Somatic Experiencing
Encyclopedia
Somatic Experiencing is a form of therapy aimed at relieving and resolving the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) and other mental and physical trauma-related health problems by focusing on the client’s perceived body sensations (or somatic experiences). It was introduced in Dr. Peter Levine's
1997 book Waking the Tiger
. In it, he discusses at length his observations of animals in the wild, and how they deal with and recover from life-threatening situations. He concludes that their behaviour gives us "an insight into the biological healing process" (p.98), and that "the key to healing traumatic symptoms in humans lies in our being able to mirror the fluid adaption of wild animals" (p.17-18) as they avoid traumatization in reacting to life-threatening situations.
(ANS). It further postulates that the ANS has an inherent capacity to self-regulate that is undermined by trauma, and that the inherent capacity to self-regulate can be restored by the procedures of Somatic Experiencing. (p.31-33). (p.85-98, 193-220). (p.255-259).
's Focusing
. Practitioners of Somatic Experiencing are often also psychotherapists, Rolfers
or BodyWorkers
. Certified practitioners must complete a training course that spans three years. The procedure is considered by its practitioners to be effective for Shock Trauma (see below) in the short term (typically one to six sessions). It is also considered effective for Developmental Trauma as an adjunct to more conventional psychotherapy that may span years.
Somatic Experiencing attempts to promote awareness and release of physical tension that proponents believe remains in the body in the aftermath of trauma. They believe this occurs when the survival responses (which can take the form of orienting, fight, flight or "freeze") of the ANS
are aroused
, but are not fully discharged after the traumatic situation has passed. The details of this sequence are described in all the literature cited here, for example (p.92-97, 155-157, 158). (p.43-50). (p.38-40). (p.29-34). (p.273-277).
Somatic Experiencing uses procedural elements that have been said to work anecdotally, but have yet to be subjected to a double-blind
study. The process involves a guided exploration of the nature and extent of the physical dysregulation that is harbored in the body as a result of trauma.
Techniques include "titration" of the client's experience. That is, in the initial steps of the procedure, the client is only exposed to small amounts of their distress at a time, until they develop tolerance and the capacity to handle more. (p.255). (p.xx). (p.170).
Another idea is that the client's experience should be "pendulated". (p.197-199, 205-206). (p.255). (p.xix, 64). 'Pendulation' refers to the movement between regulation and dysregulation. The client is helped to move to a state where he or she is believed to be somewhat dysregulated (i.e is aroused or frozen) and then helped to return to a state of regulation (loosely defined as not aroused or frozen). This process is done iteratively, with progressively more levels of dysregulation believed to be resolved by the client in successive pendulations.
"Resources" are defined phenomenologically as anything that helps the client's autonomic nervous system return to a regulated state. (p.xx, 63-79). In the face of arousal, "discharge" is facilitated to allow the client's body to return to a regulated state. Through this process the client's inherent capacity to self-regulate is believed to be restored.
Somatic Experiencing is considered by its practitioners to be useful for two broad categories of trauma: shock trauma and developmental trauma. Shock trauma is loosely defined as a single-episode traumatic event such as a car accident, earthquake, battlefield incident, etc. Developmental trauma refers to various kinds of psychological damage that occur during child development when a child has insufficient attention from the primary caregivers, or an insufficiently nurturing relationship with the parent. (49-55, 138-139, 167-169, 227-231). (p.99-125).
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Posttraumaticstress disorder is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. This event may involve the threat of death to oneself or to someone else, or to one's own or someone else's physical, sexual, or psychological integrity,...
(PTSD) and other mental and physical trauma-related health problems by focusing on the client’s perceived body sensations (or somatic experiences). It was introduced in Dr. Peter Levine's
Peter A. Levine
Peter A. Levine, PhD is an American therapist, author and educator who specializes in the treatment and understanding of chronic stress and tonic immobility, more commonly known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder . Dr...
1997 book Waking the Tiger
Waking the Tiger
Waking the Tiger is a self-help book by Peter A. Levine which presents therapeutic advice for healing past traumas. The techniques presented in the book are based on Somatic Experiencing, the naturalistic therapy developed by Levine...
. In it, he discusses at length his observations of animals in the wild, and how they deal with and recover from life-threatening situations. He concludes that their behaviour gives us "an insight into the biological healing process" (p.98), and that "the key to healing traumatic symptoms in humans lies in our being able to mirror the fluid adaption of wild animals" (p.17-18) as they avoid traumatization in reacting to life-threatening situations.
Theory
The theory postulates that the symptoms of trauma are the effect of a dysregulation of the autonomic nervous systemAutonomic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system is the part of the peripheral nervous system that acts as a control system functioning largely below the level of consciousness, and controls visceral functions. The ANS affects heart rate, digestion, respiration rate, salivation, perspiration, diameter of the pupils,...
(ANS). It further postulates that the ANS has an inherent capacity to self-regulate that is undermined by trauma, and that the inherent capacity to self-regulate can be restored by the procedures of Somatic Experiencing. (p.31-33). (p.85-98, 193-220). (p.255-259).
Practice
The procedure, which is normally done in a face-to-face session similar to psychotherapy, involves a client tracking his or her own felt-sense experience (p.66-72). (p.255-256) , much as is done in Eugene GendlinEugene Gendlin
Eugene T. Gendlin is an American philosopher and psychotherapist who developed ways of thinking about and working with the implicit. Gendlin received his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Chicago where he also taught for many years...
's Focusing
Focusing
In psychotherapy-related disciples, the term focusing is used to refer to the simple matter of holding a kind of open, non-judging attention to something which is directly experienced but is not yet in words. Focusing can be used to become clear on what one feels or wants...
. Practitioners of Somatic Experiencing are often also psychotherapists, Rolfers
Rolfing
Rolfing is a therapy system created by The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration and is a system whereby the alleged manipulation of the fasciae by specific methods is theorized to yield therapeutic benefit....
or BodyWorkers
Body work (alternative medicine)
Bodywork is a term used in alternative medicine to describe any therapeutic or personal development technique that involves working with the human body in a form involving manipulative therapy, breath work, or energy medicine...
. Certified practitioners must complete a training course that spans three years. The procedure is considered by its practitioners to be effective for Shock Trauma (see below) in the short term (typically one to six sessions). It is also considered effective for Developmental Trauma as an adjunct to more conventional psychotherapy that may span years.
Somatic Experiencing attempts to promote awareness and release of physical tension that proponents believe remains in the body in the aftermath of trauma. They believe this occurs when the survival responses (which can take the form of orienting, fight, flight or "freeze") of the ANS
Autonomic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system is the part of the peripheral nervous system that acts as a control system functioning largely below the level of consciousness, and controls visceral functions. The ANS affects heart rate, digestion, respiration rate, salivation, perspiration, diameter of the pupils,...
are aroused
Arousal
Arousal is a physiological and psychological state of being awake or reactive to stimuli. It involves the activation of the reticular activating system in the brain stem, the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system, leading to increased heart rate and blood pressure and a condition of...
, but are not fully discharged after the traumatic situation has passed. The details of this sequence are described in all the literature cited here, for example (p.92-97, 155-157, 158). (p.43-50). (p.38-40). (p.29-34). (p.273-277).
Somatic Experiencing uses procedural elements that have been said to work anecdotally, but have yet to be subjected to a double-blind
Double-blind
A blind or blinded experiment is a scientific experiment where some of the people involved are prevented from knowing certain information that might lead to conscious or subconscious bias on their part, invalidating the results....
study. The process involves a guided exploration of the nature and extent of the physical dysregulation that is harbored in the body as a result of trauma.
Techniques include "titration" of the client's experience. That is, in the initial steps of the procedure, the client is only exposed to small amounts of their distress at a time, until they develop tolerance and the capacity to handle more. (p.255). (p.xx). (p.170).
Another idea is that the client's experience should be "pendulated". (p.197-199, 205-206). (p.255). (p.xix, 64). 'Pendulation' refers to the movement between regulation and dysregulation. The client is helped to move to a state where he or she is believed to be somewhat dysregulated (i.e is aroused or frozen) and then helped to return to a state of regulation (loosely defined as not aroused or frozen). This process is done iteratively, with progressively more levels of dysregulation believed to be resolved by the client in successive pendulations.
"Resources" are defined phenomenologically as anything that helps the client's autonomic nervous system return to a regulated state. (p.xx, 63-79). In the face of arousal, "discharge" is facilitated to allow the client's body to return to a regulated state. Through this process the client's inherent capacity to self-regulate is believed to be restored.
Somatic Experiencing is considered by its practitioners to be useful for two broad categories of trauma: shock trauma and developmental trauma. Shock trauma is loosely defined as a single-episode traumatic event such as a car accident, earthquake, battlefield incident, etc. Developmental trauma refers to various kinds of psychological damage that occur during child development when a child has insufficient attention from the primary caregivers, or an insufficiently nurturing relationship with the parent. (49-55, 138-139, 167-169, 227-231). (p.99-125).
Further reading
- Eckberg, Maryanna (2000). Victims of cruelty. Somatic Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. North Atlantic Books, Berkeley.