Peter Levine's Somatic Experiencing®: A Path to Trauma Healing

For decades, trauma therapies have focused on the cognitive aspect: on the content of our thoughts and how to change them. But the latest research shows that the body also has a role to play. Peter Levine, a trauma therapist, has […]

For decades, therapies to treat trauma have focused on the cognitive aspect: on the content of our thoughts and how to change them. But, as the most recent studies show, the body also has a role to play.

Peter Levine, a trauma therapist, has developed a body-based therapy that has allowed him to support people on their path to healing and train therapists around the world. This is the Somatic Experiencencing®.

Understanding Somatic Experiencing®

In his book “Healing Trauma”, Peter Levine explains that trauma is not an isolated event, confined to the past. Rather, it is a continual cycle of tension and release, which survives long after the initial event.

Trauma has real effects on the body and mind. The traumatic experience is not only psychological, it is also physiological. The painful event will create a disruption in the functioning of the body, in its ability to regulate the nervous system. After a trauma, managing daily stress becomes difficult, if not impossible, and we develop long-term symptoms and illnesses, such as generalized anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress (PTSD).

The good news is that this vicious cycle can be broken. Peter Levine proposes a holistic approach to treating trauma. He developed his own therapeutic approach, based primarily on the body, at a time when cognitive approaches were dominant.

« I realized that it is useless to recall old memories or relive old pain to heal trauma. In fact, pain when relived can make trauma worse. To free ourselves from our symptoms and fears, we must call upon our deep physiological resources and use them consciously.
Peter Levine

Healing Trauma: The Importance of the Body

We often hear that trauma is “stored” in the body, which never fails to tickle the most skeptical among us. But what does this really mean?

Recent scientific research have demonstrated that traumatic experience can trigger physiological changes. These are mainly the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, changes in hormones and neurotransmitters, as well as chronic pain.

Peter Levine a summer l'un several first à explorer many potential de la psychology somatic, à doing le lien across le body et l'mind in la handy therapeutic. Il developed l'idea according to which l'experience traumatic peut saturate le body et affect sa capacity Nature à s'self-regulate. Il offers then his approach, la Somatic Experiencing (SE), a therapy fresh here allows de release le body several tensions et de restore un state de security.

Son Programs « Cure many trauma », First published in French by Quantum Way, it is a beautiful introduction to Somatic Experiencing. Inspired by the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, it guides us through the 12 steps of healing from trauma.

“It’s important to know that healing from trauma takes time. Along the path to healing, there can be dramatic, poignant moments and small breakthroughs.”
Peter Levine

Find out more

Trauma is a complex phenomenon. However, it is possible to get through it. This is our conviction at Quantum Way. It is also one of our reasons for being: to make the work of trauma specialists more accessible to French speakers.

The program “Healing Trauma” by Peter Levine is available on our e-learning platform in French. Designed to be practiced over 6 weeks, it gives you access to all the tools necessary to integrate the practice of Somatic Experiencing®. Whether you are a therapist or someone engaged in your healing process, it will be very useful to you.

Click here to register for Peter Levine's "Healing Trauma" program.

FREE