SOMATIC EXPERIENCING (SE) 
“Trauma [and stress] is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence” (Peter Levine, Founder of
Peter Levine, the founder of Somatic Experiencing, teaches us that “trauma is in biology, not the biography”. What he means by this, is that stress and trauma are not so much in the event or events that make up our life experience, but rather they come out of our internal responses to a single event or the many events that make up our lives. Events and experiences that are overwhelming to the nervous system.
What is somatic experiencing?
Somatic experiencing (SE) is a body-oriented therapy that supports the release of accumulated stress and trauma, including PTSD, that can get ‘trapped’ in the body. It resets the nervous system, restores inner balance and rhythm, builds resilience to, and releases stress and enhances vitality.
The human body tells a story that the mind often bypasses. Including the body-story in counselling supports the development of insight, self-awareness, restoration of hope, aliveness and vitality, ultimately leading you‘home’ to a deeper connection to yourself, others and the world. Further, the combination of counselling, somatic experiencing and other therapeutic approaches can be a powerful pathway back to health and wellness by relieving distress and overwhelm. I can support you to explore how the imprints of life experience help or hinder you from having the life you want.
Through therapy, we can make contact with the deep parts of ourselves through bodily felt sensations no longer turning away from the parts of ourselves that are crying out to be heard, seen and felt, identifying our needs and wants in ways that we may not have had access to before.
In somatic experiencing therapy, there is an opportunity to awaken to something new, different and possible.
Book a therapy appointment
To book a somatic experiencing appointment, call us on 0400 860 199 or email thecentre4cts@gmail.com to send an enquiry. Providing somatic experiencing therapy and counselling sessions for Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula, and the Surf Coast regions.
“Trauma [and stress] is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence.”
Peter Levine, Founder of Somatic Experiencing
Dr Peter Levine: The origins of Somatic Experiencing for trauma
References for further reading
Books
Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma; Dr Peter Levine Phd
Sexual Healing (Audiobook); Dr Peter Levine Phd
Healing Trauma: A Pioneering Program for Restoring the Wisdom of Your Body; Dr Peter Levine Phd
Trauma Proofing Your Kids; Dr Peter Levine PHD & Maggie Kline
Trauma Through a Child’s Eyes: Awakening the Ordinary Miracle of Healing; Dr Peter Levine Phd and Maggie Kline
Freedom from Pain; Dr Peter Levine Phd and Maggie Phillips Phd
The Body Keeps the Score; Bessel Van der Kolk