Introduction to Somatic Experiencing®
Basic Principles of a Nervous System–Based Approach to Trauma and Stress
Much of human behaviour, stress, and suffering is shaped by unconscious nervous system patterns formed in response to overwhelm. Somatic Experiencing® training invites professionals to slow down, attune to the body’s signals, and learn how regulation, safety, and choice can be restored through physiological awareness.
PREPARATION FOR:
Introduction to Somatic Experiencing®
This introductory course offers a clear and accessible entry point into Somatic Experiencing® (SE), a body-based approach to understanding and working with trauma and chronic stress. It is suitable for professionals and interested individuals who want to learn how trauma affects the nervous system and how regulation supports healing.
Completion of this introductory course is required for entry into the Somatic Experiencing® Professional Training. It provides the foundational context needed to make an informed decision about continuing into the multi-year training program.
Duration: 2 Days
- May 16-17, 2026 – 10am to 5pm GST
- December 12-13, 2026 – 10am to 5pm GST
This course is delivered online as a live, interactive learning experience, combining teaching, demonstration, and experiential participation. Emphasis is placed on embodied understanding rather than intellectual knowledge alone.
The learning environment is supportive, inclusive, and appropriate for participants with varying levels of prior experience.
By participating in this introductory program, you will:
- Gain an overview of the foundational concepts that inform Somatic Experiencing® and its professional training pathway
- Develop an understanding of how the nervous system responds to stress and overwhelming experiences
- Learn a simple, practical SE-based exercise that can be applied immediately
- Observe live demonstrations and engage in guided experiential exercises
- Receive clear information about the structure, requirements, and progression of the full SE Professional Training
This introductory course is suitable for:
- Therapists, counsellors, and mental health professionals
- Coaches, educators, and helping professionals
- Healthcare and wellness practitioners
- Individuals interested in trauma-informed, body-based approaches
- No prior experience with Somatic Experiencing® is required.
This introductory offering provides a foundation in Somatic Experiencing® and serves as the entry point to the professional training pathway.
Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness.
Peter A. Levine
Somatic Experiencing ®
TEACHERS
Kari Elise Slinning
Kari Elise Slinning is an authorised Gestalt Psychotherapist and Somatic Experiencing (SE) Practitioner.
Originally from Norway, she currently lives in Stockholm, Sweden – her home for over 30 years. She is a mother of 3 children. Before turning to Gestalt Therapy in 1999, Kari had a career as a classical musician—first as a violinist, then as an orchestra conductor—working in professional orchestras around Scandinavia.
Her personal therapeutic journey inspired a career change – her Masters’ degree in Gestalt Psychotherapy “Free from Bulimia Nervosa” was a phenomenological study based on interviews with people on their recovery process from eating disorders.
Kari has worked in psychiatric settings and led support groups for families affected by eating disorders. She served as Operations Manager for the Swedish National Association for Eating Disorders (2009-2015). She currently works as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner in her private practice in Stockholm.
Since completing her Somatic Experiencing® training in 2012, Kari integrated SE into her Psychotherapy practice and has been active in the SE community: she assisted at numerous SE-trainings across Europe, in India and South Africa; co-founded the Swedish SE-Association in 2013; and for several years served as the Chair of the Board of the European Association for Somatic Experiencing (EASE).
Reserve your spot today
If you are interested in developing a deeper, nervous system–informed approach to working with trauma and stress, this training will guide that process.
Whether you are exploring whether Somatic Experiencing® is the right fit for your work, seeking clarity about the training pathway, or ready to begin the program, we are here to assist you. Please complete the form below and a member of our team will be in touch to share further details, respond to your questions, and support you in taking the next step.