Somatic Experiencing
in St. Louis, MO
Develop a healthy, positive sense of self again!
Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body-oriented approach to healing developed by Dr. Peter A Levine and incorporates Dr. Stephen Porges, Polyvagal Theory. It recognizes that traumatic experiences can become lodged in the body, leading to a wide range of symptoms including anxiety, depression, chronic pain and relationship difficulties. It is a profound method for addressing trauma and its effects on the body and mind. SE understands that trauma is a normal part of life and that the body-mind is designed to heal intense experiences. Trauma does not have to be a life sentence. Somatic Experiencing works gently within your range of resiliency to facilitate healing in the here and now.
Do you feel stuck?
Do any of the following resonate with you?
- You have sleep difficulties
- Have trouble with concentrating, mental clarity or creativity
- Challenges connecting with other people
- Feel overstimulated (or understimulated) in your environment
- Feelings of isolation, loneliness or anxiety
- You have digestion difficulties or GI issues
- Always “on the go” or feel like you are being “driven by a motor”
- Experience a general feeling of being “stuck” in your life
If these sound true to you, we want you to know that you’re not “crazy.” What you are going through is common and may be symptomatic of your autonomic nervous system being challenged to access a “safe” state. Many people find relief through Somatic Experiencing.
Somatic Experiencing can help you get your life back
SE is based on the understanding that when we experience overwhelming or traumatic events, our body’s natural fight, flight, or freeze responses may become dysregulated, leaving us stuck in a heightened state of arousal or shut down. Through gentle, guided exploration, SE helps you to gradually connect what your body sensations, emotions and instincts in a safe and supported environment.
Who can benefit from Somatic Experiencing?
Somatic Experiencing can be beneficial to individuals who have experienced a wide range of traumas, including but not limited to:
- Accidents and physical injuries
- Childhood abuse or neglect
- Combat or military-related trauma
- Natural disasters
- Medical procedures or chronic illness
- Interpersonal violence or assault
- Attachment wounds
It is possible to increase your capacity to thrive! Somatic Experiencing aims to release trapped traumatic energy and restore the body’s natural capacity for self-regulation and resilience.
Harness the power of Somatic Experiencing
Whether you are struggling with symptoms of trauma or simply seeking a deeper connection with your body and emotions, Somatic Experiencing offers a gentle yet powerful path toward healing and transformation.
If you are ready to embark on this journey of self-discovery and healing, I invite you to reach out and schedule a consultation. Together, we an explore how Somatic Experiencing can support you on the path to greater resilience, vitality and well-being.
Here’s how SE typically unfolds:
- Education & Orientation: In the initial sessions, we will discuss the principles of SE and how trauma impacts the nervous system. Understanding the body’s response to stress is an essential first step in the healing journey.
- Tracking Sensations: You’ll practice tracking bodily sensations such as tension, warmth, or tingling without judgement. This process allows you to develop greater awareness of how your body responds to both internal and external stimuli.
- Resourcing: Building a sense of safety and support is crucial in SE. You’ll be guided to identify internal and external resources – such as a sense of grounding, supportive relationships, or comforting memories – that can help you regulate your nervous system.
- Titration & Pendulation: SE intentionally works at a pace that feels manageable to you by incorporating principles of titration (breaking experiences into small, tolerable doses) and pedulation (moving between sensations of safety and activation). This process allows you to gradually discharge stored energy without becoming overwhelmed.
- Integration: You you begin to release trauma-related tension and fear, you may experience a greater sense of vitality, relaxation, and resilience. SE supports you to integrate these new experiences into your daily life, empowering you to move forward with a greater sense of wholeness and well-being.
[Read also: What is Somatic Experiencing? and Why choose embodied or somatic therapy for trauma?]
Let’s get started with Somatic Experiencing therapy in Missouri
Ready to start feeling better? If your life feels overwhelming, Somatic Experiencing can help!
Contact us to get started. During your call, you can share what’s going on for you and ask us any questions you may have. We are here to help you move through.