How We Work
Somatic Experiencing
Somatic Experiencing is a body-oriented approach to healing trauma, developed by Dr Peter Levine. It works with the nervous system's innate capacity to self-regulate — gently completing the survival responses that became stuck when something overwhelming happened.
Body-based · Nervous system · Trauma-Informed · Creswick, Brisbane & Online
What Is Somatic Experiencing?
Healing trauma through the body
Peter Levine noticed that animals in the wild rarely develop lasting trauma after threatening events — they physically discharge the survival energy through shaking, trembling, or running. Humans, however, often suppress these natural responses, leaving that energy stored in the nervous system. Somatic Experiencing works with this biological reality.
Rather than focusing on the narrative of what happened, Somatic Experiencing attends to the bodily sensations, impulses, and physiological responses associated with a traumatic experience. Through a process called titration — working in small, manageable doses — and pendulation — moving between distress and safety — the nervous system is gradually allowed to complete the responses that were frozen.
The approach is gentle, slow-paced, and always within a person's window of tolerance. It is particularly well suited to people who have found talk therapy or narrative-based approaches to be re-traumatising, or who hold a lot of their distress in the body.
Somatic Experiencing can help with
- ✓PTSD and complex trauma
- ✓Anxiety and panic
- ✓Chronic stress and burnout
- ✓Somatic symptoms with no clear medical cause
- ✓Dissociation and emotional numbness
- ✓Hypervigilance and being easily startled
- ✓Freeze and shutdown responses
- ✓Nervous system dysregulation
The Process
What Somatic Experiencing sessions feel like
Building a felt sense of safety
Your therapist will start by helping you develop awareness of your body's sensations — noticing what feels okay, grounded, or neutral. This resource provides a safe base to return to throughout the work.
Gentle, titrated processing
Rather than diving into the most distressing material, Somatic Experiencing works in small doses — touching the edges of difficult material, noticing what happens in the body, and then returning to safety. This prevents overwhelm and supports gradual nervous system change.
Discharge and integration
As the work progresses, you may notice spontaneous physical releases — trembling, warmth, shifts in breath, spontaneous movement. These are signs of the nervous system completing what was previously frozen. Over time, a new baseline of regulation becomes available.
Available locations
FAQ
Common questions about Somatic Experiencing
Do I have to talk about what happened to me?
No. Somatic Experiencing does not require you to recount the details of your traumatic experience. In fact, the approach often deliberately avoids the narrative to prevent re-traumatisation. The focus is on what is happening in your body right now.
What does 'working with the body' actually mean in a therapy session?
Your therapist might ask you to notice where you feel something in your body, to describe a physical sensation, or to observe subtle movements or impulses. The pace is always slow and you are always in control of what you share.
Can Somatic Experiencing be done via telehealth?
Yes — Somatic Experiencing adapts well to online therapy. Your therapist will guide you in the same way, attending to your body's responses through what they observe and what you report. Many people find it just as effective online.
Ready to Begin?
Ready to work with your nervous system, not against it?
Book an appointment or reach out with any questions. We'll help you find the right therapist and the right approach.