What is Somatic Experiencing®?

Somatic Experiencing® (SE) is a body-centered modality that seeks to resolve trauma and chronic stress. Unlike some types of talk therapy, SE works directly with the nervous system and focuses on how trauma is held in the body via sensations, posture, symptoms, and more. SE helps us learn the language of your unique nervous system to ultimately restore a sense of safety and regulation. SE works slowly, gently, and at the pace of your system in order to prevent re-traumatization. This method can be especially helpful for people who experience anxiety, chronic overwhelm, dissociation, and/or folks who feel like they are often stuck in survival mode. SE helps to gently discharge stored energy, regulate the nervous system, and return to a sense of safety, ease, and vitality. Over time, we build capacity to be with, manage, and ultimately enjoy more of our life experiences.

SE may be a good fit if you find yourself feeling stuck in patterns of anxiety, overwhelm, or shutdown, or if you often understand your experiences cognitively but still feel them strongly in your body. It can also be supportive for people who notice chronic stress or physical symptoms connected to emotional experiences, feel disconnected from their body or sense of safety, or are looking for a slower, more attuned approach to healing/recovery that includes both mind and body.

Click here to learn more about SE.

Pillars of

My Practice

Trauma often occurs in isolation and involves “too much, too fast” or “too little for too long”, and overwhelms our capacity to cope. Trauma resolution, then, requires the opposite conditions. Our nervous systems appreciate lots of time, space, and support in order to process and make sense of what happened to us (or maybe what didn’t get to happen). And doing so with an empathetic witness offers attunement and safety in connection.

Time, Space, & Support

This is an invitation to slow down and notice what’s happening inside- not to fix it or figure it out, but to meet it with openness and care. This kind of gentle attention helps you reconnect with the wisdom of the body. By staying curious, we create space for sensations, emotions, and patterns to emerge and be understood. Over time, this mindful noticing becomes a powerful tool for healing and deeper self-trust.

Curious Awareness

The ultimate goal of SE is to build capacity, which is the ability to stay with your experience, in the face of stress or strong emotions. Rather than diving into overwhelm, we work slowly & gently, helping your nervous system grow more resilient over time. This means you’re better able to feel, process, & move through life’s challenges without shutting down or becoming flooded. This is the foundation for lasting, embodied change.

Building Capacity

What is a Somatic Experiencing Session like?

SE sessions often look a lot like therapy: talking, reflecting, and exploring what's happening in your life. The difference is that we'll also bring gentle attention to your body's experience. As we talk, I may invite you to slow down and notice what is happening inside. You might hear questions like:

  • What are you noticing inside your body as you share that?

  • What happens inside when you talk about that experience?

  • Do you notice any sensations, tension, movement, or emotion arising?

  • What feels most present right now?

  • As you notice that feeling, what happens next?

  • Is there a part of your body that feels supportive, settled, or neutral?

You don't need to know the "right" answer to these questions. In fact, "I don't know" is often a perfectly welcome place to start. The goal isn't to analyze your experience or force insight, but to become curious about it.

Together, we'll gently track the patterns of your nervous system, noticing moments of activation, settling, connection, and protection. We may spend time exploring physical sensations, emotions, impulses, memories, or the ways your body responds to stress. Sometimes we'll spend several minutes with a subtle sensation or shift; other times we'll simply notice what happens as you tell your story.

It’s important to note that I work as an integrative therapist, which means sessions may weave together SE with somatic parts work (informed by Inner Relationship Focusing) as well as traditional talk therapy interventions. Depending on what feels most supportive, we may gently explore different “parts” of your experience, work with inner conflict, or bring more cognitive reflection into the process.

SE is not about reliving difficult experiences or pushing through overwhelm. Instead, we move slowly and at the pace of your nervous system, helping you build capacity, reconnect with yourself, and find greater ease in navigating life's challenges. Often, the work is less about fixing what's wrong and more about creating space to listen to what your body has been trying to communicate all along.