DeepSummary
In this episode of the Being Well podcast, Forrest Hansen and Dr. Rick Hanson are joined by Dr. Peter Levine, a clinical psychologist, author, and founder of Somatic Experiencing, a body-based approach to healing trauma. Levine shares personal stories of his experiences with trauma and how they shaped the development of his work. He emphasizes the importance of being present, feeling sensations in the body, and completing the natural defensive responses that were thwarted during traumatic events.
Levine discusses his recent autobiography, 'An Autobiography of Trauma: A Healing Journey,' and how writing it allowed him to explore his own story and the arc of his life. He also talks about the significance of tenderness, compassion, and creating a sense of safety within oneself. The conversation covers various aspects of Somatic Experiencing, including pendulation (moving between the traumatic material and resourcing), decontextualization of trauma, and the innate drive towards health.
Throughout the episode, Levine offers insights and advice for those working with trauma, emphasizing the need to meet people where they are, evoke curiosity about felt experiences, and help them develop their own internal well-being. The discussion highlights the importance of patience, acknowledging one's history, and finding ways to complete the natural defensive responses that were interrupted during traumatic events.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Working with shame and physical pain, which can drain one's vitality, is an important aspect of trauma healing.
- Patience and meeting people where they are, without judgment, is vital when working with trauma.
- Trauma occurs when the body's natural defensive responses are thwarted, and post-traumatic symptoms result from the body's attempts to complete those interrupted responses.
- Somatic Experiencing focuses on working with physical sensations and completing the natural defensive responses that were interrupted during traumatic events.
- Being present in the current moment and grounding oneself in the body is crucial for healing trauma.
- Creating a sense of safety and internal well-being is essential for addressing trauma, as is developing self-compassion and tenderness.
- The context and environment surrounding traumatic events, including what is missing (e.g., support, reassurance), can significantly impact the traumatic experience.
- Healing trauma involves acknowledging one's history while also recognizing oneself as an ongoing process capable of change and growth.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I think it's 60,000. 60,000.“ by Peter Levine
- “Knowledge does not exist unless it's in the body, and the self concept really doesn't exist unless it's felt in the body.“ by Peter Levine
- “Again, as we find somatic ways, because it's the imprint that this has on the body. As I think about it, most of the people that, when I don't see people privately anymore, but when I did for years, many of them, I would say most of them presented with pain and shame and the way that both of that just robbed our vitality.“ by Peter Levine
- “Let me just start with the archetype of Chiron from the greek mythology the wounded healer, that we all have to heal our own wounds, at least adequately, before we can be present with others. And being present with others is essential.“ by Peter Levine
- “You know, somatic experiencing is basically a bottom up approach, in contrast to a lot of talk therapies, which are much more top down but somatic experiences. Both you have to work together, but primarily starting from the bottom up and then working from top down, or even starting from top down and then working more with bottom up.“ by Peter Levine
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Episode Information
Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson
Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson
4/29/24