Somatic Experiencing was developed by Peter A. Levine, PhD to address the effects of post-traumatic stress (PTSD).  Somatic Experiencing aims to help people move past the place where they might be “stuck” in processing a traumatic event.  Somatic Experiencing sessions involve the introduction of small amounts of traumatic material and the observation of a client’s physical responses to that material, such as shallow breathing or a shift in posture.  The therapist will help the client find places of safety, whether that be a place in the body that is not activated by the trauma, or a physical place to retreat to in one’s mind.  Experiencing the sensation related to the traumatic event in a safe way allows a person to fully process the trauma.  Clients also achieve heightened awareness of their physical responses to stress, and this sill can serve them in everyday life.

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According to Peter Levine, traumatic symptoms are not caused by the event itself, but because residual energy from the experience is not released from the body.  When we are unable to release this energy during and after the threat, our body.  When we are unable to release this energy during and after the threat, our body and brain may think we are unable to release this energy during and after the threat, our body and brain may think we are still in danger and continue to produce more chemicals for fight/flight/freeze.  Over time, this (often non-conscious) feeling of danger and accumulation of stress chemicals, can create difficult and complex trauma symptoms.