A plain-language introduction to Somatic Experiencing — a body-based approach to working with trauma and chronic stress.
Somatic Experiencing is a body-oriented therapeutic approach designed to help people resolve the effects of trauma and chronic stress by gently working with physical sensation and the nervous system, rather than through conversation alone. It was developed by Dr. Peter Levine and focuses on how the body holds and releases stress responses.
Somatic Experiencing was developed by Dr. Peter Levine, who explored how the nervous system processes overwhelming events. The central idea is that trauma is not only psychological but also physiological — something that can remain “stored” in the body after a distressing event has passed. It is widely used by trained practitioners internationally.
Somatic Experiencing works with the autonomic nervous system — the part of us that regulates stress and calm. A practitioner may guide someone to notice small signals in the body and move gently between states of activation and settling, supporting the nervous system in completing stress responses that may have been interrupted at the time of a difficult experience.
It is most commonly associated with working through the effects of trauma, as well as chronic stress and difficulties feeling settled or regulated. In addiction and recovery, body-based approaches are sometimes used as part of a wider treatment plan, reflecting the understanding that unresolved trauma can underlie addictive patterns.
A session usually takes place as a one-to-one conversation with a trained practitioner — you remain fully clothed, seated, and in control throughout. Rather than focusing only on recounting events, the practitioner invites you to slow down and notice what is happening in your body, at a gentle pace.
Do I have to talk in detail about what happened to me?
Generally, no. A body-based approach does not require reliving or recounting a traumatic event in detail.
Who provides Somatic Experiencing?
It is delivered by practitioners who have completed specific training in the approach, often as part of an integrated treatment plan.
If you would like to understand how a body-based approach might fit within a wider recovery programme, read more about our somatic therapy offering.
Last updated: July 2026. This article is intended for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.