When you don’t listen to your body, it’s only choice is to increase the volume

Somatic Experiencing® (SE) is a form of therapy aimed at relieving the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental and physical trauma-related problems by focusing on body sensations and regulating the nervous system. Developed by Peter A. Levine,

Using the innate ability humans have to overcome trauma, SE encourages and utilises the awareness of sensations in the body to help people re-negotiate and relieve the physical, emotional and physiological effects of post traumatic stress disorder and other stress and trauma-related health problems.

While gently pacing the process so the individual can safely assimilate the changes within their nervous system without overwhelm, SE may help restore a sense of aliveness, relaxation and wholeness in the aftermath of trauma or after periods of chronic stress.

Traumatic or stressful experiences that can be helped by SE include events such as car-crashes, insecure attachment in early life, abuse, assault, chronic stress, war, surgeries, and impact falls, with resulting symptoms ranging from numbness to depression and anxiety.

SE works with the boy’s stress-response (fight/flight/freeze) and uses pendulation: moving between a gradual exposure to the stored trauma-symptoms in the body whilst keeping connected to a sense of calm and safety. In this way, SE therapy aims build resilience to manage difficult feelings in daily life.