What Is Somatic Experiencing?
Somatic Experiencing is a therapeutic approach that focuses on how trauma lives in the body, not only in the mind. Developed by Dr. Peter Levine, it is designed to help the nervous system gradually return to balance after overwhelming events. Rather than pushing for immediate insight or analysis, Somatic Experiencing (SE) creates gentle pathways for the body to release stored tension and complete survival responses that were once interrupted.
At Somatic Psychotherapy Center in New York City, we use Somatic Experiencing to support clients who are seeking deeper healing. Many of our clients have tried talk therapy before but find that old patterns and distress remain stuck in the body. SE offers a different way forward, one that honors both the wisdom of the nervous system and the need for safe, relational support.
Why Trauma Affects the Nervous System
When someone experiences trauma, the body’s fight, flight, or freeze response often gets overwhelmed. Instead of fully resolving, the nervous system can stay in a heightened state of alertness or collapse. This is why trauma survivors may feel ongoing anxiety, hypervigilance, numbness, or disconnection long after the event has passed.
Somatic Experiencing views these responses as unfinished survival energy. The goal is not to erase what happened, but to help the body slowly release that energy in a safe, supported way. This is what makes SE an effective path for trauma recovery in NYC and beyond.
How Somatic Experiencing Works
Small Steps, Not Overwhelm
In Somatic Experiencing sessions, we focus on “titration,” which means approaching traumatic material in small, manageable pieces. By slowing down, we prevent the nervous system from becoming flooded and instead create opportunities for regulation and relief.
Tracking Sensations
Clients are guided to notice sensations in the body — warmth, tension, vibration, breath — and to track these shifts over time. This mindful awareness allows the body to release stuck energy and find new pathways toward balance.
Completing Survival Responses
Many trauma responses are incomplete. For example, someone who wanted to run or fight but could not may feel restless or frozen years later. SE helps the body safely complete those responses, allowing a sense of relief and closure.
The Role of Relationship
While SE is body-based, the therapeutic relationship is central. At our practice, therapists offer attuned presence, pacing, and safety. Trauma healing does not happen in isolation, it happens in connection.
For clients who want to combine Somatic Experiencing with other modalities, we may integrate Hakomi Therapy, Internal Family Systems, or EMDR Therapy when appropriate.
Benefits of Somatic Experiencing
Many clients who engage in Somatic Experiencing notice:
- A reduction in chronic anxiety or hypervigilance
- More capacity to stay present without dissociating
- Greater ease in the body and breath
- Improved ability to regulate emotions
- Feeling safer in relationships and daily life
These changes unfold gradually. Healing from trauma is not about quick fixes, but about restoring resilience and connection step by step.
If you are interested in starting SE, our individual somatic psychotherapy sessions can provide a safe space to begin.
Who Can Benefit From Somatic Experiencing?
SE can be especially supportive for people who have experienced:
- Childhood trauma or neglect
- Accidents, injuries, or medical procedures
- Assault or violence
- Grief and loss
- Chronic stress or burnout
Because SE works with the body’s natural rhythms, it is adaptable and gentle. It can also complement medical treatment or other forms of therapy.
For those who want a more intensive or expanded approach, SE can be paired with Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy to deepen nervous system release and integration.
Somatic Experiencing in NYC
At our offices in Brooklyn and Manhattan, Somatic Experiencing is offered as part of a trauma-informed, body-based therapy practice. We also provide online therapy in NYC for those who prefer to work from home.
Trauma recovery is deeply personal. What matters is finding the right fit, with a therapist who understands how to honor your pace and your body’s wisdom.
FAQ: Somatic Experiencing Therapy
How is Somatic Experiencing different from talk therapy?
Talk therapy often emphasizes insight and analysis. Somatic Experiencing focuses on the body’s sensations and nervous system regulation. Many people who feel stuck in talk therapy find SE offers the missing piece. Learn more about our somatic approach.
Can Somatic Experiencing help with anxiety?
Yes. Because anxiety is often rooted in an activated nervous system, SE helps by restoring balance and teaching the body how to settle. You can read more about our anxiety therapy services.
Is Somatic Experiencing safe for trauma survivors?
Yes. SE emphasizes pacing, safety, and choice. Therapists are trained to go slowly and to help clients stay within a manageable range of experience. For those with PTSD, we also offer trauma therapy.
Can SE be combined with other therapies?
Absolutely. Many clients benefit from integrating SE with modalities like EMDR or IFS. We tailor treatment to each client’s needs and goals.
Moving Forward
If you are curious about Somatic Experiencing, we invite you to connect with us. At the Somatic Psychotherapy Center, our therapists offer compassionate, body-based care for trauma recovery and nervous system healing.
You can learn more on our about page or contact us directly to schedule a consultation.
Healing takes time, but you do not have to do it alone.
