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About

Somatic Experiencing (SE™) is a body-oriented therapeutic model applied in multiple professions and professional settings—psychotherapy, medicine, coaching, teaching, and physical therapy—for healing trauma and other stress disorders. It is based on a multidisciplinary intersection of physiology, psychology, ethology, biology, neuroscience, indigenous healing practices, and medical biophysics and has been clinically applied for more than four decades. It is the life’s work of Dr. Peter A. Levine.
 

The SE approach releases traumatic shock, which is key to transforming PTSD and the wounds of emotional and early developmental attachment trauma. It offers a framework to assess where a person is “stuck” in the fight, flight or freeze responses and provides clinical tools to resolve these fixated physiological states. 

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SE is commonly used in aiding clients who have experienced traumas relating to war, natural disaster, invasive medical procedure, physical and sexual assault, emotional abuse, neglect, and ongoing complex traumas.

 

By witnessing and taking note of how trauma shows up in the bodies of those we work with, we can more effectively address the root causes of trauma symptoms.

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Curriculum

The Somatic Experiencing Professional Training is a multi-year program consisting of three levels: Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced. 

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Each level is then separated further into modules, with Beginning and Intermediate levels having three modules each, and Advanced having two modules.

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A module takes place over four consecutive days for a total of 24 hours (6 hours of training each day). On average, it will take about 2 years to complete the Beginning & Intermediate levels and an additional one year to complete Advanced. 

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This training structure allows students to continue their learning with the same people they started learning SE with - their "cohort". 

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission into the Somatic Experiencing Training Program, applicants must be professionals with an active practice so that the techniques learned during the training can be immediately applied and developed throughout the course of the program. Exceptions may be granted to graduate students participating in an internship program, or where other extenuating circumstances exist. 

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This program is designed to train professionals in varied fields in working more effectively with client trauma. This can include mental health professionals, medical professionals, alternative medicine professionals, body workers, and other professionals who frequently encounter folks with trauma. 

 

This training is not suitable for those solely seeking a personal growth experience, or for those who do not have an active professional practice. As well, acceptance into the SE training does not ensure that all methods you are taught will be appropriate for inclusion into your practice. Students are responsible for ensuring they operate within their scope of practice and accordance with any local laws/acts/legislations, as well as their own regulatory bodies. 

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We reserve the right to approve or deny any application and/or accept or reject any person's participation. 

Further Reading

If you'd like to learn more about Somatic Experiencing, we highly recommend the resources included below. 

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For books on Somatic Experiencing, we recommend:

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For Somatic Experiencing International resources:

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To delve into more specific topics - or to learn more from our current Faculty member, Francine Kelley: â€‹

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