The Core Principles Behind Somatic Experiencing

Somatic Experiencing is grounded in core principles:

• The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): SE focuses on regulating the ANS, which governs people’s fight, flight, and freeze responses. Trauma occurs when this system is overwhelmed and unable to return to a state of balance.
• Pendulation: The process of gently moving between states of distress and calm. This rhythm helps build resilience and nervous system regulation.
• Titration: In SE, trauma is addressed in small, manageable doses. This prevents retraumatization and helps individuals build tolerance for distressing memories or sensations.
• Discharge: SE facilitates the release of trapped energy (such as shaking or crying), allowing the body to complete survival responses that were interrupted during the traumatic event.
• Resource Building: Individuals are guided to identify internal and external resources (such as calming imagery or supportive relationships) to help anchor them during challenging work.

These principles are uniquely designed to help the body restore its natural equilibrium, promoting deeper and more lasting healing from trauma.

How SE Addresses Trauma Stored in the Body

While the mind may replay memories or create avoidance mechanisms, the body holds the residual effects — tight muscles, shallow breathing, sleep disturbances, digestive issues, and chronic pain. SE directly engages these physiological symptoms by bringing attention to body sensations and movements that may seem unrelated to trauma but are actually deeply intertwined.

For example, a person who survived a car accident might unconsciously hold tension in their shoulders or neck. In an SE session, a therapist might guide the individual to notice these sensations and allow the body to complete any interrupted responses (such as a movement to brace or escape).

This somatic therapy approach is particularly helpful for trauma survivors who find it difficult or re-traumatizing to verbally recount their experiences. SE offers an alternative path to healing, one that honors the idea of the body’s innate wisdom and avoids the need for extensive verbal processing.

Somatic Experiencing vs. Traditional Talk Therapy

Traditional talk therapy, including modalities like psychodynamic therapy or humanistic therapy, primarily involves verbal discussion of life events, feelings, and cognitive patterns. While immensely valuable for many people, talk therapy often focuses on conscious thought and insight. Somatic Experiencing differs in that it bypasses the story of the trauma and focuses on the physical imprint trauma leaves on the nervous system.

Many trauma survivors become stuck in a cycle of overthinking or intellectualizing their pain without truly healing at the body level. SE recognizes that lasting transformation requires the involvement of the whole person, not just the mind.

In this way, SE can be especially powerful for individuals who:

• Struggle to articulate or remember the details of their trauma
• Experience chronic physical symptoms with no clear medical cause
• Feel “stuck” despite years of traditional therapy

While SE can be used as a standalone treatment, many individuals benefit from integrating it with talk therapy for a comprehensive healing experience.

Comparing SE with EMDR

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is another trauma therapy that, like SE, does not rely heavily on talk-based processing. EMDR involves recalling traumatic memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, taps, or sounds. This process is thought to help the brain reprocess traumatic material and reduce its emotional intensity.

While both SE and EMDR are body-inclusive, their mechanisms are different:

• SE focuses on nervous system regulation and helping the body complete survival responses.
• EMDR focuses on memory reprocessing to reduce emotional distress tied to specific events.

EMDR can be more structured and directive, often following a step-by-step protocol. SE, on the other hand, is more fluid and responsive to the individual’s moment-to-moment experience. Individuals with highly dysregulated nervous systems may benefit from beginning with SE to build capacity before engaging in EMDR.

How Somatic Experiencing Differs from Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and SE are both somatic approaches that integrate body awareness with trauma therapy. However, they stem from different theoretical frameworks.

Developed by Pat Ogden, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy integrates cognitive and emotional processing with body-based interventions and is heavily influenced by attachment theory and mindfulness. In practice, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy may include more explicit integration of developmental trauma and relational patterns, while SE may center more on immediate physiological shifts and nervous system flow.

SE focuses more on completing incomplete biological responses and nervous system regulation. While both approaches attend to the body’s experience, SE emphasizes biological sequencing and the discharge of survival energy.

Key Benefits of Somatic Experiencing in Trauma Recovery

Somatic Experiencing offers a range of benefits that make it a unique and highly effective modality for trauma recovery:

• Non-invasive and gentle: SE avoids re-traumatization by approaching healing slowly and incrementally.
• Accessible for non-verbal trauma: Ideal for people who struggle to articulate their trauma stories.
• Promotes nervous system resilience: Helps individuals build a stronger capacity to self-regulate and recover from stress.
• Supports deep physiological healing: Can help alleviate chronic physical symptoms such as tension, fatigue, or gastrointestinal issues.
• Works to empower individuals: Focuses on building internal resources and bodily awareness, fostering a sense of control and agency.

Who Can Benefit Most from Somatic Experiencing?

SE is effective for a wide range of individuals, including those experiencing:

• PTSD or complex trauma
• Chronic stress or anxiety
• Depression rooted in trauma
• Dissociation or numbness
• Chronic pain or fatigue
• Eating disorders
• Addiction
• Medical trauma or sexual trauma

It is especially suitable for individuals who feel overwhelmed by traditional therapy approaches or who are highly sensitive to emotional stimuli.

What to Expect in a Somatic Experiencing Session

An SE session typically begins with grounding and resource-building to ensure the individual feels safe and supported. The therapist may ask the individual to notice physical sensations in the body and explore them gently. This could include tracking warmth, tightness, numbness, or movement impulses.

Individuals are guided to move between sensations of discomfort and safety (pendulation), allowing the body to process trauma gradually. Sessions often include long pauses, slow pacing, and minimal talking.

Unlike other therapies that may push for emotional catharsis, SE values small, regulated shifts. This creates space for true integration and healing.

Integrating Somatic Experiencing with Other Therapeutic Approaches

At Sabino Recovery, Somatic Experiencing is often integrated with a comprehensive array of traditional and innovative therapies. This holistic model recognizes that no single approach can address all aspects of trauma.

Some therapies that pair well with SE include:

• EMDR
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Equine therapy
• Art and music therapy
• Yoga and movement therapy
• Mindfulness and meditation practices
• Allopathic and naturopathic medicine

This integrative strategy ensures that each resident’s needs are met on physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual levels.

Is Somatic Experiencing Right for Your Healing Journey?

Choosing the right therapy to address personal trauma is a deeply personal decision. SE may be a good fit if:

• You feel disconnected from your body or struggle with physical symptoms of trauma
• You find traditional talk therapy overwhelming or ineffective
• You’re ready to explore healing from a body-based perspective
• You value slow, gentle, and deeply personalized treatment

At Sabino Recovery, SE is one of many evidence-based modalities we offer as part of our customized trauma treatment programs. Our expert clinicians help determine which combination of therapies is most appropriate for each individual’s path to recovery.