Somatic Experiencing Explained Simply: How the Body Heals Trauma

Somatic Experiencing Explained Simply: How the Body Heals Trauma


Learn what Somatic Experiencing is and how it helps heal trauma. A simple explanation of this body-based therapy and its benefits for mental health.

Introduction: When the Body Remembers

Have you ever felt your heart race, hands shake, or stomach tighten when recalling a stressful event — even years later? This is the body holding onto trauma.

Traditional talk therapy can help process painful memories, but sometimes words aren’t enough. That’s where Somatic Experiencing (SE) comes in — a therapy method developed by Dr. Peter Levine that focuses on healing trauma through the body, not just the mind.

What Is Somatic Experiencing?

Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body-centered approach to trauma healing. Instead of focusing mainly on thoughts or memories, SE works with the nervous system to release stored survival energy from past overwhelming experiences.

Trauma often isn’t the event itself — it’s the body’s unfinished response to the event. For example, during danger, your body may want to fight, flee, or freeze. If that energy isn’t fully discharged, it can stay “stuck” in the nervous system, leading to anxiety, hypervigilance, or chronic tension.

SE helps the body complete those responses in a safe and gradual way, allowing the nervous system to reset.

The Science Behind It: Nervous System Regulation

Somatic Experiencing is grounded in the understanding of the autonomic nervous system (ANS):

  • Sympathetic nervous system: Activates fight-or-flight.

  • Parasympathetic nervous system: Activates rest, digestion, and recovery.

Trauma can trap the body in hyperarousal (anxiety, panic) or hypoarousal (numbness, dissociation). SE uses gentle techniques to help restore balance and resilience to the nervous system.

How Somatic Experiencing Works in Practice

In an SE session, you won’t have to relive trauma in detail. Instead, the therapist gently guides you through tracking sensations in the body and releasing tension step by step.

Key Techniques in SE:

  1. Tracking – Paying attention to physical sensations (e.g., warmth, tightness, tingling).

  2. Pendulation – Moving gently between sensations of safety and discomfort to regulate the nervous system.

  3. Titration – Working with small pieces of trauma at a time, preventing overwhelm.

  4. Discharge – Releasing trapped energy through shaking, trembling, deep breaths, or warmth.

  5. Resourcing – Building a sense of safety by recalling positive experiences or body sensations.

What Somatic Experiencing Feels Like

Many describe SE as subtle but powerful. Instead of long conversations, you may notice:

  • A spontaneous sigh or deep breath

  • Gentle trembling or muscle release

  • A wave of warmth or relaxation

  • A shift in perspective after the body discharges tension

Over time, these sessions help build resilience, grounding, and a sense of safety in the body.

Benefits of Somatic Experiencing

Research and clinical practice show SE can support healing for:

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

  • Anxiety and panic attacks

  • Dissociation or feeling “numb”

  • Chronic stress and burnout

  • Grief and loss

  • Physical symptoms related to stress (headaches, stomach issues, tension)

Limitations to Keep in Mind

  • SE is most effective with a trained practitioner; self-guided attempts can be overwhelming.

  • It may take multiple sessions to notice deep changes.

  • Not a replacement for medical treatment when physical conditions are involved.

Conclusion: Healing Through the Body

Somatic Experiencing offers a gentle but powerful path to healing trauma by focusing on the body’s natural ability to restore balance. By releasing stored survival energy, it helps people feel safer, calmer, and more at home in themselves.

Healing doesn’t always begin with words — sometimes it begins with a breath, a tremor, or the body’s quiet return to safety.

written by,

Martin Rekowski  6. Januar 2026

External Source Suggestion

Levine, P. A. (2010). In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness. North Atlantic Books.

Back to blog