Dr. Peter Levine - Somatic Experiencing & the Courage to Feel

Peter A Levine, Ph.D., is the developer of Somatic Experiencing®, a naturalistic and neurobiological approach to healing trauma, which he has developed over the past 50 years. He holds a doctorate in Biophysics from UC Berkeley and a doctorate in Psychology from International University. He is the Founder and President of the Ergos Institute for Somatic Education, dedicated to Community Outreach and Post-Advanced Somatic Experiencing® Training, and the Founder and Advisor for Somatic Experiencing International. He has taught at the University of California, Berkeley; Mills College; Antioch University; the California Institute of Integral Studies; and the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute. His work has been taught to over 30,000 therapists in over 42 countries.
Dr. Levine is the author of several best-selling books on trauma, including Waking the Tiger, Healing Trauma (published in over 29 languages); In an Unspoken Voice, How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness; and Trauma and Memory, Brain and Body in a Search for the Living Past.
In recognition of his groundbreaking therapeutic works, Dr. Levine has received Lifetime Achievement awards from Psychotherapy Networker and from the US Association for Body-Oriented Psychotherapy, an honorary award as the Reiss-Davis Chair in Los Angeles for his lifetime contribution to infant and child psychiatry, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Training on Trauma and Attachment in Children (ATTACh) for “his lifelong commitment to healing children through research, education, and outreach.” He served as a Stress consultant for NASA in the early space shuttle development and has served on the American Psychological Association task force for responding to the trauma of large-scale disasters and ethnopolitical warfare. He is currently a Senior Fellow and consultant at The Meadows Addiction and Trauma Treatment Center in Wickenburg, Arizona.

Dr. Peter Levine discusses his extensive work on trauma and healing, emphasizing a bottom-up approach through somatic experiencing. He shares insights from his personal journey, the importance of vulnerability, and practical techniques for healing. Dr. Levine highlights the role of animals in understanding trauma and the significance of breath and sound in the healing process. He also reflects on his autobiography and the concept of the wounded healer, advocating for self-care and preventative measures in mental health. In this conversation, Peter A. Levine discusses the intricate relationship between trauma, healing, and the body. He emphasizes the importance of understanding bodily responses to trauma and how somatic experiencing can lead to healing. The discussion also delves into addiction, the role of spirituality, and the potential of psychedelics in therapeutic settings. Levine shares personal anecdotes and insights from his extensive experience in the field, highlighting the need for a holistic approach to healing that encompasses both mind, body and spirit.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Trauma and Healing
03:06 The Journey of Discovery: From Biophysics to Trauma
06:05 Understanding Trauma: A Bottom-Up Approach
09:00 Techniques for Healing: Somatic Experiencing
11:55 The Role of Animals in Understanding Trauma
14:48 Breath and Sound: Tools for Healing
18:04 The Importance of Vulnerability in Healing
21:03 Personal Journey: Writing an Autobiography of Trauma
24:06 The Wounded Healer: Healing Ourselves to Heal Others
27:13 The Courage to Feel: Embracing Vulnerability
29:59 Preventative Medicine: The Importance of Self-Care
34:50 Understanding Bodily Responses to Trauma
38:06 The Connection Between Mind and Body in Healing
40:01 Exploring the Nature of Addiction
44:40 The Role of Service and Meaning in Healing
46:20 The Commodification of Trauma Culture
54:21 Spirituality and the Nature of Reality
57:40 Psychedelics: Promises and Pitfalls

Keywords

trauma, healing, somatic experiencing, vulnerability, resilience, first responders, mental health, breathwork, emotional healing, Peter Levine, trauma, healing, addiction, spirituality, psychedelics, somatic experiencing, mental health, body-mind connection, resilience, personal growth, Somatic release, Logos Therapy, Jung, Carl Jung, Depth psychology, Body keeps the score, Nervous system, Vagus nerve, Breathe,

programs@somaticexperiencing.com
Peter A Levine, PhD is the President and Founder of the Ergos Institute of Somatic Education, dedicated to Community Outreach, Public Workshops, and Post-Advanced Somatic Experiencing® (SE™) Trainings. To learn more about Ergos programs, click here: somaticexperiencing.com.

Dr. Levine is also the founder of Somatic Experiencing International, a worldwide organization committed to training professionals in Somatic Experiencing. To find a SE™ practitioner and learn more about the SE™ professional training, click here: traumahealing.org.

Dr. Levine's private practice is closed.

Music for every episode
Intro and exit music used: Strange the dreamer by Savfk - www.youtube.com/@savfkmusic

Connect with Ryan Anderson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awonderjunkie/
awonderjunkie.com
Breathe4Flow.com
Rumble https://rumble.com/user/awonderjunkie
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@awonderjunkie
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-wondejunkie/id1739838765
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1CcQXpxfV9P89IrKmtV2hS?si=6519a88aef444ba0