Somatic Experiencing® in Groningen
What is Somatic Experiencing®?
Somatic Experiencing® is a body-oriented therapeutic approach focused on stress- and trauma-related symptoms. It supports people in recognising and working with bodily responses associated with stress and overwhelming experiences. Rather than focusing only on what happened, Somatic Experiencing® also explores how an experience continues to affect the body and nervous system. Attention is given to bodily sensations, emotions, impulses and survival responses such as fight, flight or freeze. The approach aims to support greater regulation, resilience and recovery.
How does Somatic Experiencing® work?
Somatic Experiencing® was developed by Dr. Peter A. Levine and integrates insights from physiology, psychology, neurology, ethology, biology and medical biophysics. Within Somatic Experiencing®, you are guided to notice and explore bodily sensations and responses in a safe and gradual way. Attention may be given to defensive responses that have been interrupted, suppressed or remained unresolved. The process is carefully paced. Rather than becoming overwhelmed by difficult sensations or memories, you learn to approach them in small, manageable steps. This can help develop greater capacity to stay present with bodily sensations, emotions and stress.
Stress, trauma and the nervous system
When we experience something overwhelming, the body automatically responds. The nervous system may activate responses such as fight, flight or freeze to protect us. Sometimes the body is able to recover naturally after the threat has passed. At other times, particularly when an experience is overwhelming, repeated or occurs without sufficient safety or support, stress responses can continue to affect how we feel and respond.
Trauma can be associated with experiences such as:
- accidents or serious injuries
- medical procedures or illness
- physical or emotional trauma
- sexual abuse, rape or other forms of sexual violence
- neglect
- difficult or overwhelming relationships
- loss or separation
- war, displacement or other threatening experiences
- prolonged stress, pressure or lack of safety
Not everyone responds to the same experience in the same way. What feels overwhelming to one person may be experienced differently by another.
How trauma can continue to affect the body
The effects of an overwhelming experience are not always experienced as memories or thoughts. They can also show up physically and emotionally.
For example:
- persistent tension or restlessness
- feeling constantly alert or on guard
- difficulty relaxing or feeling safe
- freezing or feeling disconnected
- strong emotional reactions
- difficulty sensing or expressing boundaries
- avoiding situations, sensations or emotions
- feeling overwhelmed more easily
- difficulty recovering after stress
The role of safety and new experiences
An important part of the approach is creating enough safety, choice and awareness to explore what is happening in the body. Instead of repeatedly focusing on the most difficult aspects of an experience, the process also makes room for experiences of stability, support, strength, connection and calm. These new experiences can help expand the capacity to remain present when stress or difficult sensations arise. The aim is not to relive a traumatic experience. By working gradually and within what feels manageable, you can learn to recognise bodily signals and respond to them differently.
Why animals are part of the theoretical background
Somatic Experiencing® is partly informed by observations of how animals respond to threat and recover from activation. Within the theoretical framework of Somatic Experiencing®, animals are thought to naturally move through different defensive responses, whereas humans may sometimes suppress or interrupt these responses. From this perspective, Somatic Experiencing® pays attention to bodily signals and defensive responses that may have been interrupted or remained unresolved. This is part of the theoretical background of the method and is used to inform the way the approach works with stress and trauma.
My Approach
Body-oriënted therapy and Somatic Experiencing® in particular, works step by step. We follow the natural pace of your nervous system. My work is grounded in a well established model from trauma therapy, described by the French psychologist Pierre Janet, who distinguished three essential phases:
1. Stabilization – calm, safety, and body awareness
In this phase, we work together to build safety, trust, and stability.
You learn how your body signals stress, tension, or dissociation and what you can do to return to a state of greater calm.
We work with grounding, breath, body awareness, and strengthening your window of tolerance.
This phase is essential: nothing needs to be forced. We first create a solid foundation for recovery.
2. Processing – making space for what is held
Only when sufficient resilience has been established do we gradually and carefully approach experiences that have left stress or trauma in your body.
This always happens in a titrated, safe, and attuned way.
You do not have to relive anything we follow the pace of your body.
Somatic Experiencing® supports this process by gently releasing small amounts of stored tension, without overwhelming the system.
3. Integration – living instead of surviving
In this phase, you may notice more calm, clarity, and connection in your daily life.
Your body reacts less automatically; you gain more choice and can sense more clearly what is right for you.
There is space again for meaning, relationships, and growth.
Trauma no longer determines your life you are reconnected with yourself.
Everyone moves through these phases in a unique way. At times, we may move back and forth between them—this is completely natural.
Intake
During our first session, I would like to get to know you and discuss our expectations. With respect for both your boundaries and mine, I will give you a sense of how I usually work.
My approach is a combination of attentive listening, experiential learning, and where helpful providing explanation and guidance. If this way of working feels right for you, and if I feel I can offer you the support you need, we can schedule more sessions.
Sessions
A session lasts one hour and begins with jointly identifying what you would like to explore during that session. The number of sessions depends on your personal question and on what you feel ready to share. Together, we will explore what works best for you.
Costs and Reimbursement
The fee for an (intake) session is €90. Please note that sessions are not reimbursed by health insurance and are therefore at your own expense. A referral is not required.