Brad Beldner
Integrated Bodywork
Nationally Certified Somatic Therapist and Movement Teacher
Somatic Experiencing®
"Traumatic symptoms are not caused by the event
itself. They arise when the activation, mobilized to meet an extreme or
life threatening event, is not fully discharged and integrated. This energy
remains trapped in the nervous system where it can wreak havoc on our
bodies and our minds."
-Peter A. Levine
Somatic Experiencing® (SE) offers a new and hopeful
vision of trauma. A short-term, naturalistic approach to the resolution
of healing and trauma developed by Dr. Peter A. Levine, SE is based upon
the observation that wild prey animals, though threatened routinely, are
rarely traumatized. The most primitive portions of the brain are activated
when a person perceives threat. At the same time, certain higher areas
in the cortex associated with language, observation and planning are shut
down. Animals in the wild utilize innate mechanisms to regulate and discharge
high levels of energy arousals associated with survival behaviors. "Modeling"
the animals' built-in "immunity" enables people to return to
equilibrium in the aftermath of fear, rage, helplessness, loss and other
extreme experiences.
Although humans are born with virtually the same regulatory systems as
animals, the function of these innate systems is often overridden or inhibited.
Our reluctance to surrender to the instinctual prevents the complete discharge
of survival energies. This un-discharged energy remains "stuck"
in the body and the nervous system. In bringing together the highest cerebral
functions of refined awareness with the primitive animal instincts, we
are able to develop our own natural ability to rebound after extreme events.
Transforming trauma in this way allows us to become more fully human.
How does SE differ from other therapeutic models?
- SE helps to develop the organismic capacity for self regulation.
- SE applies awareness of body sensation to help people renegotiate and heal, rather than relieve or re-enact trauma.
- SE's guidance of the bodily "felt sense," allows the highly aroused survival energies to be safely experienced and gradually discharged.
- SE "titrates" experience, rather than evoking catharsis-which can overwhelm the regulatory mechanisms of the organism.
- SE helps eliminate pitfalls of re-traumatization and the spurious generation of "false memories."
For more information on Somatic Experiencing and practitioner training contact:
Foundation for Human Enrichment (a non-profit educational
institute)
Ph: (303) 823-9524 Web site: www.traumahealing.com
Brad Beldner - Integrated Bodywork
Phone: (650)630-2036
Email: bradbeldner@sbcglobal.net
Brad Beldner / Therapeutic Methods / On Site Chair & Table Massage / Contact & Rates / Links & Resources / Top
