Somatic Experiencing®
Heal trauma, release stress, and restore balance through body-centered nervous system healing.
Relief From Trauma Symptoms
A Greater Sense of Peace
Feel Empowered & Confident
Somatic Experiencing® Supports You In:
Reducing Anxiety & Panic
Helping your nervous system release stored survival energy and return to balance.
Feeling Calmer & More Grounded
Reconnect with your body and build a stronger sense of presence.
Increasing Resilience to Stress
Handle life’s challenges with greater ease and flexibility.
Experiencing a Deeper Sense of Safety
Feel at ease in your body, relationships, and daily life.
What is Somatic Experiencing®?
Somatic Experiencing® was developed by Dr. Peter Levine after decades of studying how humans and animals respond to threat. Unlike traditional talk therapy that focuses primarily on thoughts and memories, SE helps you reconnect with your body, gently release stored survival energy, and restore a natural sense of safety and balance.
Somatic Experiencing® (SE) is a gentle, evidence-informed method that helps people recover from trauma by focusing on physical sensations rather than reliving painful memories. Trauma can leave the nervous system stuck in “fight, flight, or freeze.” SE works by guiding you to notice and release tension stored in your body, allowing your nervous system to reset and heal.
How Does Somatic Experiencing® Work?
Trauma doesn’t just live in your thoughts, it’s held in your nervous system. When you go through something overwhelming, your body’s natural survival responses (fight, flight, or freeze) can get “stuck.” Somatic Experiencing® (SE) works by gently guiding your awareness to the physical sensations connected to these responses, helping your body complete them and return to a state of balance.
During a session, you won’t be asked to relive or retell your trauma in detail. Instead, your therapist will help you:
Notice Body Sensations Safely
Becoming aware of tension, numbness, or shifts in energy without judgment.
Release Stored Survival Energy
Allowing your body to naturally discharge what was held during the traumatic experience.
Build Resilience & Regulation
Learning how to come back to calm, even when life feels stressful.
Reconnect with a Sense of Safety
Fostering trust in your body’s natural ability to heal.
"Somatic Experiencing® isn’t about reliving the past. It’s about teaching your body how to feel safe again, so you can move from surviving to truly living."
Meet Our EMDR Trained Clinicians
Rachel R. White
Trauma & Anxiety in Women & Teen Girls
Anna Cleary
Women & Teen Girls
Heather Parton
Adult Women, Engaged Couples, & Married Couples
We Provide Somatic Experiencing® For:
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Childhood Trauma or Abuse
- Chronic Pain
- Chronic Stress
- Acute Stress of Trauma
- Depression
- Panic Attacks
Somatic Experiencing® FAQs
Do I have to talk about my trauma?
No. SE focuses on body sensations rather than reliving traumatic memories. You won’t be asked to retell your story in detail.
How is Somatic Experiencing® different from EMDR?
Both are evidence-based trauma therapies. EMDR reprocesses traumatic memories, while SE restores nervous system balance through the body. Many clients find them complementary.
Is Somatic Experiencing® safe?
Yes. SE is gentle, paced, and designed to avoid overwhelming your system. You are always in control of the process.
How long before I feel results?
Some clients feel relief after a few sessions; for others, healing unfolds gradually. Each journey is unique.
Does Somatic Experiencing® help with anxiety and stress?
Yes. SE supports both trauma recovery and relief from chronic stress, tension, and burnout.
Why Clients Choose Seven Oaks Therapy
Rachel is so kind and sweet, I have always felt seen and encouraged
“Rachel is so kind and sweet, I have always felt seen and encouraged. The style of EMDR therapy resonated with my yoga background, I really felt the sensations somatically and have seen how it has positively effected my way of being.”
- A.H.
I enthusiastically recommend Rachel White.
“I enthusiastically recommend Rachel White with Seven Oaks Therapy for treatment of PTSD using EMDR. I chose Rachel because she was recommended by a friend, used EMDR, and had enough wisdom and experience to be able to relate to my issues in a compassionate empathetic way.”
- Past Client