In-person trauma therapy in Herndon & Online across VA

Somatic Experiencing

Specialized, trauma-informed therapy for adults

Person practicing yoga or meditation on the beach near the water, sitting on sandy ground with arm extended and hand in a mudra gesture.
A woman sitting on a beige sofa, smiling while putting on black over-the-knee boots, with a pink pillow and exposed brick wall behind her.

Somatic Experiencing can help you go from surviving to thriving.

This specialized approach uses gentle movement and sensory awareness to help your nervous system move out of fight, flight or freeze and return to a felt sense of safety. As your system settles, energy and vitality return, and you can begin to get unstuck.

  • Developed by Dr. Peter Levine, Somatic Experiencing is a slower paced, body based approach to trauma resolution. It normalizes symptoms of PTSD, substance use disorders, anxiety and mood disorders and other symptoms typically diagnosed as mental illness as typical, appropriate responses of your nervous system to atypical or traumatic events. SE uses sensory awareness, movement and other tools to help you regain control of your nervous system, and therefor your emotional reactions, triggers, panic attacks and other symptoms.

  • My advanced training in Somatic Experiencing allows me to meet you where you’re most comfortable, whether it is taking a straightforward approach or slowly working from the edges of a traumatic event to the heaviest part of the experience. A typical SE session invites you to slow down, increase body awareness and supports your nervous system in finding safety and calm. SE is meant to gently help your body feel less overwhelmed and more secure.

Try An SE Session

Somatic Experiencing

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The body remembers what your mind forgets.

Martha manning

who it’s for

Somatic Experiencing is for you if…

  • You don’t feel comfortable talking about the details of your trauma

  • You are new to therapy or just beginning your trauma healing journey

  • You want to get in touch with your body’s innate wisdom and capacity for healing

The beauty of somatic experiencing:

The slower we go, the faster we get there.

healing starts here