Somatic Experience Therapy

Hi Peeps,

Please note there are triggers in this story. I mention sexual abuse. Please stop reading if this is a trigger for you.

A few weeks ago I mentioned I have been undertaking Somatic Experience (SE) therapy. This therapy has been so helpful for me as part of the many other things I do to try and heal.

Most of my anxiety and depression is held in my body. I would be constantly telling the GP about the physical sensations I have. The pins and needles in certain parts of my body, the knotted muscles, the soreness - I felt like they ignored this. The medication did not help these symptoms so I started to investigate.

A few years back, I came across some somatic therapy information, it made sense to me. However, like anything it is another cost and when you are raising 3 kids with limited financial support from your ex you put them first. At the end of 2024, I came across a local Somatic Experience therapist. He popped up on Facebook. Yes, this time I listened to the sign from the universe. I rang him one day when I was struggling. We talked about trauma and I said but I have not had any trauma. Trauma to me means abuse - I almost did not go. However, I decided to pay the $1500 for 10 visits. I invested this money to make sure I went. I had tried everything else and nothing was working; it was my last hope.

I meet with my SE therapist, who has done the Peter Levine training. Peter is the founder of SE and he has a Medical and Biological Physics background. He was guided by his own compelling need to heal from childhood trauma. My therapist told me some of his own mental health journey and then we began.

This is not talk therapy! It is hard to explain, however you focus in on parts of your body and bring your attention to specific areas. You are also mindful of words coming into your brain and then it starts. You seriously won't believe me when I explain this. Your body starts moving on its own. Yes, on its own. The therapist is not touching you and it is almost like your body has been possessed by a spirit.

The therapist's job is to keep you grounded and safe whilst your body processes a past trauma or memory that it never got to complete. It is your nervous system finally trying to cope with what happened previously as your body stores this as a memory. Sounds crazy right!!

After 4 months of weekly and then fortnightly visits and more $$$ I had a break through. The secret, my body had been storing came to me. I had been sexually abused as a child. I don't wish to share any more information at the moment as I am still in the process of understanding what happened. 3 months since the first memory I am still having memories about what happened. My body is slowly unpacking the trauma I experience as a child. It is also unpacking the trauma I have experience for years after. 

I am so thankful that I undertook this therapy. I am so glad my body is starting to process the pain it experienced as a child. I was an innocent child. My parents were the best parents and did all they could to keep me safe. They should feel no guilt and I should feel no shame. Now, I just have to accept it happened and what this person did to me was wrong.

If you are experiencing mental health issues with physical sensations I would strongly recommend doing SE therapy. I still attend my psychologist (talk therapy) to unpack what I am remembering and that also helps. I also do a few other things I will write about soon as I want to share what has worked for me in the hope that it may help others.

Give your loved ones an extra hug tonight. I spend many nights on my own house sitting and I would love someone to give me a hug at the end of the day.

P.S. Just make sure you find a properly trained SE therapist from Peter Levine. 

Love,

Ro.