Trauma overwhelms the nervous system, trapping clients in a seemingly inescapable life-draining cycle of pain and hopelessness. For Peter Levine, it is only through re-regulation of the nervous system that clients can break free of this cycle before they can even begin to process the experience of trauma. Rooted in Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal theory, Levine’s directive, body-oriented techniques can be integrated into a wide range of therapeutic modalities and be used to treat all manner of trauma – from car accidents, surgeries, child abuse, experiences of violence, and natural disasters.
Simply stated, trauma is about ‘fixity’ and pain, while ‘flow’ is about release and freedom to live. Working over five sessions, Levine introduces several essential trauma resolution techniques that greatly improve Ray’s Tourette-like symptoms, as well as his overall pain and emotional outlook. By watching him at work, you will learn how to:
- create a therapeutic environment of relative safety
- support the initial exploration and comfort with bodily sensations
- appreciate the process of “Pendulation”, which encourages clients to come into contact with an intrinsic rhythm in their bodies
- restore active and adaptive defensive response or protective reflexes
- teach clients to work with one sensation or feeling at a time (“Titrate”), to avoid further overwhelming the nervous system and re-experiencing of the trauma
- uncouple fear from immobility to help the client experience the physical sensations of immobility in the absence of fear
- encourage the discharge of energy, allowing hyper-arousal states to be brought down to equilibrium
- restore equilibrium and balance through self-regulation, so the client can experience a greater sense of goodness, hope, and empowerment
- reorient clients to the here-and-now so they can engage with their environment, regulate themselves and return to feeling alive to the outside world
You will feel as if you are sitting by Levine’s side with Ray as you join this true master, and in so doing, build your healing repertoire and clinical efficacy with traumatized clients as they begin their healing journeys.
Length of video: 3:20:00
English subtitles available
Individual ISBN-10 #: 1-60124-214-X
Individual ISBN-13 #: 978-1-60124-214-3
Group ISBN-10 #: 1-60124-213-1
Group ISBN-13 #: 978-1-60124-213-6
Peter A. Levine, PhD, is the developer of Somatic Experiencing© and founder of the
Foundation for Human Enrichment. He teaches trainings in this work throughout the world and in various indigenous cultures. Levine is the author of the best-selling book
Waking the Tiger : Healing Trauma : The Innate Capacity to Transform Overwhelming Experiences and he has recently co-published a comprehensive book on childhood trauma,
Trauma Through a Child's Eyes: Awakening the Ordinary Miracle of Healing as well as a guide for parents,
Trauma-Proofing Your Kids: A Parents' Guide for Instilling Confidence, Joy and Resilience. He is the recipient of the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award from the the US Association of Body Psychotherapy.
CE credits: 3.25
Learning Objectives:
- List the building blocks of the Somatic Experiencing approach
- Explain the physiological orientation that underpins this method of trauma resolution
- Apply somatic methods to your clinical work with trauma clients
Bibliography available upon request
This course is offered for ASWB ACE credit for social workers. See complete list of CE approvals here
© 2010
Course Reviewed January 2023