Somatic-Emotional Release
Somatic emotional release (aka Somato-Emotional Release or SER) is a body-centered therapeutic process rooted in the mind-body connection through the nervous system. It is based on the premise that emotional and traumatic experiences can become "trapped" in the body’s tissues as physical tension. It uses breathwork, movement, body awareness, and neuromuscular bodywork to safely process and release this pent-up stress. This work is highly effective for someone suffering from chronic pain and/or stress. Our SER therapists, Rachel and Celesta, are trauma-focused and highly trained. Our SER therapists are gentle, supportive, and patient.
How SER Works:
Traditional talk therapy may not always reach deep-seated physical or nervous system responses. Somatic release bridges this gap by focusing on the physical sensations associated with emotions.
Mind-Body Link: Unresolved trauma or stress often manifests physically as chronic stiffness or nervous system dysregulation (e.g., tight chest for sadness, tense shoulders for anxiety).
Releasing the Tension: Through gentle physical guidance, breath, and neuromuscular bodywork, you learn to identify these physical blocks and allow the body to let go of the stored energy.
Often times, people feel much lighter and relaxed after a Somatic emotional release session. Muscles learn to relax and not remain in a tight, contracted state and pain subsides.
Tissue Memory:
Body cells, fascia, muscles, bones, or viscera all have the ability to retain memories or experienced trauma without necessarily depending upon localized neurons for the brain’s interpretation of these memories. Physical trauma, sports accidents, car accidents, life-threatening experiences, emotional trauma, physical or sexual abuse, war trauma, and post-traumatic stress can all contribute to the tension patterns we feel in our bodies.
For example, when we experience a physical trauma, the memory of that trauma is stored in the affected tissues. This usually results in a small, unconscious contraction that does not relax because the signal is trying to protect the brain from a repeated offense to the body. If tissue memory is not sufficiently released, the contraction remains long after the injury is fully healed and the affected area remains contracted and causes a pattern of structural dysfunction to spread throughout the body. The body then adapts to the dysfunction until the body can no longer operate functionally and intermittent or chronic pain ensues.
