My First Session in Somatic Experiencing

 I saw an offer for a free session of Somatic Experiencing.

What is that you say?

My thoughts exactly.

I have come across Somatic work and felt somewhat drawn to it as, as far as I could tell, it aligned with my belief that the body knows the score (the title of a book that I have also been drawn to, yet haven’t quite got round to reading it just yet).

I thought this would be a great opportunity to experience something that I have been intrigued by for a while now but haven’t yet found the time to explore.

I drove to my session, with no idea what to really expect. Would I be moving; would I be still? Would there be any contact involved? Although there was also the offering of having the session online so surely it is a contactless practice… Have I worn suitable clothes? Will anything come up? Will it do anything? Achieve anything? Or will it have just been a nice hour experiencing something different?

Someone was finishing their session off when I arrived, although I think they were there for a different kind of session just with the same practitioner (all wellbeing guys and gals tend to have multiple strings to their bow). I sat patiently and waited, admiring the display of socks that were up for sale (I do love a good pair of socks!) until the lady before me left and I was welcomed into the room.

My practitioner was warm and welcoming, but I couldn’t help wondering if she needed a moment herself, as it can be a lot to jump straight from one client into the next. but we headed in and sat down. I was told I could take my shoes off if I wish as it’s all about me being as comfortable as I can be. She didn’t have to offer twice, I’m a “shoes off” kinda gal; so I can parade my plethora of socks to the world, obviously.

She asked me to explain what had brought me to her, other than it being a freebie… and even went as deep as to ask me what my childhood was like. I was intrigued if my answers would inform the session drastically or if it was just useful to know in terms of knowing what my body and I have been through. She explained it would start of feeling similar to meditation, of which I am familiar, but that we would be conversing throughout.

We started off with some grounding and I noticed one side of my body felt more connected than the other. We worked on grounding my left side, which initially was almost feeling disconnected from my body. It was weird to acknowledge this at first.

I welcomed her telling me I was free to close my eyes if I so pleased, it was my choice. I like to close my eyes. It helps me to notice bodily sensations more and give in to what I am being asked to do. Almost as if it limits distractions or the feeling of awkwardness at seeing others and them seeing me, with my eyes closed I am free to embody the practice more; which I appreciate is not the case for some people and eyes closed for someone else would instantly create a disconnect as they moved further into their head and away from their connection to body. But for me, it is ideal.

With eyes closed I was asked to notice sensations in my body, we tried to release some of the tension my right leg and foot seemed to be holding, and I was asked to visualise things, people and or places which made me happy and brought a sense of calm and freedom with them.

My right leg did keep fighting for my attention, but I did feel a release in my abdomen at one point where it was almost as if a blockage was freed… as woo-woo as that may sound to some it genuinely felt like I could breathe better than I had done for a long time. I was surprised when she told me we were nearing the end of our time and so couldn’t work more on the sensations in my right leg at this moment but was pleased I had experienced some release elsewhere in the body.

I was handed a couple of sheets that explained things we went through so I could understand it more and try it at home myself, which I thought was a nice touch, and then I was on my way; unsure if I would feel any different in the days to come or if it had just been a nice hour focusing on...well me.

It has now been 5 days since my Somatic Experience.

I was told I may feel tired a day or so afterwards, which I did, but it’s hard to know if that is because of my session or just general life (I did have a fair bit on in the days that followed so it may have just been that).

I have also had a few emotional days since the session, just feeling a well of emotion rush over me for no particular reason and even had to stop myself from crying a few times (unless it was in an environment when I could freely cry… such as at home watching Once Upon A Time on Disney Plus – where I wanted to cry purely because I love Regina and want her to be happy, and yes I am currently rewatching it so know how it ends, but still find myself very emotionally invested…).

Again, there is no telling if I had unlocked some of the emotions within me due to the Somatic Experiencing session, or the fact I was coming into the ovulation part of my cycle which tends to give me at least one “low day” on a regular basis. Yet now I am feeling very positive and free. I had been feeling quite trapped for a while prior to the session and now, a few days later, I do sense a shift.

Coincidence, correlation or causation?

It would be impossible to tell, especially after only one session.

I would be up for more sessions. I don’t think you can always fully appreciate something after one sample, and with something like this, the more you do it the more you are likely to give yourself to the practice and reap any potential benefits. However, saying that… I don’t have another booked in I’m not currently able to pay for regular sessions, so I will have to pause the practical experiencing there for now.

I am still very intrigued by Somatic work and will do more research into it, I also had a very pleasant experience and enjoyed my first session, therefore would be open to suggesting to others as something they could try. But for now, I will leave you with the notion that connection to our body is imperative should we wish to experience the most that we can from the time we have on this planet. So find your own ways of exploring and nurturing that connection and ensuring it doesn’t just stay surface level or worse, gets forgotten about.

Koh Lanta

My visualisation took me to a beach in Thailand where I spent time feeling free yet also reconnecting with myself.

More content coming on connection soon.