Trauma can have profound effects on an individual’s physiological and psychological well-being, especially in children whose brains are still developing. Dr. Peter Levine, a pioneer in trauma therapy and founder of Somatic Experiencing, emphasizes the importance of understanding how the body’s natural responses to threat are vital in preventing long-term trauma. His approach centers on helping the nervous system complete its survival responses—such as fight, flight, or freeze—to restore balance and promote healing.
Levine explains that immediately following a traumatic event, it is crucial to facilitate a sense of safety and stability. Establishing this safety helps shift the nervous system from hyperarousal or dissociation to a calm state, thereby preventing the development of chronic trauma responses such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Levine, 1997). Supporting this process, Levine advocates for body awareness—encouraging individuals to reconnect with bodily sensations to identify areas of tension or trapped energy. This awareness enables gentle, controlled discharge of the excess energy mobilized during the trauma, which can otherwise remain unresolved within the nervous system (Levine, 1990; Levine, 2010).
A key technique in Levine’s method involves facilitating the voluntary movements that animals instinctively perform, such as trembling or shaking, which serve to discharge residual energy and complete the body’s emergency response. By enabling a safe and gradual process of bodily expression, individuals can effectively release stored trauma energy, thus preventing long-lasting psychological or physiological symptoms. Importantly, Levine emphasizes that this process must be respectful and gradual to avoid retraumatization and to empower the person in their healing journey (Levine, 1990; Levine, 2010).
In essence, Levine asserts that trauma prevention depends on the body’s ability to clear the energy that was mobilized during a threatening incident. When this process is hindered—either through suppression, avoidance, or not recognizing its importance—the risk of chronic trauma symptoms increases. Therefore, supporting the natural physiological processes through body awareness and gentle discharge techniques is fundamental for healing and resilience.
Levine suggests that key strategies include:
- Grounding and Safety: Creating a sense of safety and stability immediately after the event helps prevent the nervous system from remaining in a heightened state of alertness, which can lead to ongoing trauma (Levine, 1997).
- Body Awareness: Encouraging individuals to reconnect with bodily sensations helps them notice where tension or energy might be trapped. This awareness allows for gentle release of stored energy and prevents the buildup of traumatic stress (Levine, 1997).
- Controlled Discharge of Energy: Facilitating voluntary movements or expressive activities (such as shaking, trembling, or other natural movements) helps the body discharge excess energy that was mobilized during the traumatic event, preventing it from becoming stuck in the nervous system (Levine, 1997).
- Avoiding Overwhelming Re-experiencing: While processing trauma, Levine advocates for a gradual approach that respects the individual’s current capacity, avoiding retraumatization by not forcing them to relive the experience fully (Levine, 2010).
- Integration and Resolution: Supporting the person in feeling complete with their physiological response allows the nervous system to return to a state of calm, reducing the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other long-term effects (Levine, 1997).
- Dr. Peter Levine’s approach emphasizes body-based healing, helping the nervous system complete its natural survival responses, and restoring a sense of safety and equilibrium to prevent long-lasting trauma. By fostering safety, encouraging bodily awareness, and facilitating controlled energy discharge, trauma can be effectively prevented from becoming a persistent, long-term condition. His methods highlight that trauma recovery is rooted in restoring the body’s innate capacity for self-regulation and balance.
- References
- Levine, P. A. (1990). Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma. North Atlantic Books.
- Levine, P. A. (1997). Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma. North Atlantic Books.
- Levine, P. A. (2010). In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness. North Atlantic Books.
