Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a practice that helps you heal from stress and trauma, with a body-oriented approach rather than the thought-oriented approach of traditional therapy.
When we have a stressful or traumatic experience, our body should move through a natural and automatic nervous system process that allows our physical body to process the experience. This process doesn’t always happen as it should, and some of this nervous system energy can get “stuck” in our bodies. If we’ve experienced repeated stresses, this can build up and create stronger patterns that impact how we respond to future stressful situations. This stuck — or dysregulated — nervous system energy can show up as symptoms: anxiety, chronic pain, fatigue, trouble sleeping, difficulty in relationships, digestive issues, depression and other health challenges.
SE gently works with your physical body to support you in navigating the challenging life experiences we all go through.
The Nervous System: At the Root of Stress and Trauma
A simple definition of trauma is anything that we experience as being “too much,” “too fast” or “too soon.” Trauma may result from an acute stress (e.g., an accident) or cumulative stress (e.g., living with a chronic health condition). Both types of stress can impact a person's ability to live with resilience and ease.
The nervous system guides our fight or flight response, and understanding the way ours guides us to respond to stress has huge impacts on our overall health.
So what is the nervous system, exactly?
The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and spinal cord.
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) automatically regulates all the basic functions of our body, as well as our survival responses. It has two branches (sympathetic and parasympathetic), and it does all these functions on its own, automatically and outside of our conscious awareness. This is pretty cool and useful (your heart just keeps on beating without you telling it to, for example).
This is also why you can’t “make” yourself be more relaxed or think your way out of situations when you feel triggered.
The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) helps us rest, unwind, reorganize and regenerate after threat or stress. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) gets our whole body ready for action. It regulates arousal and increases activity in times of stress (good or bad stress).
Ideally, our nervous system will move between these two states with ease. Through trauma, however, we can get stuck in one state or oscillate between the two. That can cause symptoms of dysregulation, which can be unpleasant as well as impact our health negatively. Our nervous system is always trying to keep us safe. Often when we’re feeling symptoms, it's stuck in a pattern that is no longer serving us.
SE works to support more nervous system regulation and the release of nervous system energy stored in the body, thus addressing the root of trauma. This translates to more ease in your physical body and fewer symptoms. It gently supports your ability to be present to difficult feelings in your body and cultivates a deeper capacity for resilience.
What Is a Somatic Experiencing Session Like?
An SE session is typically done with both of us seated. Sessions can be done virtually or in person and will start by gently guiding you to notice your body: your feet on the floor, your hips in the chair, your breath and the environment that you are in. We’ll build on this to gently explore the sensations in your body or a relevant past experience that has felt challenging for you.
SE sessions will always focus on sensations in the body, so even though we may talk about experiences, we’ll be focused and curious about sensations in the body in the present. In an SE session, I might encourage you to move parts of your body or to get up and explore a movement. While the impact of these sessions can feel subtle in the moment, they are very impactful over time and can send a ripple of well-being out into your life.
About Desiree, Founder of Rooted Wellness & Pilates
Desiree Cafaro has been supporting clients with their movement and wellness goals for almost 20 years. She believes in the power of movement to heal. She is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Pilates Instructor and IIN Health Coach and has a private practice focusing on 1:1 SE and Pilates sessions. Her teaching philosophy is trauma-informed and supports the whole person. She’s passionate about supporting clients to feel good in their bodies both in and out of the studio. Desiree works with clients of all ages and abilities and has extensive experience working with injuries, back pain, osteoporosis, chronic illness and trauma. Learn more about Desiree’s practice and services at www.rootedwellness.com or email rooted.cville@gmail.com.
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