Does Somatic Experiencing (SE) Work? SE practices for healing | Monica LeSage | TEDxWilmingtonWomen

In this practice

Key teachings

• Body awareness as a tool for healing
• Self-regulation of the nervous system
• The body's innate capacity to process stress and trauma

Ideal for

• Individuals experiencing trauma or chronic stress
• Those seeking alternative or complementary healing modalities
• Mental health professionals and caregivers
• Anyone interested in body-oriented self-regulation

Lesson

Instructions

NOTE FROM TED: Please consult with a mental health professional and do not look to this talk for medical advice as somatic experiencing is still an emerging field of study. We've flagged this talk for falling outside TEDx's curatorial guidelines. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here:

Trauma is an epidemic, contributing to problems in countless homes and workplaces worldwide. People who have experienced trauma are 15 times more likely to commit suicide, three times more likely to experience depression or use antidepressant medication, four times more likely to become an alcoholic, develop an STD, or inject drugs, and three times more likely to have serious job problems or be absent from work. While experts disagree on the single best modality to treat trauma, there is general agreement that it won't be one thing that does the trick.

Monica LeSage has used Somatic Experiencing as a core element of her recovery, and in the last 6 years has radically tranformed her life. Previously depressed, in constant pain, and unable to work, she was taught somatic experiencing practices by her counselor Dr. Nancy Bement, and now she works full-time, in less pain than ever. The Somatic Experiencing® method is a body-oriented approach to the healing of trauma and other stress disorders. It is the life’s work of Dr. Peter A. Levine, resulting from his multidisciplinary study of stress physiology, psychology, ethology, biology, neuroscience, indigenous healing practices, and medical biophysics, together with over 45 years of successful clinical application.

In her talk she describes how Somatic Experiencing works, how she uses it manage to daily stress, anxiety, and chronic pain, and shares a demonstration of how she used it to help a stranger when she witnessed a traumatic injury this year. Whether you learn Somatic Experiencing principles to heal yourself, a loved one, or a client, this is a tool that everyone needs to have in their healing tool belt.

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Leaving behind a successful career in biotechnology sales, after a life-altering motor vehicle accident, Monica started a career in leadership and talent development. Facing moderate-severe pain daily for 11 years, she has devoted much of her spare time to regaining vitality through play, learning to sit, and relentlessly exploring treatments or therapies that may help.

Through a unique version of trauma therapy called Somatic Experiencing, she now rock climbs again, plays guitar, and has recently started doing acrobatic partner yoga. She is integrating these experiences with her experiences as a leadership trainer and has created a workshop to help others learn to prevent trauma, or to heal trauma/pain to live fully again.

Leaving behind a successful career in biotechnology sales, after a life-altering motor vehicle accident, Monica started a career in leadership and talent development. Facing moderate-severe pain daily for 11 years, she has devoted much of her spare time to regaining vitality through play, learning to sit, and relentlessly exploring treatments or therapies that may help.

Through a unique version of trauma therapy called Somatic Experiencing, she now rock climbs again, plays guitar, and has recently started doing acrobatic partner yoga. She is integrating these experiences with her experiences as a leadership trainer and has created a workshop to help others learn to prevent trauma, or to heal trauma/pain to live fully again. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at

Steps

• Tracking internal physical sensations
• Pendulation (oscillating between activation and settling)
• Resourcing (identifying and utilizing sources of safety)
• Grounding practices

Benefits

• Healing from trauma and stress disorders
• Management of anxiety and chronic pain
• Improved nervous system regulation
• Enhanced emotional resilience
• Increased vitality and well-being