Somatic Experiencing

What is Somatic Experiencing?

Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a cutting edge treatment to heal from stress and trauma. Research suggests we hold memories of how our body felt during traumatic or stressful events, and these physical or somatic sensations can contribute to traumatic responses.

How is the nervous system involved?

Many mental health issues can be viewed as related to chronic hyperarousal or hypoarousal of the nervous system. When stressful or traumatic events happen, the autonomic nervous system activates its defense mechanisms (fight/flight/freeze) for survival. Sometimes the system is either overwhelmed by the stressor, or the stressful events are continual, which results in a chronic activation of the system. The nervous system struggles to return to normal functioning and becomes dysregulated. This dysregulation can be felt in anxiety, depression, irritability, anger, panic attacks, physical illnesses (migraines, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, digestion/stomach issues), distressed relationships, trouble focusing and thinking, insomnia, emotional numbness and a host of other symptoms.

Somatic Experiencing is based on polyvagal theory, and helps resolve these memories of the physical part of the trauma, while teaching the person how to deactivate this part of the nervous system so the memories no longer cause physical symptoms.

How do I know if this kind of therapy would be helpful to me?

When you remember an event or issue and you can feel your body respond with symptoms such as your throat closing, pressure or heaviness in your chest, increased heart rate, nausea or tightening of muscles, this are somatic responses. If these are uncomfortable, intense or chronically present, SE can help.

Somatic Experiencing versus Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

These are actually very similar techniques, with both looking at the role that the body plays in regulating physiological, behavioral, and emotional states to treat trauma, attachment and stress.

Which therapists at Spencer Psychology are trained in SE?

Laura Swinford, Alison Leslie and Jennifer Spencer are all in a three year training program.


SE is a cutting edge treatment. Research on the method includes a new study in the Journal of Traumatic Stress (. 2017 Jun; 30(3): 304–312.)  Somatic Experiencing for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Outcome Study

Modalities & Treatments:  

Spencer Psychology