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

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.

[jonalexander]

I watched my wonderful dad crash his racing motorbike in front of me at over 100mph in 1977. He survived but this has affected my whole life since. Have just found a somatic therapist to help me. God bless you 🙏

[akthaxr]

I'm just crying.. so much pain I go though 15 years with PSTD, and im starting to heal.. thanks for this video God bless you <3

[ambersmithers]

"Help is on the way...but you are not alone. Help will come." I will carry this with me. Thank you!

[KailuaChick]

The trembling scares me more than anything. It’s both comforting and counterintuitive to hear that it’s safe and normal. My fear is always that it won’t stop. I’ve gone to the ER twice and they just inject me with Toradol to stop the trembling then send me on my way. It’s so hard to trust that it’s going to be okay. Thank you for such an eye opening talk!

[lilyl]

I like her example of connecting to someone ELSE who has just experienced a shock to reduce their risk of ongoing trauma (look up 'trauma informed care') but the rest of the talk is only very light touch on the hows and whys of trauma release and somatic therapies.

There is a lot of free information out there though if you want to know more, e.g.:
- Peter Levine is a good speaker himself with lots of videos on youtube.
-'TRE' is a more in-depth look at trauma releasing exercises or tremoring, also some examples on youtube,
- some Qi Gong bouncing and swaying moves relate too, (traditional yoga has a lot of trauma healing aspects too - Indigenous and Eastern medicine traditions that don't arbitrarily separate mind and body for no reason have understood this stuff for a long time)

the whole 'release' process is something felt in the body so it's hard to 'get' what happens without actually doing it and feeling the point where the nervous system shifts.

The key goal is to find or get back to a state of ease in the autonomic nervous system - mostly via connection to safe calm humans and/or the now safe sensory details of the new present moment. Finding a 'felt-sense of safety in the body', as per Stephen Porges and Poly-vagal theory. Getting access to a 'safe and social' AKA 'rest and digest' state that is best for healing and ordinary unthreatening circumstances. Finding a point in the body that feels at ease is a step towards this if stuck in trauma mode in other parts of you.

If you have any fight or flight energy that you couldn't use in the moment of feeling a threat, you need to shake it out (or run, or swing your arms around, jump etc) to complete that survival movement, at some point, to let your mind and body relax again fully. It's not always obvious how to link the body movement up to the psychological side, to make it last, so it's good to get professional help, especially if it's deep and layered, or been a long time...

Good luck all

[cocoyoga]

Lovely relatable talk. Shaking is so powerful and I had this after a healing session. I was made felt it was not OK and was asked to stand in my power. Now a year on, I know this is what the body needs to release and it is healing in itself. Please spread the word to educate people who don't know and understand 🙏

[avicsubfusca]

As someone whose life has been massively affected by trauma / cptsd and musculoskeletal injuries with chronic pain, I found this talk super relatable and super helpful.

[JakeVoorhees]

I'm so happy for you Monica. I knew when we met at TEDxPittsburgh in June of 2018 that you had an idea worth spreading and here we are. You are a great coach, a great speaker, and have been through a painful experience and have lessons to share. You have learned how to overcome the trauma you have faced and all you want to do is now help others. That is an idea worth spreading. You journey leading up to this video release was interesting for sure, but the release on Feb 28 made it all worth it. I'm so happy for you, I'm so proud of you, and looking forward to everything you have coming ahead <3

[BarbaraParigi]

As SE pratictioner I thank you for this talk and I totally understand and agree on what you said. Thanks to Peter and to his immense gift.

[pure-pisces]

Yes it's traumatic when a partner says " it's the past, get over it" And they end the do you explain to them when you don't understand yourself!! 😔

[BrigitteGilmore]

Bravo well said in a short time what somatic experiencing is. This canhelp everyone on such a deep level. Hats off to Peter Levine as well, gounder of somatic experiencing ❤.Thank you for sharing, so powerful n yet so simple 🎉

[radicalhonesty]

as I watch this video, I say a prayer,
I pray for health, for wealth, and for love...

[re-embodyingemotionalexper]

Thanks so much for presenting this and sharing your story as well as how to start unraveling the effects of trauma. I use SE in my therapy practice and I often wish more people knew how to use this wonderful processing machine that the body can be. Great share.

[tiffanygwilliam]

Your bravery in sharing your story will help many individuals overcome trauma. Thank-you for your powerful message and for sharing it with the world!

[barbaraburt]

Thank you for your clarity, compassion, and genuineness. Your talk is a great intro to SE.

[laurirobbinsericson]

Thank you Monica for the insights of your experience. We need to continue to expand our knowledge of modes of healing - including somatic work, which has significantly helped a few of my friends. Well done!

[sharongonzales]

So powerful. Congratulations on your recovery and all the people you’re helping including me with sharing your experience.

What a blessing you met the therapist.

[joduggie]

Powerful, emotionally riveting talk. You are a beautiful human being! Thank you!

[angelielohim]

I had a car accident that resulted with a brain injury and also lost my daughter and spinal injury I spent £££ still struggling. I have been much better but sadly i had more trauma happened. I have no one to support emotionally. It’s so hard. My son deserves this better.

[rojobell]

She wasn’t drinking if you listen she was coming from rock climbing .. she admitted she was at fault and wasn’t drinking but that the hospital made the assumption she may have been under the influence… listen you may hear what happened