Somatic Therapy (Somatic Experiencing SE®) in Singapore
What is Somatic Therapy/ Somatic Experiencing?
Somatic therapy—often delivered via Somatic Experiencing (SE)—is a trauma-informed, body-based psychotherapy that helps your nervous system complete stress responses stuck from difficult experiences. Instead of only analysing thoughts, Somatic Experiencing (SE), Developed by Peter Levine, gently builds awareness of body sensations, breath, and micro-movements to restore regulation, safety, and choice at a pace that feels manageable. Somatic Experiencing is a body–mind therapy specifically focused on healing trauma by helping clients draw their attention to their bodies.
SE is based largely on the idea of a freeze response. When you encounter some type of physical threat or anything that causes fear or anxiety, your body typically responds by preparing you to either fight the (real or perceived) threat or flee from it. However, if you feel overwhelmed, trapped, or helpless in the face of such threats (for example, children’s response to physical or emotional abuse), you will freeze, akin to a trapped animal playing dead.
The problem is that you can stay trapped in this freeze response long after the threat disappears. You’re no longer in danger, but your body still holds the energy built up from the fight-or-flight response. Because you froze, the energy wasn’t used, so it lingers in your body and prevents you from completely recovering from the experience.
SE helps you access and address this trauma that lingers in your body, allowing you to work through emotional symptoms, including feelings of anger, guilt, or shame.
This approach prioritises the mind-body connection in treatment to help address both physical and psychological symptoms of certain mental health concerns, including:
Trauma
Grief
Anxiety
Depression
| Feature | Somatic Therapy (SE) | CBT | EMDR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core focus | Bottom-up nervous-system regulation and bodily safety | Top-down thoughts, beliefs, and behaviours | Memory processing with dual attention |
| How it works | Tracks sensations, breath, and posture; builds resources; gently discharges stored fight/flight/freeze activation without re-traumatisation | Identifies unhelpful thinking patterns; restructures beliefs; behavioural experiments and skills practice | Uses bilateral stimulation while recalling targets; reduces distress and installs adaptive beliefs |
| Best suited for | Stress, anxiety, chronic tension, trauma with strong body symptoms, medical/relational trauma, burnout | Anxiety, depression, phobias, insomnia, performance issues, clear skill targets | Single-incident PTSD, stuck memories, intense triggers; can be combined with somatic work |
| Session feel | Slower, titrated, experiential; frequent pauses; emphasis on “just-right” challenge | Structured, goal-oriented; worksheets and skills between sessions | Focused processing segments; less narrative detail than typical talk therapy |
| Pace & structure | Weekly/fortnightly; ~6–12+ sessions; highly individual pacing | Often time-bound blocks (e.g., 6–12 sessions) with measurable goals | Phased: preparation → processing → consolidation; number of targets determines length |
Which is Right for Me?
Many clients benefit from combining approaches over time. For example: begin with somatic regulation to stabilise the body, add CBT skills for daily coping, and use EMDR when you feel ready to process specific memories. We’ll tailor the plan to your goals, history, and window of tolerance.
Currently, this therapy approach is offered by Shifan Hu-Couble at The Counselling Place.
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Sessions are talk-based. Your therapist will guide slow, titrated steps: tracking sensations, orienting to safety, resourcing (what helps you feel steadier), and releasing activation without overwhelm. You won’t be pushed to relive trauma; we move back and forth between challenge and comfort so your system learns it can settle.
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Fewer spikes of anxiety, panic, or overwhelm; faster return to baseline
Better sleep and ability to “switch off” the mind/body
Reduced somatic symptoms (e.g., tight chest, knots in stomach, jaw clenching)
More capacity for focus, work, and relationships—less irritability or shutdown
Greater comfort with emotions and body cues; increased sense of safety
Clearer boundaries and tolerance for everyday stressors
Less reactivity around reminders; more choice instead of autopilot responses
Gradual return of ease, play, and pleasure
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Some people feel a noticeable shift within 6–12 sessions as regulation improves; longer support can help when stress is long-standing, symptoms are intense, or there are multiple traumatic experiences. We review progress regularly and adjust the pace so the work stays safe and sustainable.