Somatic Experiencing
Therapy in Seattle

Sessions look quite different from traditional talk therapy. You sit comfortably, fully clothed, and your practitioner gently guides you to notice what’s happening in your body — sensations, breath, subtle movements, areas of tension or ease. Rather than discussing the narrative of your trauma, the work follows the body’s own intelligence.

No — and this is one of the most important distinctions of Somatic Experiencing. Unlike approaches that ask you to recount or revisit traumatic events in detail, SE works primarily with the body’s present-moment experience. You don’t need to tell your story to heal.

Somatic Experiencing was specifically designed to avoid retraumatization. The entire method is built on principles of titration (working with very small amounts of activation at a time) and pendulation (moving gently between activation and settling), ensuring the nervous system is never overwhelmed.

Somatic Experiencing is a psychotherapeutic modality, not body work. While SE may occasionally include light, consensual touch — always over clothing and with explicit agreement — the core work is mental and nervous system oriented, not physical manipulation.

You don’t need to. Many people, especially those with developmental or childhood trauma, don’t have clear memories of what happened. SE doesn’t require memory — it works with the body’s present-moment experience of activation and dysregulation.

Yes, with a growing evidence base. Somatic Experiencing has been studied in randomized controlled trials for PTSD, chronic pain, and natural disaster survivors, with results showing meaningful symptom reduction and improved quality of life.

This varies significantly based on the type and depth of trauma. Some clients see meaningful shifts in 6 to 10 sessions; others, particularly those with complex or developmental trauma, benefit from longer-term engagement. Your SE practitioner will discuss realistic expectations during the assessment phase.

Coverage varies by plan and provider. Many insurance plans cover SE under behavioral health benefits when used to treat diagnosable conditions like PTSD, anxiety, or trauma-related disorders. Our admissions team will verify your benefits before treatment begins.