1:1 SESSIONS
Working With Tiffany
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Somatic Experiencing® (SE) is a body-based approach to healing trauma that works directly with the nervous system. Traditional therapy works with the narrative of our experience; talking through events as a way to release their activation/charge. SE works with what I call the story beneath the story. What is underneath that narration is a somatic dialogue of behaviors, impulses, sensations, images, and emotions that, if slowed down and attuned to, tell their own story about where trauma lives and how to heal it.
Developed by Dr. Peter Levine, SE is based on the idea that trauma isn’t just about what happened—it’s about what didn’t get to happen; actions or movements that needed to be taken, words that needed to be spoken that weren’t able to ‘complete’ and so they remain stuck in the body. Levine’s research on animals in the wild showed that even though they regularly face danger, they don’t stay traumatized. That’s because their bodies naturally release stress after a threat passes. Humans, however, tend to suppress these natural responses, leaving us suspended in cycles of stress, anxiety, or shutdown.
Somatic Experiencing helps gently guide the body back to a sense of safety and completion, so you can move beyond survival mode and into states of ease, connection, and presence.
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Stress speeds us up, so the first step is to slow things down.
One of the key principles of Somatic Experiencing® is titration—which means working with small pieces of stored trauma at a time, so the nervous system can process them without becoming overwhelmed. Instead of diving straight into the hardest moments, we take a gentle, step-by-step approach, paying close attention to the body’s natural responses.
This might look like:
+ Noticing shifts in breathing, body temperature, or muscle tension
+ Following impulses toward movement that help release stored energy
+ Observing images, emotions, or memories that surface naturally
When we experience a threat—that could be actual like a dangerous person, it could also be perceived like a pile of laundry or a work email—regardless, our nervous system automatically activates into protective responses like fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. If we weren’t able to fully process those responses at the time, that survival energy can get stuck in the body, showing up as tension, anxiety, numbness, or other disruptive symptoms.
In session, we work slowly and intentionally to help your body complete what was left unfinished, restoring your ability to self-regulate and feel more present and empowered.
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Chronic pain
Sexual/physical abuse
Grief and loss
Medical procedures
Auto accidents
Falls or head injuries
Natural disasters
Developmental ruptures (neglect, abandonment, emotional/physical abuse)
Systemic oppression
Transgenerational/ancestral trauma
Spiritual/religious abuse
Psychedelic ruptures
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Nervousness, anxiety, and/or panic
Zoned out, numb, or dissociative
Being "on guard" all the time
Difficulty sleeping due to ruminating thoughts
Depression or pervasive feelings of helplessness/hopelessness
Immobility – feeling stuck and without options
Diminished interest in life
Chronic fatigue or very low energy
Headaches
Digestive and immune system issues
PMDD
Hormonal imbalances
Pelvic tension/numbness
Physical/emotional rigidity
FAQs
Can you share details of what happens during a session?
In traditional therapy, the focus is on the narrative of our experience. SE diverts some of that attention and redirects it toward how our experience lives in the body and shows up in the nervous system as patterns of tension or disconnection. Our work will center around connecting to the language of the body by noticing the channels it most clearly speaks through: sensation, imagery, movement, and emotion.
I’m a bit concerned/curious about “jumping” right into a session.
It's perfectly normal and natural to feel hesitation when it comes to approaching any kind of trauma or body related work. Cognitively working through something is not the same as physiologically addressing it. The residue of our experiences as we meet them in the body can be surprisingly potent. That's why slow is the key. One of the main components of SE is titration, which is a term that essentially means a very little bit at a time. We won't dive right into the deep end of a highly charged experience, rather we will work gently with the edges, or periphery, of what emerges where the experience is more manageable.
Can SE help with physical pain or tension?
Sessions can help unravel physical tension that may be the result of unresolved emotions, experiences, or nervous system dysregulation. However, SE is not a replacement for medical assistance, so it is always important to get an evaluation by your doctor to rule out any necessary medical interventions.
How frequently do you recommend this work?
In general, every other week seems to be a good place to begin. Having some time between sessions gives the work we do with the nervous system time to settle, integrate, and reorganize toward greater coherence and clarity. It also gives space to observe the impact of the work on daily life experiences. However, if you are working with something acute or feel that you need more support, having weekly sessions can be a helpful anchor during heightened moments of duress.
