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Clinical resource

How Trauma Stays in The Body

Learn how Somatic Experiencing at THE BALANCE helps release stored trauma through body awareness, mindfulness, and nervous system regulation.

Written by THE BALANCE

Medically reviewed byDr. Sarah Boss, MD
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Quick Summary

  • Somatic Experiencing uses mindful attention to bodily sensations to address persistent stress patterns and support gradual nervous-system regulation.
  • Sessions at THE BALANCE prioritize trust and safety, beginning with less triggering experiences rather than directly revisiting trauma.
  • Clients are guided between sensations of activation and calm through conversation, observation and breath awareness, without hands-on bodywork.

In the last decade, there has been a revolution in mental health treatment. With works like The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk and The Polyvagal Theory by Stephen Porges, the research shows us that our experiences can live on inside of us long after they have happened. In order to properly treat people, the body must be addressed. At THE BALANCE, we understand this deeply, and it informs everything we do.  It’s not just about bodywork like yoga, tai chi, massage, and acupuncture but also about welcoming the body into therapy sessions as well. One of the core techniques we champion in our clinic is Somatic Experiencing: a technique that was first developed by Peter Levine, a pioneering psychologist, after observing how animals released stress and trauma in the wild. To understand this concept more, we sat down with one of our Somatic Experiencing experts, David Cornwell, to discuss what it is, where it comes from, and why it is so valuable in a therapeutic process.

Somatic Experiencing, developed by Peter Levine, is rooted in the idea that the body holds onto stress and trauma, sometimes long after the mind has moved on. The method is inspired by how animals in the wild release stress after life-threatening encounters.  In the wild, when a wildebeest survives a lion attack, its body instinctively goes through a process of discharging the immense energy and stress accumulated during the encounter. This discharge is a physical release, such as shaking or trembling, allowing the animal to reset its nervous system and return to a calm state. Unlike humans, animals do not ruminate on the trauma but experience it fully in the moment, completing the stress response cycle, and then moving on without lingering effects. Somatic Experiencing focuses on helping individuals tune into their bodies to release pent-up stress and bring balance to the nervous system.

When a traumatic event occurs, if the energy isn’t released, it becomes “stuck” in the body, leading to long-term stress and trauma-related symptoms such as hyperarousal or dissociation. Somatic Experiencing is designed to help people complete this biological response by gently guiding them through their bodily sensations, allowing the nervous system to “discharge” trapped survival energy in a controlled and mindful way.

Somatic Experiencing focuses on the body, but it is not hands-on bodywork. David explains that Somatic Experiencing is about allowing the body to naturally move between states of activation (stress) and discharge (release) in a gentle, gradual process. It doesn’t involve deep analysis or reliving traumatic experiences directly but instead helps clients develop body awareness to release stress patterns slowly over time.

Mindfulness plays a crucial role in Somatic Experiencing by helping individuals become present with their sensations and experiences without judgment. A mindfulness practice can be developed in various ways. The beginning doesn’t need to be overcomplicated. It can be learned through a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course or in a secular environment with a professional guide or teacher. There is real value in developing a more formal practice, and what that looks like differs for each person. For example, walking in nature—focusing on the feel of the air, the sounds, and the texture of the ground—can deepen one’s connection to the environment.

In one of its literal translations, mindfulness means “to remember.” We forget to pay attention so often. The neuroscience behind this tells us that the more we pay attention, the more attention we are able to pay. It builds momentum. Through mindfulness, clients not only learn to be present but also develop an awareness that allows them to release stress meaningfully. As David says, “It’s not about developing a magical skillset—it’s about being present to what’s important in our lives.”

At THE BALANCE, a Somatic Experiencing session is primarily about building trust and connection. This involves easy, open conversations that allow clients to feel safe and supported. It’s important that trauma isn’t addressed directly in early sessions, as it can be overwhelming. Instead, the goal is to build resources within the client and slowly introduce the idea of “surfing the waves” of stress—starting small and gradually working up to more significant issues.

As he says: “We don’t dive right into the trauma in session one. It is trauma therapy, but it is not trauma-focused. With somatic experiencing, we learn to surf small waves, the easier parts, and the less triggering aspects of one’s life. The client learns how to flow between activation and discharge, then when we get to the big waves – they already know how to surf.” The beauty of this process is that clients learn to understand their own body’s signals and how to regulate their stress responses.

In a typical session, clients are guided to notice sensations in their body, such as tightness or tension, and then return to a point of calm, such as focusing on their breath. This “pendulation,” as David describes, helps them move between states of stress and ease, allowing the nervous system to recalibrate slowly. The process is gradual and doesn’t involve hands-on bodywork—it’s about talking, observing, and developing body awareness.

Somatic Experiencing represents a profound shift in how we approach trauma and stress in mental health treatment. By recognizing that our bodies hold onto unprocessed experiences, this technique offers a pathway to healing that goes beyond traditional talk therapy. At THE BALANCE, we understand that addressing mental health holistically means considering the mind, body, and nervous system together. Somatic Experiencing, alongside other therapeutic practices, empowers our clients to reconnect with their bodies, release stored trauma, and develop resilience. It’s a gentle, yet powerful process that fosters self-awareness, healing, and ultimately, balance.

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Editorial evidence

Evidence & sources

Selected clinical guidelines, peer-reviewed research, and public-health sources used in this article.

01National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2022). Meditation and mindfulness: What you need to know. National Institutes of Health.View source
02American Psychological Association. (2023). Trauma.View source
03Cochrane Library. (2021). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for improving health, quality of life and social functioning in adults.View source
View all 12 sourcesShow fewer sources
04World Health Organization. (n.d.). International classification of diseases 11th revision (ICD-11): Disorders specifically associated with stress.View source
05National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Coping with traumatic events. National Institute of Mental Health.View source
06National Health Service. (2023). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
07National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020). Stress and substance use.View source
08National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2022). Yoga: What you need to know. National Institutes of Health.View source
09U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs & U.S. Department of Defense. (2023). VA/DoD clinical practice guideline for the management of posttraumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder.View source
10National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
11National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2013). Posttraumatic stress disorder and cardiovascular disease. National Library of Medicine.
12National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2018). Post-traumatic stress disorder: Management (NICE Guideline NG116).View source
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Jil MooreClient Relations Director
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Cynthia NakhleAdmissions Manager

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