Somatic Experiencing® (SE) Therapy Awareness, Research and Resources
“If your body is screaming in pain, whether the pain is muscular contractions, anxiety, depression, asthma or arthritis, a first step in releasing the pain may be making the connection between your body pain and the cause. “Beliefs are physical. A thought held long enough and repeated enough becomes a belief. The belief then becomes biology.” ― Marilyn Van M. Derbur
Somatic Experiencing: A Body-Oriented Approach to Healing Trauma
Introduction
"Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a therapeutic modality designed to help individuals recover from trauma by focusing on bodily sensations rather than solely on cognitive or emotional experiences. Developed by Dr. Peter A. Levine in the 1970s, SE is rooted in the understanding that trauma is held in the body and that by attuning to the body's innate capacity to self-regulate and heal, individuals can overcome the lasting effects of traumatic events (Levine, 2010). This paper explores the theoretical foundations, core principles, therapeutic applications, and current research associated with SE, while also addressing critiques and offering perspectives on its future in the field of trauma therapy.
Theoretical Foundations of Somatic Experiencing
SE draws on a multidisciplinary foundation including biology, neuroscience, psychology, and anthropology. At the core of SE is the belief that trauma is not caused by the event itself, but by the body’s inability to process and release the high levels of energy associated with the traumatic experience (Levine, 1997). When a person is unable to complete a natural fight, flight, or freeze response, the unresolved survival energy remains trapped in the nervous system, leading to symptoms such as anxiety, dissociation, hypervigilance, or physical pain.
A key theoretical influence on SE is the Polyvagal Theory, developed by Stephen Porges (2011). This theory provides a framework for understanding how the autonomic nervous system (ANS) responds to perceived threats. According to Porges, the ANS is composed of three main branches: the ventral vagal complex (associated with social engagement), the sympathetic nervous system (associated with fight-or-flight responses), and the dorsal vagal complex (associated with freeze or shutdown responses). SE therapists work with clients to restore nervous system balance by helping them safely experience and discharge the physiological activation linked to past trauma.
Core Concepts and Methods
Somatic Experiencing relies on several key concepts to guide trauma resolution. One of the foundational techniques is tracking, where clients are encouraged to observe and describe their internal physical sensations in a mindful, non-judgmental way. This awareness helps bring attention to areas of tension, activation, or numbness, which may be holding traumatic memory (Levine, 2010).
Another core principle is pendulation, the process of moving gently between states of distress and calm. Rather than re-experiencing trauma all at once (as in some exposure-based therapies), SE supports the gradual release of traumatic energy by oscillating between resources (safe or neutral states) and sensations of activation (Payne, Levine, & Crane-Godreau, 2015). This titrated approach minimizes the risk of retraumatization.
The process of resourcing—helping clients identify positive memories, relationships, or inner strengths—is also crucial. These internal or external resources serve as anchors during sessions, enabling clients to tolerate and process distressing sensations safely (Heller & LaPierre, 2012).
Practical Applications and Clinical Use
SE is widely used in clinical settings to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex trauma, anxiety disorders, chronic pain, and developmental trauma. Therapists trained in SE often integrate the method into broader psychotherapeutic frameworks, combining it with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), or psychodynamic approaches.
In practice, an SE session typically involves the therapist guiding the client to notice bodily sensations while recounting a traumatic event or engaging with internal imagery. The goal is not to relive the event cognitively but to allow the body to complete its natural defensive response, thereby discharging stored survival energy (Levine, 1997).
A study by Andersen et al. (2017) evaluated the efficacy of SE in reducing PTSD symptoms among victims of war and torture. The findings indicated significant reductions in PTSD symptoms after SE treatment, suggesting that SE may be a beneficial intervention for populations exposed to extreme trauma. Similarly, research by Brom et al. (2017) found that SE led to improvements in both psychological and somatic symptoms among adults with trauma histories.
Comparison with Other Trauma Therapies
SE differs significantly from traditional talk therapy in its emphasis on the body rather than the mind. While cognitive therapies often focus on challenging and reframing distorted thoughts, SE begins with physical awareness and somatic discharge. This distinction can make SE particularly effective for clients who are highly dissociative or have limited verbal access to their traumatic memories (Ogden, Minton, & Pain, 2006).
Compared to EMDR, which uses bilateral stimulation to facilitate trauma processing, SE does not require any specific external stimuli. Instead, it relies on the therapist’s attunement and the client’s capacity to remain present with bodily sensations. While both approaches are effective, SE may be more accessible for clients who struggle with emotional flooding or who need a slower, more organic path to healing.
Criticisms and Limitations
Despite its growing popularity, SE is not without criticism. One concern is the lack of extensive empirical research compared to more established methods such as CBT or EMDR. Although a growing number of studies support SE’s efficacy, the field would benefit from larger randomized controlled trials to establish its effectiveness across diverse populations (Brom et al., 2017).
Another critique is SE’s reliance on subjective bodily experiences, which can be difficult to quantify or standardize. Additionally, SE requires extensive training and attunement on the part of the therapist, and outcomes can vary depending on the skill of the practitioner (Payne et al., 2015).
Moreover, critics argue that the non-verbal nature of SE might not suit every client, particularly those who are more cognitively oriented or skeptical of body-based interventions. Integrating SE with other therapeutic modalities may address this concern by offering a more holistic approach.
Current Research and Future Directions
The future of SE lies in further integrating somatic psychology with neuroscience and trauma research. As our understanding of the body-brain connection deepens, SE is well-positioned to evolve and expand. Emerging studies are exploring how SE can be adapted for group settings, online therapy, and specific populations such as children, veterans, and survivors of systemic trauma (Grabbe & Miller-Karas, 2018).
Furthermore, SE is increasingly being integrated into trauma-informed care models in healthcare, education, and social services. As the stigma around mental health diminishes, somatic approaches like SE are gaining traction as essential components of holistic trauma recovery.
Technology may also play a role in the future of SE. Biofeedback devices, virtual reality tools, and mobile apps designed to enhance interoceptive awareness could supplement traditional SE practices, offering clients ways to practice somatic regulation outside the therapy room.
Conclusion
Somatic Experiencing represents a paradigm shift in trauma therapy, moving beyond cognitive and emotional processing to embrace the wisdom of the body. By addressing how trauma lives in the nervous system and supporting clients in safely releasing stored survival energy, SE offers a powerful, compassionate approach to healing. While additional research is needed to bolster its empirical foundation, SE’s emphasis on safety, titration, and bodily awareness makes it a promising modality for trauma recovery. As the field continues to integrate insights from neuroscience and psychology, Somatic Experiencing is likely to play a growing role in the future of mental health care." (Source: ChatGPT 2025)
References
Andersen, T. E., Lahav, Y., Ellegaard, H., & Manniche, C. (2017). A randomized controlled trial of brief somatic experiencing for chronic low back pain and comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 8(1), 1331108. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2017.1331108
Brom, D., Stokar, Y., Lawi, C., Nuriel‐Porat, V., Ziv, Y., Lerner, K., ... & Ross, G. (2017). Somatic experiencing for posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized controlled outcome study. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 30(3), 304–312. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22189
Grabbe, L., & Miller-Karas, E. (2018). The trauma resiliency model: A “bottom-up” intervention for trauma psychotherapy. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 24(1), 76–84. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078390317745133
Heller, D. P., & LaPierre, A. (2012). Healing developmental trauma: How early trauma affects self-regulation, self-image, and the capacity for relationship. North Atlantic Books.
Levine, P. A. (1997). Waking the tiger: Healing trauma. North Atlantic Books.
Levine, P. A. (2010). In an unspoken voice: How the body releases trauma and restores goodness. North Atlantic Books.
Ogden, P., Minton, K., & Pain, C. (2006). Trauma and the body: A sensorimotor approach to psychotherapy. W. W. Norton & Company.
Payne, P., Levine, P. A., & Crane-Godreau, M. A. (2015). Somatic experiencing: Using interoception and proprioception as core elements of trauma therapy. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 93. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00093
Porges, S. W. (2011). The polyvagal theory: Neurophysiological foundations of emotions, attachment, communication, and self-regulation. W. W. Norton & Company.
What Is Somatic Healing or Somatic Experiential Therapy? ALL INN Therapy Clinic