Somatic Experiencing®

When the body becomes part of the conversation.

Somatic Experiencing® is a gentle, body-oriented approach to stress and difficult experiences. It works with the nervous system — step by step, at a pace that feels manageable.

Book a first sessionRead the introduction
A warm patch of sunlight with soft leaf shadows on a wall

The nervous system tells part of the story.

Somatic Experiencing® (SE) was developed by Dr Peter A. Levine. It starts from a simple observation: stress and overwhelming experiences do not only live in our thoughts — they also live in the body, as activation, tension, bracing or shutdown.

In SE, we work with these responses gently. Rather than pushing into intense experiences, we move in small, manageable steps (titration) and between what is difficult and what supports you (pendulation). Over time, the nervous system can find more room, more flexibility and more ease.

I am a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner and combine SE with Gestalt therapy.

Recognising the signals

The nervous system may show itself as …

Activation

Restlessness, tension, urgency, racing thoughts, irritability or trouble slowing down.

Shutdown

Numbness, heaviness, exhaustion or a sense of being far away from yourself.

Protection

Bracing, controlling, avoiding or disconnecting — often before you can choose.

Recovery

Breath, warmth, orientation and small movements: signs that your system finds more room.

Soft golden light and leaf shadows spreading across a wall
How SE can help

From overwhelm toward regulation.

Regulation

Learning to notice activation earlier and finding your way back to balance.

Capacity

Gradually being able to stay with difficult feelings without being flooded by them.

Integration

Moving from insight into something you can sense — and carry into everyday life.

Safety

Paying attention to resources and to what helps, not only to what hurts.

Questions

About Somatic Experiencing.

Is Somatic Experiencing® only for trauma?

No. SE was developed for the after-effects of overwhelming experiences, but it is just as helpful for chronic stress, anxiety, exhaustion or the feeling of being constantly “on”.

Do I have to talk about what happened in detail?

No. One of the strengths of SE is that it does not require retelling difficult events in detail. We work with what your body shows now, in small steps.

Can SE be done online?

Yes. Much of the work happens through your own perception, which I guide. We pace it carefully so it stays manageable at home as well.

How is SE different from talk therapy?

Talking remains part of it, but the body is included as a source of information and change. Many people find that this helps where talking alone has reached its limits.

Does SE replace medical or psychiatric treatment?

No. SE can complement medical or psychiatric care. With your consent, I am glad to coordinate with your doctor or psychiatrist.

Feel what it’s like — at a pace that’s right for you.

In Łódź or online, in English or Polish.

Book a first sessionGestalt therapy