Somatic Experiencing was developed by Peter Levine in 1997 as a form of therapy aimed at relieving and resolving symptoms of trauma. It is based on the fact that symptoms of trauma result in dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Trauma responses in a person’s mind and body can disrupt the ANS’s ability to handle distress. Symptoms of fight , flight and freeze begin to develop such as anxiety, acute anger, dissociation, sleep issues, quick startle response, physiological disturbance and more. Somatice Experiencing addresses these concerns through tracking sensation and educating clients how to regulate stress. Feelings, thoughts, images, sensations and physical movements are followed during Somatic Experiencing sessions in order to deal with the stress trauma causes and for the ANS to return to balance.
Sessions promote release from physical tensions and emotional symptoms without clients having to go too much into the story of the original traumatic event. After the sessions, clients report experiencing more ease and relaxation.