Somatic Experiencing Therapy

Dr. Jenny Lee believes that every person has the capacity to be whole, resourceful, and creative when given the time, space, and information they need to decide for themselves what is best for them.

We allow our patients to be whole through our emphasis on somatic experiencing therapy (also known as SE). We give our patients the tools and the space to address mental conditions associated with dental health (such as anxiety, PTSD, etc.)

Our purpose in using SE is to ensure that we treat people like people—not problems to be solved. We wish to create a patient-first environment that addresses past, present, and future concerns in dental health.

What Is Somatic Experiencing Therapy (SE)?

Somatic experiencing helps those that experience mental health challenges by focusing on the entire body. The entire somatic (bodily) system is connected, so it’s only natural to look to the physical body for help addressing mental trauma.

Instead of stereotypically analyzing emotions and thoughts based on experiences, SE focuses more on the developed somatic responses.

SE focuses on eliminating internalized negative feelings surrounding mental health by addressing the pain points of your mental health. It involves releasing pent-up fear and adrenaline naturally and harmlessly.

Where Did Somatic Experiencing Therapy (SE) Come From?

Dr. Peter Levine developed his theory of somatic experiencing therapy (SE) from his experience watching exotic animals recover from multiple traumatic experiences (such as escaping from predators).

Following his observations, Peter Levine noticed that these animals would always find a physical way to release these negative emotions following the event.

Levine concluded through this observation that humans might also benefit from a physical release of stress after we are faced with difficult situations.

The core belief of SE is that mental trauma is a direct result of emotionally blocking the body’s natural physical response to fear and adrenaline.

How We Use SE Here

The methods used in SE vary and depend on your circumstances.

Here are some examples of some SE techniques Dr. Jenny Lee might utilize:

• Grounding/Centering Exercises: These exercises focus on controlling your breath, thoughts, and other physical responses to find comfort or relief during a procedure. It may include some physical motions to relieve tension.
• Personal Affirmations: Dr. Jenny Lee helps patients struggling with dental anxiety by constantly supporting the patient with affirmations that they are safe and taking care of themselves.
• Emphasizing Physical Boundaries: Respecting physical boundaries is a vital part of fostering professional relationships, and our office takes extra steps to ensure this. Please be open with us so we can help you.
• Relying On Positive Memories: Dr. Lee draws stress away from the patient by creating positive trains of thought through each step of your dental process. Dr. Lee is very friendly and loves to chat with her patients to help them feel more at ease.

How Can Somatic Experiencing Therapy Help You?

Somatic experiencing therapy helps patients by

• Decreasing stress and anxiety levels: SE is rooted in mindfulness techniques that allow patients to stay grounded through every part of the dental process.
• Alleviating joint and physical discomfort: SE focuses more on bringing harmony back into the body. This allows our dentistry to fix the pain past the tip of the iceberg.
• Aiding in addressing personal trauma: SE’s sensitive nature provides a greater ability to work around personal trauma or other mental circumstances.
• Increased Well-Being: Scientific studies have concluded that basing care in SE leads to greater resiliency, hope, concentration, and heightened interest in well-being.

Find Harmony With Somatic Experiencing Therapy!

Take advantage of a holistic method that transforms the way we do dental work. Invest in dental treatment with Dr. Jenny Lee!