What is Somatic Experiencing?

Somatic Experiencing® is a therapy that helps to relieve and resolve the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental and physical trauma-related health problems by focusing on the client’s perceived body sensations (Somatic Experiences).

Somatic Experiencing was launched in 1997 by Dr. Peter Levine in his groundbreaking book “Waking the Tiger.” In it, he discusses at length his observations of animals in the wild, and how they deal with and recover from life-threatening situations.

In 1996, Catalina Ureta was among the first students certified under Dr. Levine to become a Supervisor/Trainer of SE Practitioners.

  • “Catalina helped relieve my chronic sciatic pain, release long-held tensions, and rejuvenate psychologically.”

    — Jason Feb. 2019

  • “ You changed my life with our sessions! ”

    — Vanessa June 2018

  • “Thank you for the amazing session! I appreciate your incredible gifts, your support and love. I feel so much lighter and grateful.”

    — Michelle 1-25-2017

  • “Thank you for the healing. that was so powerful. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

    — Idan 12-27-2016

  • “Thanks for a wonderful session yesterday. I feel like I'm gradually healing and getting back on track. ”

    — Stephen 1-6-2017

  • “Thank you for all of the amazing work. It was life-changing. It feels so great to be back and connected with my body.”

    — Nicole 12-28-2016

  • “A small thanks for all your work and healing. You have helped reopen my heart. I'm eternally grateful.”

    — Theresa Feb. 2017

  • “Trauma does not have to be a life sentence.”

    — Dr. Peter Levine

  • “As human beings, we are biologically designed to respond to and recover from threat.”

    — Dr. Peter Levine Oct. 2011

  • “The Points Holding Process is a transformative healing modality.”

    — Susan Oct. 2011

Points Holding Process

An ancient art rediscovered

The Points Holding Process™ is thought to be an ancient art rediscovered that facilitates healing and consciousness. P.H.P. practitioners hold pressure points on the body for extended periods of time in a way that allows these buried emotions to become awakened. Many report, “finding the inner joy of re-connecting with their inner self” and “seeing […]

Techniques that release trapped emotions

Catalina Ureta was born in Chile in the shadow of the magical Andes mountains. After years of spiritual study in Chile, she courageously moved to the United States in 1975 to continue her spiritual and healing work. A certified Kinesiologist and Cranial Sacral worker, Catalina has trained in multiple healing modalities including, the “Energetic Clearing […]

Points Holding Process

What is the Points Holding Process (PHP)? Events happen in life that may seem trivial to others but are traumatic to us. They take us out of our natural way of being and leave behind a host of unexpressed emotions and sensations that are too overwhelming to feel. These unprocessed emotions then become locked in […]

Somatic Institute

  • Chile Somatic Workshop 2018

    Somatic Chile

    The Instituto Somatica is now hosting Points Holding Process™ (PHP) trainings in Santiago, Chile.  See link below for more info. Instituto Somatico Chile Instituto Neurociencias

  • Successful treatment of anxiety and post-traumatic stress

    Healing trauma through Somatic Experiencing Somatic Experiencing has been developed by Peter Levine, Ph.D., the founder and director of the Ergos Institute for Somatic Education. Somatic Experiencing is a cutting- edge psychobiological approach the successful treatment of anxiety and post-traumatic stress (PTS). In Somatic Experiencing, PTSD symptoms are not seen as a pathology to be […]

  • Somatic Experiencing employs the awareness of body sensation

    Somatic Experiencing® employs the awareness of body sensation to help people renegotiate and heal their traumas rather than relive them. With appropriate guidance into the body’s instinctive “felt sense,” individuals are able to access their own built-in immunity to trauma, allowing the highly aroused survival energies to be safely and gradually discharged. When these energies […]

  • Welcome to the Somatic Institute

    Somatic Institute™ is a resource for SE™ Practitioners, here you can sign up for continued training and certification. The Somatic Institute can also help you find a practitioner near you.           If you would like to take part in our next Practitioners Training please leave us your contact details.