Somatic Experiencing

Core idea

Built on observation of how prey animals shake off near-death encounters without developing trauma, SE proposes that human trauma is the result of fight/flight/freeze responses that mobilized but never discharged. The therapist tracks the body — sensations, micro-movements, breath, posture — and uses titration and pendulation to help the nervous system gradually complete those responses and return to regulation.

Key concepts

Window of tolerance

The range of arousal in which the nervous system can integrate experience.

Titration

Working with one small piece of activation at a time — the opposite of catharsis.

Pendulation

Rhythmic movement between activation and resource — the nervous system's natural rhythm.

Discharge

Trembling, sighing, yawning, tears — the body completing what was thwarted.

SIBAM

Sensation, Image, Behavior, Affect, Meaning — the five channels of experience tracked in SE.

What a session looks like

1. 1
   Resource

   Locate a sense of safety, strength, or pleasure in the body.
2. 2
   Track

   Notice what's happening in the body right now — sensation, temperature, movement.
3. 3
   Pendulate

   Move attention between the activated area and the resource.
4. 4
   Titrate

   Touch the edge of the trauma material in tiny doses; allow discharge.
5. 5
   Settle

   Allow the system to integrate; end well within the window of tolerance.

Signature techniques

Evidence base

Smaller evidence base than CBT or EMDR but growing: RCTs and pilot studies for PTSD, chronic low back pain, and post-tsunami trauma show meaningful effect sizes. Strong clinical and theoretical alignment with polyvagal theory and modern neuroscience of stress.

Common pitfalls

• ▸Pushing for catharsis — overwhelms the system and re-traumatizes.
• ▸Talking about sensation rather than tracking it in the moment.
• ▸Skipping resourcing because the client seems fine — the resource is the brake.
• ▸Working outside the window of tolerance and calling it processing.

Where to go next