As humans, we store memories, experiences, and emotions on a cellular level. Somatic approaches focus on body awareness and how to cultivate it in and around the body. Providing clients with interventions to address how trauma is stored and experienced in the body is essential. This training will present an overview of how trauma is experienced in the body. Specific somatic interventions such as resourcing, grounding, dual awareness, and sequencing will be presented. Learners will view the application of somatic interventions by analyzing case studies and video demonstrations. Discover methods to help your clients release trauma and negative emotions from the body through a trauma-informed care lens.
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- Identify specific ways that trauma is experienced somatically in the body.
- Discover at least five somatic interventions for trauma and formulate interventions for clients.
- Describe two methods of fostering dual awareness in clients experiencing trauma-induced dissociation.
Syllabus:
Objective #1: Foundations of Somatic Experiencing
- Define somatic therapy as a mind–body approach focused on trauma healing
- Understand interoception, proprioception, and kinesthetic awareness
- Emphasize body-based renegotiation of trauma for relief and integration
Objective #2: Trauma and the Body
- Recognize that trauma is held in the body as physiological sensations
- Acknowledge the risk of flooding clients when diving into trauma too quickly
- Introduce titration and pendulation as tools for safe trauma release
Objective #3: Benefits of Somatic Interventions
- Reduction in physical and psychological discomfort
- Improved emotional regulation and resiliency
- Greater confidence, hope, and interest in life
- Strengthened relationships and sleep quality
Objective #4: Ten Core Somatic Interventions
- Developing somatic awareness
- Resourcing with safety and grounding imagery
- Grounding techniques using body and sensory focus
- Using descriptive, body-based language
- Integrating movement to process emotions and trauma
- Practicing co-regulation and self-regulation
- Applying titration and pendulation to control intensity
- Enabling acts of triumph to complete defensive responses
- Supporting sequencing of bodily tension release
- Teaching embodied boundary setting through verbal and physical cues
Objective #5: Dual Awareness for Trauma Work
- Interoceptive awareness: internal body state sensing
- Exteroceptive awareness: perception of external environment
- Use dual awareness to foster present-moment stability
Objective #6: Case Study: Sam
- History of complex trauma and self-injury
- Intervention included somatic noticing, movement, and sensory supports
- Progress tracked through standardized trauma and behavior assessments
Objective #7: Trauma Releasing Exercises (TREs)
- Origin and design based on instinctual somatic defense patterns
- Use of muscle contraction and release to restore physical and emotional calm
Objective #8 Case Study: Ray
- Veteran with trauma-related involuntary movements
- Somatic approaches supported trauma release and improved functioning
Additional Tools and Resources
- Handouts: “What’s Happening in My Body?”, “Calling Your Experience,” SPECS framework
- Video demonstrations of SE techniques
- Access to online exercises, educational sites, and somatic therapy workbooks
Social workers completing this course receive 2 Clinical asynchronous continuing education credits.
For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 2 Clinical continuing education training.
Instructor: Diane Bigler, LCSW, LSCSW
Recording Date: August 26, 2024
CEUS On-Demand, LLC, provider #2274, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/7/2026 - 08/6/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 3hrs Clinical continuing education credits.
CEUs On-Demand, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7091. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CEUs On-Demand, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
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Request for Special Accommodations: Learners can request special accommodations by contacting the administrative team at admin@ceus-ondemand.com