“ How do you quiet down the frightened animal inside of you? The answer to that is probably in the same way that you quiet down babies. You quiet them by holding and touching them, by being very much in tune with them, by feeding and rocking them, and by very gradual exposure to trying new things.” (Bessel van der Kolk, MD)
Trauma
Trauma is a fact of life, but despite what most people think, trauma is not what happens to someone, it is what happens within someone. This means that trauma does not reside in the external event that induces physical or emotional pain, nor even in the pain itself, but in our becoming "stuck" in the responses to those events, as if they were occurring in the present moment. The essence of trauma is therefore, a disconnection from self and from others, caused by how trauma affects the totality of the human experience in the here and now. Trauma, especially when experienced early in life (developmental and relational), leads to adaptation, and it is in the way that we distort our sense of self and the sense of others in adapting to trauma that the difficulties that we experienc on a day to day basis arise.
Such adaptive difficulties affect the brain, mind and body; however, it is the body (our physiology) that is most affected by trauma and often is neglected in psychotherapy treatments. Many approaches to treating trauma aim to correct faulty cognitions and/or try to access and express emotional content, leaving the body bereft of the attention it deserves as the bearer of most of the traumatic experience. If the body is not included in trauma renegotiation, the effectiveness of any method used is likely to be short lived.
Such adaptive difficulties affect the brain, mind and body; however, it is the body (our physiology) that is most affected by trauma and often is neglected in psychotherapy treatments. Many approaches to treating trauma aim to correct faulty cognitions and/or try to access and express emotional content, leaving the body bereft of the attention it deserves as the bearer of most of the traumatic experience. If the body is not included in trauma renegotiation, the effectiveness of any method used is likely to be short lived.
Thank you so much for the somatic session. Yes, it went deep and was fascinating to replay the scenario but in the stronger physiological place. I actually felt like I could respond in a stronger emotional place - it’s amazing how it works! (Melanie G.)
Somatic Experiencing®
Somatic Experiencing® (SE) is a body awareness oriented approach for the treatment of chronic stress and trauma symptoms by re-establishing the nervous system’s natural ability to self regulate. This method helps to build resilience and enhances the individual’s capacity to have new bodily experiences, those that contradict the previous traumatic ones of fear, overwhelm and helplessness. In addition, the SE approach releases traumatic shock, often locked in muscles and body tissues, which is key to transforming PTSD and the wounds of emotional and early developmental attachment trauma.
How does Somatic Experiencing work?
SE offers a framework to assess where a person is “stuck” in the fight, flight, freeze, or collapse responses, and provides clinical tools to resolve these fixated and repetitive psycho-physiological triggers. By paying attention to the client’s nervous system, the therapist supports the client in their experience of a more coherent and resilient self. The SE method does NOT require the traumatised person to re-tell or re-live the traumatic events, instead it offers the opportunity to engage, complete and resolve in a slow and supported way the body’s instinctual survival responses. This
As a SE practitioner I offer a space of compassionate and non judgemental support to facilitate the release of trauma throughout the body.
What kinds of trauma?
Somatic Experiencing is effective working with:
The length of time and number of sessions in which a client will visit a practitioner will depend on several factors, including the severity and duration of the trauma(s) and the degree to which trauma has affected the individual’s nervous system.
How does Somatic Experiencing work?
SE offers a framework to assess where a person is “stuck” in the fight, flight, freeze, or collapse responses, and provides clinical tools to resolve these fixated and repetitive psycho-physiological triggers. By paying attention to the client’s nervous system, the therapist supports the client in their experience of a more coherent and resilient self. The SE method does NOT require the traumatised person to re-tell or re-live the traumatic events, instead it offers the opportunity to engage, complete and resolve in a slow and supported way the body’s instinctual survival responses. This
- resets the nervous system,
- restores inner balance,
- enhances resilience to stress, and
- increases people’s vitality, equanimity and capacity to actively engage in life.
As a SE practitioner I offer a space of compassionate and non judgemental support to facilitate the release of trauma throughout the body.
What kinds of trauma?
Somatic Experiencing is effective working with:
- developmental trauma, such as childhood neglect and abuse;
- ongoing medical and/or physical issues (these often include chronic pain syndromes such as Chronic Fatigue, IBS, Fibromyalgia, Migraines etc);
- shock traumas, such as motor vehicle accidents, assaults, operations and falls.
The length of time and number of sessions in which a client will visit a practitioner will depend on several factors, including the severity and duration of the trauma(s) and the degree to which trauma has affected the individual’s nervous system.