Somatic Experiencing helps you become aware of your resources. It supports your process of working things through.
What is Somatic Experiencing?
Somatic Experiencing is a body-oriented method aimed at healing trauma. The sensations in the body are central. They are seen as the key to processing.
Becoming aware of bodily sensations such as warmth, cold, and changes in heart rate or breathing can help the body to discharge tension. In the therapy you usually sit on a comfortable chair. In consultation, touch can also be used. You always keep your clothes on. An advantage of Somatic Experiencing can be that you do not have to tell the trauma again, and so do not have to relive it.
Background
The use of resources
Besides awareness of sensations, inner resources are called on, such as a feeling of strength, your sense of humour, creativity, your intelligence. Friends, family, pets, a pleasant place and positive memories can be forms of external resources.
The aim is to offer the body a familiar feeling and to break through the blockage of the survival mechanism that causes lasting stress.
The method of Dr Peter A. Levine
The method of Dr Peter A. Levine is based on the reactions of animals in the wild and on how they deal with trauma. They seem to deal well with life-threatening experiences.
The regulating mechanisms of animals resemble ours
As human beings we tend to let our nervous system be overpowered by feelings such as shame, by passing judgement and by emotions of fear. We also use our reasoning. This can block the discharge of certain emotions and of trauma.
How does it work?
By alternating tension and safety step by step, a certain trust is built up. In this way the tension can be discharged safely and gradually.
The therapist will help the person to find safe places. This can be a safe place in the body that has not been activated by trauma, or a safe place in the mind. By experiencing the sensations that have to do with trauma in a safe way, the person can fully experience the room to process the trauma. After this treatment people often experience a strong decrease in tension complaints.
Read more about trauma treatment and polyvagal theory.
Prof. dr. Jim van Os, Chair Division Neuroscience, Utrecht University Medical Centre. Jim works at the interface of ‘hard’ brain science, health services research, art and subjective experiences of people with ‘lived experience’ in mental healthcare.
Jim has been appearing on the Thomson-Reuter Web of Science list of ‘most influential scientific minds of our time’ since 2014. In 2014 he published his book ‘Beyond DSM-5‘, and in 2016 the book ‘Good Mental Health Care’. In 2026 he published 'Wat psychisch lijden is'.
Want to read more?
Blogs by Jim van Os can be read here
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