Somatic Experiencing
How does it work?
Somatic Experience works by supporting the nervous system to release stress and trauma held in the body—without requiring a person to relive or repeatedly recount what happened.
A key component of SE is the practice of alternating between sensations associated with adversity and those that are a source of strength and comfort. Cultivating the awareness of these sensations is the foundation of healing because it allows us to explore, tolerate and complete the physiological impulses that are trapped in the body.
What does a session look like
The practitioner works in a collaborative way to help the client build interoception by gently guiding attention toward present-moment body sensations and attuning to subtle shifts in their nervous system. Through careful pacing, supportive inquiry, and moments of pause, the practitioner tracks regulation and activation, helping the body safely release deeply held stress.
What is trauma and how does it affect the body?
When trauma isn’t processed, the body often continues to respond as if the danger is still present. This leads to protective survival strategies such as fight, flight, freeze, and fawning.
While these strategies are useful during moments of danger, when they linger, they cause havoc in the body which can lead to:
• Chronic tension, pain or fatigue
• Anxiety, hypervigilance or emotional reactivity
• Numbness, shutdown or disconnection
• Digestive issues, inflammation or immune challenges
• Sleep problems and difficulty feeling safe or present.
"Trauma is not what happens to you, it's what happens inside you as a result of what happened to you."
Gabor Mate
It occurs when an event or prolonged stress overwhelms the nervous systems ability to process, leaving the body stuck in survival mode.
What is the autonomic nervous system?
The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) works automatically and controls things like heart rate, breathing, digestion, immune response, and stress.
Parasympathetic – Dorsal Vagal (freeze, shutdown, collapse)
A protective response when overwhelm feels inescapable. Can feel like numbness, fatigue, or disconnection.
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Parasympathetic – Ventral Vagal (rest, safety, connection)
Supports calm, digestion, healing, social engagement, and emotional regulation.
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Sympathetic (fight or flight)
Activates when there is danger or stress. Helpful in emergencies, but exhausting when stuck “on.”
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It has three primary states:
Why the nervous system is so important
The nervous system is the bridge between your experiences and your body. When it’s supported and regulated, you feel more grounded, resilient, present, and alive.
It’s the foundation of healing
True healing happens when the nervous system feels safe enough to repair, digest, and connect. Without regulation, even the best therapies, diets, or medications can have limited impact.
It determines how safe you feel
Your sense of safety is not just mental—it’s biological. The nervous system is always asking, “Am I safe?”
If it senses danger (real or remembered), it shifts your body into protection—even if nothing is wrong now.
It shapes your reactions and relationships
Many reactions—overwhelm, irritability, shutting down, people-pleasing—are nervous system responses, not character flaws. When your system is regulated, you have more choice and flexibility.