Somatic Experiencing
How does Somatic Experiencing work?
SE brings attention to what is happening in your body in the present moment. Rather than asking you to relive an experience or tell your entire story, we work with sensations, emotions, movement, and changes in your physiology.
The work is slow, gentle, and titrated, meaning we work in small, manageable, bite-sized pieces based on your capacity in the moment. We begin with grounding you in resources and regulation, gradually building your ability to stay present with physical and emotional experiences without becoming overwhelmed.
Over time, you may develop greater awareness of your body's patterns and more ability to settle and respond differently when stress or activation arises.
SE offers another way in: through your body.
What is Somatic Experiencing®?
Somatic Experiencing® (SE) is a body-based approach for working with the effects of trauma, stress, shock, and anxiety. It can be especially helpful when you understand what’s happening and may have worked through it in therapy, but your body continues to respond as though you are under threat.
You might notice chronic tension or pain, a racing heart, tightness in your chest or throat, jaw clenching, difficulty sleeping, feeling constantly “on alert,” becoming overwhelmed, or shutting down in collapse, and feeling disconnected from your body.
You don't have to identify with the word trauma to benefit from this work.
How I use SE in my work.
SE can be incorporated into different professional disciplines. A psychotherapist, for example, may use SE within psychotherapy or an acupuncturist within their scope of practice.
I am not a psychotherapist. I use SE within my scope as a trauma-informed somatic practitioner, focusing on the physical patterns of stress, anxiety, and survival held in the body.
My approach is not about analyzing or reliving trauma or creating dramatic emotional releases. Trauma-informed training helps me recognize signs of activation, overwhelm, shutdown, dissociation, and changes in your nervous-system capacity so we can work at a pace that supports your system rather than pushing you too quickly.
SE may be helpful if you've experienced trauma, medical events, accidents, relational stress, chronic anxiety, or simply find that your body doesn't seem to know how to settle, even when your mind understands that you're safe.
SE offers another way in: through your body.
Are you ready to try Somatic Experiencing?
Start with a Free Consultation
What People Are Saying
“Working with Susan has helped my overall stress and body tension dial way down and I now know what the feeling of safety feels like. I have more energy available to me, confidence, and self-esteem. I have had years of body work including massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, talk therapy, shamanic therapy, and nothing has stuck for me the way that the work I’ve done with Susan has.”
— K.P., San Diego, CA
“I found Susan two years after a severe mental health crisis. I was in very rough shape. My nervous system had been wrecked for years, stuck in survival mode and life was suffering. After working with Susan for a few months, my nervous system is drastically more regulated. She taught me tips for effective self regulation and helped unwreck my nervous system. I have also had a lot of chronic pain my whole life and as my nervous system has improved so has my chronic neck and back pain. Susan is awesome, supportive, kind. Can’t recommend enough.”
— M.A., San Diego, CA