ABOUT US
WHAT IS SOMATIC EXPERIENCING®?
SOMATIC EXPERIENCING®
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. The SE™ approach releases traumatic shock, which is key to transforming PTSD and the wounds of emotional and early developmental attachment trauma.
THE SOMATIC EXPERIENCING® APPROACH
Offers a framework to assess where a person is “stuck” in the fight, flight or freeze responses and provides clinical tools to resolve these fixated physiological states. It provides effective skills appropriate to a variety of healing professions including mental health, medicine, physical and occupational therapies, bodywork, addiction treatment, first response, education, and others.
THE SCIENCE
Trauma may begin as acute stress from a perceived life-threat or as the end product of cumulative stress. Both types of stress can seriously impair a person’s ability to function with resilience and ease. Trauma may result from a wide variety of stressors such as accidents, invasive medical procedures, sexual or physical assault, emotional abuse, neglect, war, natural disasters, loss, birth trauma, or the corrosive stressors of ongoing fear and conflict.
HOW IT WORKS
The Somatic Experiencing® approach facilitates the completion of self-protective motor responses and the release of thwarted survival energy bound in the body, thus addressing the root cause of trauma symptoms. This is approached by gently guiding clients to develop increasing tolerance for difficult bodily sensations and suppressed emotions.
HOW ANIMALS DISCHARGE SHOCK
Dr. Levine was inspired to study stress on the animal nervous system, when he realized that animals are constantly under threat of death, yet show no symptoms of trauma. What he discovered was that trauma has to do with the third survival response to perceived life threat, which is freeze. When fight and flight are not options, we freeze and immobilize, like “playing dead.” This makes us less of a target. However, this reaction is time-sensitive, in other words, it needs to run its course, and the massive energy that was prepared for fight or flight gets discharged, through shakes and trembling. If the immobility phase doesn’t complete, then that charge stays trapped, and, from the body’s perspective, it is still under threat. The Somatic Experiencing® method works to release this stored energy, and turn off this threat alarm that causes severe dysregulation and dissociation.
RENEGOTIATION
In Somatic Experiencing®, the traumatic event isn’t what caused the trauma, it is the overwhelmed response to the perceived life threat that is causing an unbalanced nervous system. The aim is to help you access the body memory of the event, not the story. So we don’t discuss what happened if you don’t want to.
TAKE YOUR TIME
Here we introduce the concept of titration – slowly releasing energy. Somatic Experiencing® operates in cycles, where you sense your way through the normal oscillations of internal sensation – contraction/expansion, pleasure/pain, warmth/cold – but only at the level that you can handle. This repeated, rhythmic process helps you to develop a greater capacity to handle stress and stay in the present moment, where you belong.
BOTTOM UP PROCESSING
Like other somatic psychology approaches, Somatic Experiencing® professes a body first approach to dealing with the problematic (and, oftentimes, physical) symptoms of trauma. This means that therapy isn’t about reclaiming memories or changing our thoughts and beliefs about how we feel, but looking at the sensations that lie underneath our feelings, and uncovering our habitual behavior patterns to these feelings.
PENDULATION
Pendulation is a term used by Dr. Levine to describe the natural oscillation between opposing forces of contraction and expansion. Somatic Experiencing® utilizes this philosophy to help a client experience a sense of flow.
ABOUT SOMATIC EXPERIENCING® TRAUMA INSTITUTE
MISSION
Support trauma resolution and resilience through culturally responsive professional training, research, education and outreach in diverse global communities.
VISION STATEMENT
Transforming lives through healing trauma.
CORE VALUES
- Support: Foster and nurture hope and empowerment.
- Compassion: Lead with empathy and understanding.
- Excellence: Deliver quality professional education in a spirit of innovation, creativity and research.
- Community: Cultivate trust and safety through acceptance, equity, inclusion, and unity.
- Vitality: Inspire new possibilities and restore resilience through increased organizational capacity and self‐regulation.
About Our Founder
Dr. Peter A. Levine received his PhD in medical biophysics from the University of California in Berkeley and also holds a doctorate in psychology from International University. He has worked in the field of stress and trauma for over 40 years and is the developer of the Somatic Experiencing® method. Peter’s original contribution to the field of Body-Psychotherapy was honored in 2010 when he received the Lifetime Achievement award from the United States Association for Body Psychotherapy (USABP). That same year he also received the honorary Reis Davis Chair in Child Psychiatry for his innovative contribution to therapy for children and adolescents.
NATURE’S LESSON
Beginning in the 1970’s, Peter’s explorations into how animals deal with threat led to the development of the Somatic Experiencing method, a method that is highly effective in dealing with the effects of overwhelm on our nervous system, called Somatic Experiencing® (SE™). SE™ is a clinical methodology based upon an appreciation of why animals in the wild are not traumatized by routine threats to their lives, while humans, on the other hand, are readily overwhelmed and often subject to the traumatic symptoms of hyper arousal, shutdown and dysregulation.
WAKING THE TIGER
The image of the tiger was invoked by Dr. Peter A. Levine during his first session with “Nancy,” who suffered from an array of symptoms, in an event that would define and shape his career.
Without warning, Nancy suddenly froze, her pulse skyrocketing as she began reliving the moments before a traumatic childhood surgery, including being bound and anesthetized with ether. “I’m going to die! Please don’t let me die!” she repeated, helplessly. Amidst this chaos, Dr. Levine was compelled, by a seemingly prescient vision of a charging tiger, to say: “Nancy, you're being chased by a tiger. Run! Run for the nearest tree!” It was at this moment, as Nancy began kicking her feet, that Dr. Levine first witnessed the human animal’s innate ability to heal from shock and terror,by completing the instinctual, self-protective act that had been overwhelmed and frozen into her body’s nervous system, over 20 years earlier. On repeated follow up, this single session had a dramatic impact on Nancy's life, including the dissolution of her agoraphobia, cessation of her migraines, and a renewed, sustained vigor in living.
The Tiger has become a symbol of our aliveness, our innate nature.
BEST SELLING AUTHOR
Peter is the author of the best-selling book Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma — which was published in 24 languages and sold over 250,000 copies. His other published work includes:
- Healing Trauma: a Pioneering Program in Restoring the Wisdom of Our Bodies
- In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness
- Sexual Healing: Transforming the Sacred Wound.
- co-author of Trauma through a Child’s Eyes: Awakening the Ordinary Miracle of Healing
- co-author of Trauma-Proofing Your Kids: A Parent’s Guide for Instilling Confidence, Joy and Resilience
- co-author of Freedom from Pain: Discover Your Body's Power to Overcome Physical Pain
- Trauma and Memory: Brain and Body in a Search for the Living Past: A Practical Guide for Understanding and Working with Traumatic Memory
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Somatic Experiencing® Trauma Institute is under leadership of an engaged and active Board of Directors who—on the basis of their specific knowledge, skill, and experience—make valuable contributions to our current functioning and future development. The Board, with members from both within and outside of the SE™ community, collectively holds responsibility for stewardship of the Institute. The Board seeks guidance as necessary from advisors recommended by and including Peter A. Levine, PhD; from a number of committees addressing various aspects of the Institute’s work; and from expert consultants in a variety of disciplines.

REBECCA STAHL

MICHELE SOLLOWAY

MICHAEL CHANGARIS

MONICA SIMIONATO

SANGEETA FERNANDES

SERGIO OCAMPO
From the Chair of the Board of Directors
Welcome to the SE Institute. This work has been life changing for each and every one of us on the board of directors, and we want to welcome you to this community. We want to thank Dr. Peter Levine, our global faculty, coordinators, assistants, and students for their ongoing work bringing SE out into the world. For more than 25 years, all of you have been our greatest ambassadors. Together, we aim to bring more awareness to individual and collective trauma and healing, and we hope the information on our website, in our trainings, and through our practitioners can bring you closer to every aspect of who you are. These are difficult times for the world, but we know that together we can find individual and collective healing, and we invite you to share that with us. Thank you.
REBECCA STAHL, JD, LLM, SEP
SOMATIC EXPERIENCING TRAUMA INSTITUTE BOARD CHAIR
Faculty
Our experienced faculty come from diverse professional backgrounds and teach Somatic Experiencing® throughout six continents. Potential faculty members are carefully screened and selected from a group of senior SE™ Practitioners and undergo a rigorous and extensive faculty training and mentoring program. Our faculty are held to the highest professional and ethical standards and are monitored through regular class evaluations.
To learn more about how to become SE™ Faculty, please visit: traumahealing.org/faculty-track.
*approved to teach Advanced | **emeritus

DAVE BERGER*
MFT, LCMHC, PT, MA, SEP

ABI BLAKESLEE*
PHD, LMFT, CMT, SEP

DAVID DE ROSENROLL
PHD, RCC, CCC, SEP

DOMINIQUE DEGRANGES*
SEP

ELFRIEDE DINKEL-PFROMMER *
SEP

URSULA FUNKE-KAISER *
LLB, SEP

URSULA FÜRSTENWALD
SEP

MAUREEN GALLAGHER
PHD, SEP

BERNS GALLOWAY *
MED, CCC, SEP

HEIKE S. GATTNAR *
SEP

KAVI ALESSANDRO GEMIN
CO, MT, RCST, BCST, SEP

ARIEL GIARRETTO
MS, LMFT, CMP, SEP

SONIA GÔMES*
PHD, SEP

ALICEN HALQUIST
MA, LPC, SEP

DIANE POOLE HELLER **
LPC, NCC, PHD, SEP

LAURENCE S. HELLER **
PHD, SEP

URS HONAUER*
PHD, MAS UZH PT, RPP, CEP, IPW, SEP

ANNE JANZEN
SEP

RUSSELL JONES *
SEP

KATHY L. KAIN *
MA, PHD, SEP

BRAD KAMMER
FT, LPCC, SEP

LAEL K. KEEN *
SEP

MAGGIE KLINE
MS, MFT, SEP

PETER A. LEVINE
PHD

NANCY J. NAPIER **
LMFT, SEP

LIANA NETTO
PHD, SEP

GLYNDIE NICKERSON
MA, PHD, SEP

EUPHRASIA “EFU” NYAKI
MED, SEP

CARLOS EDUARDO MELO OLIVEIRA
PHD, SEP

DEA PARSANISHI *
MED, SEP

LIANE PINTO *
MS, SEP

MAGGIE PHILLIPS
PHD, SEP

PEDRO PRADO *
PHD, SEP

MARILIA DE CASTRO REIS
SEP

URS RENTSCH
MD, SEP

GINA ROSS *
MFCT, SEP

CORNELIA ROSSI *
MS, SEP, PHD

DORIS ROTHBAUER
SEP

MICHEL SCHITTECATTE
MD, PHD, SEP

RAJA SELVAM *
PHD, SEP

SERGIO LUIZ DE OLIVEIRA E SILVA
SEP

LINDA STELTE
MED, CCC, SEP

JOSHUA SYLVAE *
PHD, LMFT, SEP

RACHPORN SANGKASAAD TAAL
MSC, EMI, TRE, RT, SEP
Staff
Directors

Marv Tuttle
Executive Director

Ana Paula Bastian
Director of Legal Affairs & International Relationships

Marie Bozeman
Director of Programs

Sonja Cole
Managing Director of Professional and Community Development

Krysti Giese
Managing Director of Operations

Amie Readdy Leigh
Director of Public Health Initiatives
Managers

Traci Carson
Controller/Accounting Manager

Laura Kitzmiller
Professional Development and Program Marketing Manager

Rebecca Schwartz
Community Engagement Manager

Rachel Volberding
Program Support Manager
Staff

Kathy Hally
Intellectual Property Administrator

Kyia Kupfner
Registrar/Program Support

Monica LaSalle
Receptionist/Program Support Services Specialist

Amanda Lormand
Communications Coordinator

Madeline Manning
Membership and Marketing Coordinator

Emily McCluskey
Accounts Payable Specialist

Jennifer Payette
Financial Support Administrator

Emily Scott
Systems Administrator

Robel Semere
Admissions/Program Support

Daniela Pineda Soracá
Operations Specialist
Committees and Workgroups
Annual Conference Committee
Paul Briggs
Florida
Sonja Cole
Colorado
Mahshid Hager
California
Karine Bell Hugentobler
Switzerland
Laura Kitzmiller
Colorado
Gina Ross
Israel/California
Michele Solloway
Maryland
Melissa Stager
California
Assistant Workgroup
Rachel Felch
Minnesota
Rhonda Kelloway
Illinois
Elspeth Messenger
Scotland
Lucia Roncalli
Alaska
Michele Solloway
Maryland
Culture Committee
Sonja Cole
Colorado
Defne Erdur
Turkey
Paulina Garcia Hubard
Mexico
Krysti Giese
Colorado
Su Messerschmidt Mount
Germany
Efu Nyaki
Brazil
Mariana Raymondo
Brazil
Ajay Risal
Nepal
Karin Ritchie
South Africa
Monica Simionato
Canada
Curriculum Committee
Dave Berger
California
Abi Blakeslee
Montana
Sonja Cole (staff liaison)
Colorado
Ariel Giarretto (co-chair)
California
Russell Jones
Brazil
Glyndie Nickerson (co-chair)
Massachusetts
Urs Rentsch
Switzerland
Marv Tuttle (Executive Director)
Colorado
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee
Carmen Casado
California
Cristina George
New York
Amanda Markwardt
Arizona
Anne Millheiser
Illinois
Dea Parsanishi
Canada
Sarit Rogers
California
Sabia Wade
Georgia
Sage Williams
California
Evaluations Workgroup
Sandra Ackley
Colorado
Orameh Bagheri
California
Bob Coffman
California
Berns Galloway
Canada
Jayashree George
Illinois
Krysti Giese
Colorado
Scott Palmer
Oregon
Michele Solloway
Maryland
Rachel Volberding
Colorado
Finance Committee
Michael Changaris
California
Krysti Giese
Colorado
Erik Ladewig
Colorado
Sergio Ocampo
California
Michele Solloway
Maryland
Rebecca Stahl
Maryland
Marv Tuttle
Colorado
Governance Committee
Ana Paula Bastian
Colorado
Sangeeta Fernandes
California
Krysti Giese
Colorado
Kathy Kain
California
Lisa Klise
Colorado
Rebecca Stahl
Maryland
Research Committee
Michael Changaris
California
Sangeeta Fernandes
California
Mary Giuffra
New York
Sergio Ocampo
California
Frank Olsen
Denmark
Pat Sikora
Colorado
Michele Solloway
Maryland
Christopher Walling
California
Scholarship Committee
Sonja Cole
Colorado
Karen Henderson
Virginia
Kristen Kenefick
Illinois
Scott Palmer
Oregon
Jennifer Payette
Colorado
Rebecca Stahl
Maryland
Alexandra Whitney
Florida