TL;DR Somatic Experiencing (SE) and Hypnosis both help people heal from trauma, but they work in very different ways. SE, developed by Dr. Peter Levine, is a body-based therapy  that helps release trauma stored in the nervous system through awareness of sensations, gentle movement, and nervous system regulation. Clients stay fully conscious and learn to complete unfinished fight-flight-freeze responses so the body can return to safety. Hypnosis , or Hypnotherapy , works throu

TLDR Hypoarousal , also known as the freeze response  or dorsal vagal shutdown , is a primitive survival state triggered when the nervous system perceives an overwhelming threat from which escape is impossible. It is characterized by hypoarousal symptoms  such as emotional numbness, chronic exhaustion, dissociation, mental fog, and severe executive dysfunction. Understanding what causes hypoarousal , the locking down of protective motor energy in the body is crucial for heali

Sometimes healing shows up in ways you don’t expect, such as  a sudden exhale of relief, a trembling in your hands, or a wave of tears that comes without warning. These moments can feel confusing at first, but they are often the body’s natural process of unwinding stress and pain that has been stored for too long. Noticing the signs your body is releasing trauma can bring a sense of reassurance: change is happening on a deeper level. In this article, we’ll explore what those

I often hear clients and even fellow therapists ask me: “What’s the difference between Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Somatic Experiencing?”  It’s a great question, and one that comes up often for people who are exploring body-based approaches to trauma healing. Both Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Somatic Experiencing are powerful methods that honor the mind–body connection, yet they differ in how they help clients process trauma and restore balance. In this article, we’ll ta

Imagine this: you are thinking about starting therapy, but you are not sure where to begin. A friend recommends talk therapy because...

Healing from trauma is not only a mental journey, but also it is a profoundly physical one. When overwhelming experiences occur, the body...