Somatic Experiencing® A body based approach to healing trauma and restoring nervous system regulation. Developed by Dr. Peter Levine. Taught worldwide through Somatic Experiencing International.
What is Somatic Experiencing®?
Somatic Experiencing® (SE™) is a naturalistic, body-based approach to healing trauma and chronic stress. Rather than working primarily through talking or analysis, SE™ works with the body's innate capacity to process and release what it has been carrying.
Developed by Dr. Peter Levine over decades of research and clinical work, SE™ is rooted in the observation that animals in the wild rarely develop lasting trauma responses even after life threatening events. The body has a natural capacity to complete stress cycles and return to regulation. SE™ helps humans access that same capacity.
This approach works gently and gradually, tracking body sensations, impulses, images, and felt sense to help the nervous system complete what it could not finish at the time of the overwhelming experience.
Somatic Experiencing® and SE™ are registered trademarks of the Foundation for Human Enrichment DBA Somatic Experiencing International. This page is provided for educational purposes and is not affiliated with or endorsed by SEI.
What SE™ Works With
SE™ is particularly effective for:
Trauma and post-traumatic stress, including single incident trauma and complex developmental trauma. Anxiety, panic, and chronic activation. Shutdown, collapse, numbness, and disconnection. Attachment wounds and relational patterns. Chronic pain and physical symptoms related to stored stress. Grief and loss held in the body. Stress and overwhelm that has not resolved through talk therapy alone.
What Makes SE™ Different
Unlike many therapeutic approaches, SE™ does not require you to revisit traumatic memories in detail. There is no re-living, no exposure, and no requirement to talk about what happened if you do not want to.
SE™ works at the pace of your nervous system. Sessions are gentle, titrated, and guided by what your body is ready for. The goal is not to process the past but to restore your nervous system's capacity to be present, regulated, and alive in the here and now.
The SEP Credential
Not all practitioners who use somatic language or body awareness have the same level of training. The SEP designation, which stands for Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, represents the completion of a multi-year professional training program through Somatic Experiencing International, the only internationally recognized credentialing body specifically for this approach.
SEI training includes beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels spanning two to three years of study, supervision, personal SE™ sessions, and clinical application. It is rigorous, relational, and deeply experiential.
When you work with an SEP or SEP candidate you are working with someone who has committed to understanding the nervous system at a deep level and who has done significant personal work alongside their professional training.
What to Expect in an SE™ Session
SE™ sessions typically feel different from traditional therapy. You may spend time simply noticing what is happening in your body, tracking sensations, images, or impulses as they arise. Your practitioner will follow your pace, helping you stay within your window of tolerance while gently expanding your capacity over time.
Sessions are usually fifty to sixty minutes. Many people notice shifts in their nervous system within the first few sessions, though meaningful change often unfolds gradually over time.
You do not need to have a trauma history to benefit from SE™. Many people come simply wanting to feel more regulated, more present, and more at home in their bodies.
SE™ at the Somatic Healing Network
The Somatic Healing Network is proud to include practitioners on the SEP credentialing path through Somatic Experiencing International. This is a distinction that matters and one we take seriously.
If you are looking for SE™ informed support in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado you are in the right place.
Want to Learn More?
These resources are widely respected in the SE™ community:
Waking the Tiger - Peter Levine In an Unspoken Voice - Peter Levine Healing Trauma - Peter Levine The Body Keeps the Score — Bessel van der Kolk
Learn more about SEI training and the SEP credential at traumahealing.org
Want to understand how your nervous system works? Explore our Nervous System Resources.
Not sure if SE™ is the right fit? Try our Modality Matcher in the Interactive Tools section.
Your nervous system already knows how to heal. We are simply here to help create the right conditions for it to do so.
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