Somatic Experiencing at The Fullbrook Center
Releasing Trauma Through the Wisdom of the Body
At The Fullbrook Center, we understand that trauma doesn’t just live in the mind—it also lives in the body. Long after a traumatic event is over, the body can continue to respond as if the danger is still present. This is why Somatic Experiencing therapy is such a vital part of our trauma treatment approach. Gently and skillfully, this body-centered therapy supports women in releasing the deep trauma symptoms and tension stored in their bodies—without needing to relive their pain.
Developed by Dr. Peter Levine, Somatic Experiencing (or SE therapy) is a clinical practice grounded in the understanding that trauma dysregulates the autonomic nervous system, leaving individuals stuck in patterns of fight, flight, freeze, or collapse. Rather than diving into story, SE sessions begin with bodily sensations, following the body’s natural rhythm toward regulation and healing.
How Somatic Experiencing Supports Trauma Recovery
Somatic Experiencing therapy is based on the idea that trauma is not caused by the event itself, but by the body’s incomplete stress response to it. When we are overwhelmed by traumatic stress, our innate stress system can become frozen in survival mode. This can result in a host of physical symptoms, emotional distress, and chronic dysregulation—symptoms often associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other traumatic stress disorders.
Through SE, we help clients learn to safely track and release stored energy from the nervous system—whether it shows up as muscle tension, chronic fatigue, shakiness, or emotional numbness. This approach is especially effective for those struggling with post traumatic stress, PTSD symptoms, or trauma rooted in the body rather than the mind alone.
What to Expect in a Somatic Experiencing Session
Somatic therapy sessions at The Fullbrook Center are quiet, gentle, and deeply respectful of each woman’s unique trauma history. Clients are guided to notice bodily sensations in a slow, mindful way—without judgment or pressure to revisit trauma narratives. We may notice the tightening of a jaw, the fluttering of the chest, the clenching of fists, and allow those sensations to unfold at their own pace.
By attuning to these physical cues, women begin to release stored traumatic stress, restore balance to their sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system, and experience a greater sense of presence and control.
This method is not about reactivating pain through a direct and intense evocation of traumatic memory. Instead, it’s about finding safety in the body again—sometimes for the very first time.
Who Can Benefit from Somatic Experiencing Therapy?
SE therapy is highly effective for women dealing with the lingering effects of post traumatic stress symptoms, mental trauma, or trauma-related stress responses that haven’t responded to traditional talk therapy. It’s particularly useful for:
Survivors of sexual, emotional, or physical trauma
Women with chronic trauma symptoms or somatic complaints
Those experiencing dissociation, anxiety, or hyperarousal
Clients healing from traumatic experiences in early childhood
Individuals with complex PTSD or mental health disorders involving body-mind disconnection
At The Fullbrook Center, our clinicians are trained to use Somatic Experiencing in conjunction with other modalities to support the full range of healing—mind, body, and spirit.
The Science Behind SE: Why It Works
Randomized controlled trials and clinical studies continue to support the effectiveness of Somatic Experiencing therapy in treating PTSD, anxiety, and various psychological symptoms. By targeting the nervous system and releasing stored trauma from the body, SE has been shown to improve emotional regulation, reduce trauma flashbacks, and promote long-term resilience.
Unlike some methods that can feel overwhelming, SE works in small, manageable steps—empowering women to stay present and safe as they heal. This approach aligns perfectly with our trauma-focused philosophy at Fullbrook: we believe that the body remembers, and with the right support, the body also knows how to heal.
Why Somatic Experiencing Matters at The Fullbrook Center
At The Fullbrook Center, we ask women to do hard things to heal—but we never rush their process. We honor the wisdom of the body and recognize that healing trauma must include it. For many of our clients, SE becomes the bridge between dissociation and embodiment—between surviving and truly living.
Through this work, you may begin to feel grounded in your own skin again. You may notice that your breath moves more freely. That your voice gets louder. That your body softens. You may, for the first time, feel what it’s like to truly come home to yourself.
Begin Somatic Experiencing Therapy at The Fullbrook Center
If you’ve tried traditional therapy but still feel the effects of trauma living in your body, Somatic Experiencing may be the path your nervous system has been waiting for. Our trauma-focused, body-based care allows women to gently reconnect with themselves and find safety from the inside out.
Contact us today to learn how Somatic Experiencing therapy can support your healing at The Fullbrook Center.
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FAQs About Somatic Experiencing at The Fullbrook Center
How does Somatic Experiencing help with posttraumatic stress disorder?
Somatic Experiencing helps individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder by addressing the nervous system dysregulation that often underlies trauma. Instead of rehashing the traumatic story, SE focuses on restoring balance through gentle awareness of bodily responses and unresolved energy.
Are mental health practitioners trained in SE?
Yes, many mental health practitioners are specially trained to become SE practitioners, learning how to support clients in tracking internal cues, releasing stored trauma, and creating safety within the body.
What is body psychotherapy and how is it different from talk therapy?
Body psychotherapy focuses on using the body as a pathway to healing emotional and psychological wounds. Unlike traditional talk therapy, it involves tracking internal sensations, physiological defensive reactions, and movement to resolve trauma at the somatic level.
Can SE therapy help with mental disorders?
Somatic Experiencing can support healing from various mental disorders, especially those rooted in trauma, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. It’s often used as a complement to other clinical treatments for more holistic care.
How does SE therapy improve body awareness?
SE therapy improves body awareness by helping clients tune into their breath, posture, muscle tension, and subtle physical cues. Over time, this helps rebuild a relationship with the body that promotes regulation, safety, and empowerment.
Can Somatic Experiencing help with anxiety symptoms?
Yes, anxiety symptoms often improve through SE therapy. By calming the nervous system and increasing a sense of internal safety, clients may experience fewer panic episodes, less hypervigilance, and greater emotional stability.
What do SE practitioners do in a session?
SE practitioners guide clients to notice internal sensations, track shifts in energy, and complete the body’s natural stress responses in a slow, supportive way. This allows the nervous system to safely unwind patterns created by trauma.
Is Somatic Experiencing useful for chronic pain?
Yes, chronic pain often has roots in unresolved trauma or long-term tension patterns. SE can help release held trauma in the body and decrease the intensity and frequency of physical pain.
What if I experience traumatic visions during a session?
If traumatic visions arise during SE, the practitioner will guide you to stay grounded and titrate the experience slowly. The goal is not to relive the trauma but to support the body in processing it safely and gradually.
What are internal sensations, and why are they important in SE?
Internal sensations are the subtle signals your body sends—like a fluttering chest, tight jaw, or warmth in the belly. These cues are central to SE as opposed to other techniques because they help guide healing from the inside out, revealing where trauma is stored and how to release it.
What is a physiological defensive reaction and how does SE help with it?
A physiological defensive reaction—like fight, flight, freeze, or collapse—is how the body tries to protect itself during trauma. SE helps complete these reactions in a safe environment, allowing the nervous system to return to balance and resolve lingering trauma responses.
