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Somatic Experiencing

Somatic Experiencing is a sub-type in the Somatic Therapies category. It focuses on resolving trauma and stress-related disorders by gently guiding individuals to tune into their bodily sensations and release stuck survival energy. Somatic Experiencing centers on the idea that the autonomic nervous system can remain dysregulated after traumatic events, leading to chronic anxiety, hypervigilance, or other symptoms. It assumes that by slowly reintroducing small, manageable doses of traumatic sensations in the body and allowing the nervous system to complete its natural self-protective responses, individuals can restore balance and resilience.

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It’s based on Peter Levine’s work, emphasizing the body’s innate capacity to heal when given the opportunity to safely experience and discharge stored tension or ‘fight-flight-freeze’ energy. Emphasis is placed on fostering body awareness, regulating arousal, and encouraging organic movements or impulses that facilitate trauma resolution.

 

Somatic Experiencing Techniques

  • Body Tracking and Interoception: Guides clients to notice subtle internal sensations (e.g., temperature changes, tension, tingling) associated with emotions or memories

  • Pendulation: Encourages oscillation between small amounts of uncomfortable sensations and a place of internal safety or calm, preventing overwhelm

  • Resource Building: Identifies and strengthens positive body sensations, memories, or external supports that help stabilize the nervous system

  • Titration of Sensations: Explores traumatic sensations gradually, in small steps, to avoid re-traumatization and ensure manageable activation levels

  • Spontaneous Movement or Unwinding: Invites clients to follow natural impulses (e.g., shaking, stretching) that help the body release built-up tension

 

Somatic Experiencing Reviewed from the Point of View of Other Somatic Therapy Sub-Types

  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
    Critiques Somatic Experiencing for focusing heavily on trauma resolution through physiological discharge, suggesting that a more explicit integration of cognition and relational patterns may enhance overall healing.

 

Somatic Experiencing Reviewed from Other Sub-Types Across All Categories

 

Somatic Experiencing Reviewed from the Perspective of the Six Major Therapies

  • Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
    Critiques Somatic Experiencing for not actively disputing irrational beliefs, suggesting that some clients’ anxiety stems from cognitive distortions rather than solely unresolved bodily trauma.

  • Jungian Psychoanalysis
    Suggests Somatic Experiencing largely addresses the body’s stored trauma, overlooking archetypal or symbolic dimensions that can play a significant role in psychological distress.

  • Positive Psychology
    Criticizes Somatic Experiencing for focusing predominantly on resolving negative arousal states, proposing more deliberate cultivation of positive emotions and strengths to enhance well-being.

  • Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
    Acknowledges the importance of bodily awareness but argues that integrating formal mindfulness meditation practices could deepen the client’s capacity to observe and regulate internal experiences nonjudgmentally.

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
    Maintains that Somatic Experiencing lacks a specific bilateral stimulation component for trauma processing, relying instead on gradual physical release that might extend treatment duration in severe cases.

  • Rogerian Counseling (Person-Centered Therapy)
    Criticizes Somatic Experiencing for employing structured body-based interventions, contending that an unconditional, empathic, client-led relationship is the most fundamental catalyst for genuine self-healing.


     

About Bukuru

The core philosophy of Bukuru is that each person should test their own beliefs. The project started as a quest to categorize self-development books in such a way that it would become easier to find books that match your beliefs. However, along the way we concluded that the essence of most books can be captured in a few sentences – if the idea is original at all. Instead of helping people buy books, we now help people not buying books.

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