Somatic
Experiencing
With Russell Lewins BA (hons) MTP, CST, SEP
Somatic Experiencing® is a pioneering healing modality for the physical and psychological symptoms of stress, depression, shock and trauma. It is gentle and safe but powerful - mobilisng the body's innate self healiing systems . As this happens painful symptoms ease and we start to feel more at peace, energised and creative.
I am a licensed and fully qualified Somatic Experiencing practitioner .
Somatic Experiencing Can Help With These Problems and More…
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Depression
You feel sad or low – your depression may be recent, or a problem
you’ve struggled with for much of your life.
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Anxiety, compulsive behaviours, fears or phobias:
You may worry incessantly or engage in certain behaviours repeatedly. You might suffer from panic attacks or irrational fears.
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Symptoms of Trauma / PTSD
Perhaps you’ve experienced a traumatic event. It could have been an accident or physical or sexual assault. Perhaps you experienced neglect or physical, emotional, or sexual abuse in childhood. You may have trouble have trouble sleeping, experience flashbacks, or have a range of other symptoms.
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Stress, body tension or health problems:
Chronic stress can lead to painful body tension such as neck, shoulder
and back problems; and health challenges such as digestive issues, chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia.
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Relationship Problems:
You may have a pattern of relationships that are difficult or painful. Or, you might be grieving the ending of a relationship. Perhaps you’ve been betrayed by your partner.
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Addictions:
You may have an addiction to alcohol, street or prescription drugs. Perhaps you have an eating disorder.
What is Somatic Experiencing?
Somatic Experiencing (SE) works at the physiological level - where traumatic activation and stress is held in the body. It is not a talking therapy. SE uses various tried and tested techniques to create a felt sense of safety - allowing the central nervous system to discharge flight, fight and freeze energies. This brings more balance, peace and strength. Key aspects of a session are likely to be developing skills of being with moment by moment experience, the use of resources that help calm the system and some simple movement.
Often, my clients have had talking therapy to deal with their traumas and still have symptoms - such as chronic anxiety, depression or insomnia. Or perhaps they have symptoms and don’t know why.
Dr. Peter Levine, who is recognised as being one of the worlds leading experts on trauma, invented Somatic Experiencing in the 1990s. Since then its principles and techniques have been developed and refined and an evidence base of its effectiveness built up.
SE is based on Dr Levine observations of wild animals and the ways they recover from the life-threatening experiences that are a normal part of their existence. According to Dr Levine, wild animals have the capability of “fluid adaptation,” which allows them to avoid traumatisation following repeated traumatic events. SE works by guiding our bodies to a place where they can naturally discharge held and stuck energies - as animals in the wild do naturally.
About me
I started my adult working life in my 20's as a Town Planner. Useful and valuable as this work was, overtime i become more and more drawn to the beauty of eastern spiritual traditions. This brought big changes to my life, and its a path i've continued to follow now for almost 20 years.
What i came to realise several years ago however was that deeper habits and tendencies, particularly those that originate from childhood, seemed hard to shift, with the ancient teachings alone. I saw this in myself and others. I looked more widely, in particular at therapeutic techniques that were emerging - that combined ancient techniques and perspectives with modern scientific understandings and discoveries. In a sense combining the wisdom of the East and the West.
In 2014 I completed a lengthy training in SHEN therapy - which was founded by the American Physicist Richard Pavek. SHEN combines ancients hand on healing methods with modern scientific understanding of the Human Biofield.
I read Peter Levine's seminal text on trauma Waking the Tiger many years ago and have long admired his work. Ive been fascinated to see how rapidly neuroscience has advanced in recent years,and with this understanding of how the body holds and can release trauma and stress. With Peter Levine's system of Somatic Experiencing at the the cutting edge of research and understanding - i felt irresistibly drawn to this way of working.
Im really enjoying sharing the insights and effectiveness of this pioneering method, and being part of this new and expanding wave of trauma treatment.
Recently i completed my training in the Neural Affective Relational Model (NARM) with Laurence Heller This latest training is particularly effective in working with Developmental Trauma and combines well with SE.
Contact Me
I offer Somatic Experiencing / NARM Therapy sessions both in person (to those in the Birmingham area) and to those further afield via Skype (or Zoom). I can normally respond to email inquiries within a few hours.
Sessions are a hour in length. My fees is currently £70 per session.
As i want this therapy to be as widely accessible as possible I also offer a few super concessionary rates for people on low incomes.
If you are unsure whether SE and NARM can help - please do get in touch and we can talk through what you would like help with and whether what i offer may be likely to help
Tel: 07886 560161
135 Salisbury Road
Moseley
Birmingham, B13 8LA
