you been curious about body-centered approaches to healing trauma? If so, you may have heard about a specific therapeutic approach called Somatic Experiencing. In this article, a licensed trauma therapist and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner answers 4 of the most frequently asked questions clients pose before starting Somatic Experiencing trauma therapy.
#1: What is Somatic Experiencing?
Somatic Experiencing, or SE, is a body-based approach to resolving symptoms of trauma and stress. It helps us release stuck fight, flight, or freeze responses that accumulate in our bodies following traumatic events. It can also help heal the wounds of childhood abuse and neglect that manifest in complex post-traumatic stress symptoms, emotional dysregulation, and difficulty forming healthy, trusting adult relationships.
Through gentle, guided body exploration, I use SE to help my clients understand their body’s response to trauma, complete their self-protective survival responses, and release stored survival energy. With this approach I aim to help address the root causes of symptoms, and give my clients tools to help them return to a state of balance and flow following even the most stressful or traumatic experiences.
#2: Does Somatic Experiencing really work to resolve trauma?
Like any specific approach to therapy, Somatic Experiencing won’t work for everyone. I use a multifaceted approach as a therapist, and I view SE as an important framework that I hold in my awareness during sessions, even when working with clients in a more cognitive-behavioral or traditional talk therapy approach.
That said, many of my clients are people who continue to suffer with symptoms of post-traumatic stress and/or physical symptoms that linger despite trying other forms of therapy. For clients who want to explore body-based approaches and learn to incorporate body awareness into their everyday lives, Somatic Experiencing can be life-changing.
For those interested in research, you can visit the SE research page to learn more about the growing evidence base for SE as a leading best practice for healing trauma.
#3: Can we do Somatic Experiencing for trauma recovery through online therapy?
Yes! While I offer in-person Somatic Experiencing sessions in Oakland, CA, I also work virtually with clients throughout California. Similar to in-person, clients can be guided through body-centered exploration and experience the release of stored stress and survival energy through online sessions.
(On a personal note, I’ve experienced SE sessions as a client both in-person and online. For virtual sessions, I found that if the connection is there with the therapist, it was easy to forget that we were meeting through screens.)
Additionally, for clients seeking healing from trauma, there may be some advantages to trying SE online. It can be difficult to show vulnerability and feel safe enough to turn your attention inward and explore body sensations, even with a trusted therapist. Some clients may feel safer in their own space where they have more control over the environment.
Online therapy also gives more of us access to a variety of SE practitioners, something that is extremely valuable given that this specialty isn’t available in all areas. Being able to connect with BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ Somatic Experiencing practitioners is especially challenging. But it can be crucial in creating a space that feels safe enough for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ clients.
#4: When does Somatic Experiencing trauma therapy involve touch?
SE can be used in a variety of settings, by different kinds of professionals, including mental health workers, physical therapists, massage therapists, first responders, teachers, and more. Each SE practitioner is responsible for incorporating SE in a way that is within their scope of practice and adheres to the ethical guidelines of their profession.
Some psychotherapists incorporate touch skills in sessions, and always with a client’s informed consent. I don’t incorporate touch skills at this time. Instead I guide my clients in exploration, exercises, self touch, movement, and the use of objects in the environment (like chairs, cushions, walls, blankets, etc.) to provide containment, resistance, support, or other elements of Somatic Experiencing that help clients move through trauma processing.
I hope this answered some of the questions you may have about Somatic Experiencing trauma therapy. Whether you’re looking for in-person sessions in Oakland, CA, or virtually within California, if this sounds like an approach you’d like to try, or you have additional questions about whether SE might be helpful for you, please feel free to contact me to schedule a free consultation.