How I First Met Somatic Experiencing
I first started somatic experiencing training in 2022. I heard about it from a beloved friend and colleague. I really saw her transform as she was using the Somatic Experiencing practices, but also saw the impact it was making with the people she sat with (we had a few shared clients). As I would sit with her, I almost felt like she was sensing what I was experiencing. She was the first one to put language around the bracing I often felt in my stomach. It was so simple, and oh so validating.
The training was/is intensive. I am not sure I was fully prepared for what I was stepping into when I applied to start my beginning module. My first training was overwhelming, but not like I expected from a 4 day trauma treatment training. I didn’t have nightmares, or flashbacks, or frequent dissociation. It was more so overwhelming in that my eyes were opened to:
a) How frequently I live OUT OF my body (even as a therapist).
b) How exposed I felt as I tried to notice what it was like to be back in my body- I felt like I had spent my life fooling people into thinking I had it together but then started thinking everyone could see what a mess I was, and I wasn’t fooling anyone.
c) How I often I WANT to do something but tell myself I shouldn’t.
So, this is how it started. We were invited (Somatic Experiencing has very invitational language… meaning you can always decline invitation) to make ourselves comfortable with whatever means necessary- you could bring blankets/pillows/yoga balls etc. It was so interesting to me to have a “professional” training with permission to move about in the room. There were dance parties, and breath work sessions, and walks/bike rides. The main take away was to check in with what your body needs, and then do it. But like… why was it so hard to do it?!
Anyway, that was my initial impressions of Somatic Exeriencing. A little intense, a little confused, a little into it.
But so… what is it?
Somatic Experiencing is a type of trauma therapy that focuses on releasing thwarted trauma responses.
For example, let’s say you are in a dangerous situation where you want to run or scream, but the powers that be having you stuck in one spot. That energy that comes with the desire to run or scream is still working through your body at high levels even though you couldn’t do it. The energy to run and scream was never actually discharged from you’re your body because the body NEEDED to freeze. This gets stuck and then will attempt to discharge at other points- like out bursts at your boss, walking out for long periods of time during an argument with a partner, shouting at your kids etc.
The goal with Somatic Experiencing is to follow the sensations that come up when we are in an activated state, and work to release that thwarted response in a way that isn’t destructive to you and your relationships.
We can do that in the therapy room by slowly noticing activated states and then tracking sensation that comes up with that state. Some sensation that is common is sweat, dry mouth, tight jaw, frog in throat, ringing in ears, tight stomach, nausea etc. We stay with and follow that sensation for short periods of time. Our goal is to swing from low to moderate activation repeatedly during session. This helps to feel the thwarted response but not flood you with the overwhelming response (flooding you with it would just be re-traumatizing). Sometimes, we will also touch on high activation, but again, for brief periods of time. Over time, we can expand your “window of tolerance” and release this thwarted response.
Why Somatic Experiencing?
One of the things that makes Somatic Experiencing stand out to me as the premier treatment of trauma, is that there is a heavy focus on healing the body through feeling the body which I think is grossly undervalued in the therapy space. It is such a foundational skill needed for deep and integrated healing; I am not sure we can be completely successful without it.
Somatic Experiencing also emphasizes slow and intentional work- practitioner always being mindful and skilled on pace of the work as to not overwhelm the nervous system. It truly is a type of trauma treatment that just makes sense- it’s intuitive.
In Closing:
As I begin to close the chapter on my intermediate year of Somatic Experiencing, and prepare to move to the advanced training, there are a few things that stand out to me over these last two years that have really moved me through some challenging times:
1) My body tells the truth and holds decades of wisdom.
2) BUT sometimes it thinks I am in danger when I am not actually in danger.
3) I can feel what my body feels and not avoid it or distract myself from it.
4) Sometimes I don’t need to know the why behind what I am feeling, and sometimes I do.
5) Slow and steady wins the race. Every. Time.
6) Functional freeze was my best friend and hard to break up with.
7) All of the feelings live in me, even calm- but there is such thing as TOO calm.
Alright my friends. I think that is all I got for ya. How was that for a first blog post? My goal would be to update the blog weekly. That feels manageable today, but I’ll keep checking in to see if it remains that way. As for right now, I’ll see ya next week!
Follow me on IG for more on trauma/anxiety/nervous system regulation and the like. @exhaleforeight