Somatic Experiencing i seksualna trauma – Iscjeljivanje kroz tijelo
Traditional talk therapies, although invaluable, are sometimes unsuccessful in resolving deeply rooted physical manifestations of trauma. Here, Somatic Experiencing (SE), a therapeutic approach focused on the body, offers profound relief and healing.
Understanding Somatic Experiencing
SE, developed by Dr. Peter A. Levine, is based on the premise that trauma is stored in the body. Levine’s revolutionary work suggests that trauma disrupts the body’s natural ability to self-regulate, leading to a state of chronic stress and dysregulation. It focuses on helping individuals to re-establish this self-regulation by gently guiding them to reconnect with their bodily sensations and release the pent-up energy associated with traumatic experiences.
The process involves increasing awareness of bodily sensations, exploring and processing these sensations in a safe environment and gradually integrating the experience. In doing so, SE helps restore balance and calm the nervous system, increasing feelings of safety and security.
The role of the SE practitioner
SE practitioners are trained to create a supportive space in which survivors can explore their bodily sensations without being judged. Using their knowledge to help clients better adapt to their bodies, gradually releasing traumatic energy and reducing focus on the deep somatic level.
Process of resolving sexual trauma through somatic experience
Establishing safety: The first step in SE is to create a safe environment that supports it. It is vital that the survivor feels sufficiently safe to explore their bodily sensations.
Developing awareness: Clients are encouraged to become more aware of their bodily sensations. This may include learning about the areas of tension, discomfort or resistance. The aim is to help them reconnect with their body in a conscious way.
Pendulation and titration: These are fundamental techniques in SE. Moving involves moving between uncomfortable and comfortable positions, helping to gradually release traumatic energy. Titration spreads the traumatic experience over manageable parts, preventing overloading.
Relaxation and integration: Once clients have recovered their senses, they begin to relax the conserved energy associated with their trauma. This release can lead to a deep feeling of inferiority and a new feeling of self-esteem and an increase in life energy. The final step is the integration of these experiences, helping the client to feel whole and connected to their body.
Benefits of SE for survivors of sexual trauma
- Reduced symptoms: Many survivors report a reduction in PTSD symptoms such as flashbacks, anxiety and depression.
- Improved body awareness: This refers to the dual connection with the body, helping individuals to feel grounded and present.
- Improved emotional regulation: By learning to adapt to their bodily sensations, survivors can better manage their emotional reactions.
- Rejuvenation: Releasing the body from the stress of trauma can be incredibly rejuvenating, restoring a sense of freedom of action and control.
A new path to healing
Somatic Experiencing offers a unique and powerful path to healing sexual trauma. As the body’s awareness of trauma continues to grow, SE establishes itself as a beacon of hope, providing deep, lasting healing for those who have endured sexual trauma.
Liječenje seksualne traume Somatic Experiencing-om: Put do ponovne veze
Seksualna trauma obuhvaća širok raspon iskustava koja duboko utječu na fizičku, emocionalnu i psihičku dobrobit pojedinca. This trauma is not limited to sexual assault, but includes any situation in which sexual integrity is violated, including discrimination and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity and invasive medical procedures. Such trauma often leads to detachment from the body, making treatment challenging or even deeply necessary. Somatic Experiencing (SE) offers a unique and effective approach to help survivors reconnect with their bodies and heal from these deep wounds.
What causes sexual trauma?
Sexual trauma can take many forms, and each leaves a unique tragedy on the body and mind of the survivor:
- Sexual assault and abuse: this includes any non-stop sexual act that is forced on a person, ranging from unwanted groping to assault. It also covers child sexual abuse, where trust and security are seriously compromised.
- Sexual abuse: unwelcome sexual assaults, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical abuse of a sexual nature that creates an unfriendly or threatening environment.
- LGBTQ+-related trauma: trauma resulting from discrimination, violence or rejection based on sexual orientation or gender identity. This can include abuse, physical assault and emotional abuse.
- Medical or hospital trauma: Experiences during medical procedures that were performed invasively, without consent or in violation. This is mandatory for women who have survived traumatic childbirth, invasive surgery or insensitive medical examinations.
- Intimate partner violence: Sexual violence or coercion by a partner in a relationship, which may include forced sex and other forms of sexual manipulation or abuse.
Impact of sexual trauma
Trauma often causes survivors to detach from their bodies as a way of coping with enormous stress and fear. This detachment can manifest itself in various symptoms, such as:
- Chronic anxiety and hypervigilance: A constant feeling of uneasiness and a state of readiness. Depression and emotional numbness: A feeling of numbness
- or lack of emotional response. Flashbacks and intrusive memories: Vivid, puzzling memories of a traumatic event.
- Physical dysregulation: difficulty in the sense or feeling of connection with one’s own body, leading to problems such as eating disorders or chronic pain.
- Sexual dysfunction: effects on sexual activity or intimacy due to trauma.
The aim is to release the retained traumatic energy and integrate these experiences into the client’s overall sense of self:
Somatic healing: The body’s attempt to release tension through movements such as stretching, crying or deep breathing.
Integration: Helping the client to integrate these experiences into their daily life, promoting a sense of wholeness and resilience.
Examples of the treatment of sexual trauma with Somatic Experiencing
Person who has survived sexual abuse in childhood: A client who has experienced sexual abuse in childhood may begin SE therapy feeling disconnected from their body. Through guided awareness and body awareness, they gradually begin to recognize areas of tension and safely release these tensions, leading to a reconnection with their bodily sensations and a reduction in anxiety and flashbacks.
LGBTQ+ person who has experienced trauma: A person who deals with trauma related to their sexual orientation can struggle with internalized shame and bodily dysregulation. It helps in creating a safe space for exploring these feelings, promoting acceptance and compassion towards oneself and facilitating the release of repressed trauma through gentle, body-oriented technology.
Survivor of medical trauma: a patient who feels overwhelmed during an invasive medical procedure may experience constant discomfort and fear. If it is possible to process these experiences by focusing on bodily sensations and gradually releasing the associated tension, it helps them to regain a sense of control and security in their body.
Survivor of intimate partner violence
Case description: A woman in her thirties experienced sexual coercion and violence from her partner. As a result, she feels fragile, distrustful and disconnected from her own body.
SE process:
Establishing safety: the practitioner works on creating a safe therapeutic environment based on trust. This includes clear communication and ensuring that the client feels in control of the process.
Developing awareness: the client is guided to experience subtle bodily sensations, such as the feeling of the feet on the ground or the feeling of floating.
Pendulation: The therapist helps her to oscillate between the feeling of discomfort at the thought of traumatic experiences and the feeling of security and comfort in the present moment.
Relaxation and integration: Over time, they experience spontaneous somatic relaxation, such as yawning or crying, which help release the retained traumatic energy. This joyous process helps to restore a sense of empowerment and a renewed sense of bodily autonomy.
LGBTQ+ young people who have experienced abuse and rejection
Case description: A young person who identifies as non-binary experienced severe bullying at school and rejection by their family because of their gender identity. This led to high levels of stress, physical dysphoria and emotional numbness.
SE process:
Creating a safe space: the practitioner ensures that the therapeutic environment is welcoming and that it affirms the client’s identity, emphasizing their control over the process.
Physical world: gentle guidance helps the client to accept areas of tension or apathy without judgment. This may include simple guidance of drawing or guided imagery.
Titration: The therapist helps the client to process small, manageable parts of their traumatic experiences so as to avoid re-experiencing them.
Integration: The client learns to connect positive feelings with his or her body, such as the warmth of a woman or the comfort of a beloved child, experiencing a renewed sense of security and self-acceptance.
Person who has survived sexual harassment at work
Case description: A man in his forties experienced continuous sexual harassment from a superior at work. This resulted in chronic anxiety, sleep disturbances and feelings of powerlessness.
SE process:
Building trust: the practitioner establishes a strong therapeutic bond that provides support, ensuring that the client feels listened to and respected.
Development of physical awareness: the client is aware that he or she is adapting to physical sensations, such as the rise of the chest or tension in the arms, and that he or she is feeling the therapist with intention and without judgment.
Relaxation: The therapist helps the client to move between the perception of painful sensations and the experience of feelings of security and serenity in the present moment.
Somatic release: Through guided breathing, the client can experience physical release, such as deep breaths or spontaneous movements, which help to release stored trauma. This process leads to better sleep and reduced anxiety.
Trauma from invasive medical procedures
Case description: A person who has been subjected to multiple invasive gynecological procedures without an adequate break feels overwhelmed and anxious about future medical visits. She experiences panic attacks when she thinks about the medical conditions.
The process:
Establishing safety: the practitioner emphasizes client control over the therapeutic process, helping her to feel protected and safe.
Physical awareness: gentle body scanning and awareness training help her become aware of her bodily sensations and stay present with them.
Titration: The therapist guides her to work through small, manageable parts of her medical trauma, ensuring that she is not overwhelmed.
Integration: Throughout the SE process, the patient begins to free themselves of the trauma, experiencing physical and emotional relief. This helps them feel less anxious and less afraid of future medical procedures.
Treatment of child sexual abuse
Case description: An adult male who survived child sexual abuse struggles with intimacy and experiences fears that haunt his everyday life.
SE process:
Creating a safe therapeutic space: the practitioner works on building a relationship of trust and support, ensuring that the client feels safe in exploring their trauma.
Development of bodily awareness: the client is instructed to accept and describe his or her bodily sensations, such as tension or numbness, in a non-judgmental way.
Pendulation: The therapist helps the client to move between the recall of traumatic memories and the experience of feelings of safety and comfort in the present moment.
Somatic release and integration: the client experiences physical release, such as crying or deep breathing, which helps to dissipate the retained traumatic energy. This process leads to a reduction in flashbacks and an improved ability to trust in intimate relationships.
These examples illustrate the different ways in which it is possible to improve the recovery of people who have survived sexual trauma. By focusing on the body, individuals are helped to release the stored traumatic energy, reconnect with their bodily sensations and integrate these experiences into their overall sense of self.
*Key words: sexual trauma, somatic experiencing therapy, psychotherapist zagreb, gestalt therapy
*Photo: GettyImages
*Contact: Make an appointment
*Za firme: Kreativni Direktor
