Certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner in New Jersey
What Is Somatic Experiencing Therapy?
Somatic Experiencing® is a body-centered approach to healing trauma. If you have never heard of SE before, here is the simplest way to understand it: SE helps your nervous system complete the survival responses that got stuck when trauma happened. Instead of focusing on the story of what happened, SE focuses on what is happening in your body right now.
— Joshua White, LCSW, SEP
Your Somatic Experiencing Practitioner: Joshua White, SEP
Joshua White is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), certified in 2018 through Somatic Experiencing International. What sets Joshua apart is that he is also a Somatic Experiencing Assistant, a role he has held since 2020. This means Joshua not only practices SE but also assists in teaching and training other SE practitioners. This is a rare combination that reflects a deep level of expertise and mastery in this approach.
Joshua’s SE training involved a rigorous three-year program focused on the neurobiology of trauma and physiological regulation. He completed all three levels of SE training: Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced. Joshua is a member of Somatic Experiencing International and continues ongoing education to stay current with the latest developments in trauma treatment.
Joshua has been integrating Somatic Experiencing® into his clinical practice for over 10 years. He holds an MSW from Kean University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New Jersey. His background allows him to offer a holistic approach that bridges the gap between traditional psychology and body-centered healing.
How Somatic Experiencing Works With Your Nervous System
Bottom-Up Approach
Traditional therapy often uses a top-down approach. This means using your brain and thoughts to try to calm your body. For example, you might use cognitive techniques to talk yourself out of anxiety or reframe negative thoughts. While this can be helpful, it often does not work when trauma is deeply stored in the body.
Somatic Experiencing® uses a bottom-up approach. Instead of trying to think your way out of stress, we listen to what your body is telling us. We pay attention to physical cues like changes in your breathing, a tightening in your chest, tension in your shoulders, a sudden chill, or warmth spreading through your body. By paying attention to these signals in a safe, slow, and controlled way, we allow your nervous system to discharge that old survival energy.
Discharge and Regulation
The goal of SE is to help your nervous system complete the survival responses that got interrupted during trauma. When this happens, your body can finally release the activation that has been stuck. This process resets your internal alarm system. It teaches your body that the threat is over, and it is finally safe to relax.
You might experience this discharge as a sigh, a tremor, a yawn, warmth, or simply a sense of settling. These are all signs that your nervous system is letting go of stress and moving back toward regulation.
What to Expect in a Somatic Experiencing Session
We Do Talk, But It Is a Different Kind of Conversation
In a typical SE session, we do talk, but it is a different kind of conversation than traditional therapy. We typically start with a body scan and grounding exercise. We then begin with a grounding resource, followed by sensing and noticing what is happening in your body. This could be the weight of your feet on the floor, a pleasant memory, the sensation of sunlight on your skin, or the support of the chair beneath you. Resources help your nervous system feel anchored and safe.
Tracking Body Sensations
In a typical SE session, we do talk, but it is a different kind of conversation than traditional therapy. We typically start with a body scan and grounding exercise. We then begin with a grounding resource, followed by sensing and noticing what is happening in your body. This could be the weight of your feet on the floor, a pleasant memory, the sensation of sunlight on your skin, or the support of the chair beneath you. Resources help your nervous system feel anchored and safe.
Titration and Pendulation
Titration means we only touch on small drops of the difficult material at a time. We do not flood your system with overwhelming emotions or memories. Instead, we work with just enough activation that your nervous system can process without becoming overwhelmed.
Pendulation means we gently swing our attention between a difficult sensation and a resourced or neutral one. For example, if you notice tightness in your chest when we talk about a stressful situation, I might ask you to also notice the feeling of your feet on the ground or your breath. This back-and-forth movement helps your nervous system learn that it can handle stress without getting stuck.
What You Might Experience
During or after a session, you might experience a sigh, a small shiver, warmth, tingling, or a sense of relief. These are all signs of your nervous system letting go of stress. Unlike talk therapy, which can sometimes leave you feeling activated or raw by retelling a traumatic story, Somatic Experiencing® aims to leave you feeling more regulated and coherent by the end of the session.
Sessions are 50 minutes long and are designed to help you feel settled, not overwhelmed.
Who Benefits Most From Somatic Experiencing?
PTSD and Shock Trauma
If you have experienced accidents, medical procedures, sudden losses, or other single-incident traumas, SE can help your body complete the survival responses that were activated during those events.
Chronic Anxiety or High Alert
If you feel like you can never truly relax, if you are always scanning for danger, or if your body feels tense and on edge even when nothing is wrong, SE helps regulate an overactive nervous system.
Physical Symptoms Without Medical Explanation
Chronic tension, migraines, digestive issues, pain, and other physical symptoms can be signs of unresolved trauma stored in the body. SE can address these symptoms at their root.
Emotional Numbness or Freeze Response
If you feel checked out, disconnected from your life, or emotionally flat, you may be experiencing a freeze response. SE helps your nervous system move out of freeze and back into connection and presence.
When Talk Therapy Has Not Been Enough
I often recommend Somatic Experiencing® over traditional talk therapy when a client says, "I understand my trauma, but I still feel it in my body." If you have talked about your past for years but your body still reacts as if the danger is happening now, SE is often the missing piece.
How Is Somatic Experiencing Different From Talk Therapy?
Traditional Talk Therapy
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Focuses on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
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Uses a top-down approach (mind to body)
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Involves discussing the story of what happened
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Processes emotions through words
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Uses cognitive techniques to reframe thoughts
Somatic Experiencing®
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Focuses on body sensations and nervous system
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Uses a bottom-up approach (body to mind)
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Tracks what is happening in your body right now
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Works with physiology, not just psychology
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Allows the body to release trapped survival energy
Why the Difference Matters
What Results Can You Expect From Somatic Experiencing?
Panic
Panic attacks nearly every day
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Panic attacks are rare (about once a month)
Sleep
Restless nights and trouble sleeping
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Sleeping peacefully most nights
Reactivity
Constantly on edge—irritable, argumentative, reactive
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More settled—less reactive and more present with others
Other common results include reduced hypervigilance and feeling less constantly on edge, improved ability to be present with loved ones, decreased or resolved physical symptoms, and greater capacity to handle stress without shutting down or becoming overwhelmed.
Timeline for Healing
Why Choose Living Well Therapy for Somatic Experiencing?
Not Just Certified, But Training Others
Joshua is both a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and a Somatic Experiencing Assistant. This is a rare combination. It means Joshua has advanced expertise in SE and actively assists in teaching other practitioners.
Ongoing Professional Development
Joshua is a member of Somatic Experiencing International and continues advanced training. He has completed the APSATS Multi-Dimensional Partner Trauma Model and is pursuing PACT training with Stan Tatkin.
Over 10 Years of Experience
Joshua has been integrating Somatic Experiencing® into his clinical practice since 2015. He understands how SE works with different types of trauma and can tailor the approach to your specific needs.
Direct, Warm, and Human Style
Trauma work should feel approachable, not clinical or cold. Joshua's style is direct, warm, and personal. We meet you where you are, work at your pace, and focus on what matters most.
Common Questions About Somatic Experiencing
Somatic Experiencing® works directly with your nervous system and body sensations rather than focusing on retelling the trauma story. It uses a bottom-up approach instead of top-down. This means we start with the body and allow the mind to follow. SE addresses where trauma is actually stored physiologically, which makes it different from CBT and traditional talk therapy.
No. Somatic Experiencing® does not require you to retell your trauma story in detail. In fact, talking about trauma in great detail can sometimes reactivate your nervous system without leading to healing. Instead, we work with the sensations, emotions, and body responses that are present right now. The story may emerge naturally if it is helpful, but it is not required.
Working with the body means paying attention to physical sensations like tension, temperature changes, breathing patterns, and how your body responds to different topics. It is gentle and non-invasive. There is no physical touch. We simply track what your body is feeling and use that information to guide the healing process.
The length of SE therapy varies depending on the person and the complexity of the trauma. Some people experience relief in 3 to 5 sessions, especially for acute trauma. Complex or developmental trauma may take months. The important thing is that we progress at a pace your nervous system can handle. We check in regularly and adjust as your needs evolve.
Yes. Somatic Experiencing® is highly effective for anxiety and panic attacks. It works directly with an overactive nervous system and helps discharge trapped activation. SE teaches your body how to regulate itself so you can move from high alert to calm without getting stuck. Many see a significant reduction in the frequency and intensity of panic attacks.
Somatic Experiencing® sessions are 50 minutes and cost $150 per session. We do not bill insurance directly, but we provide superbills (detailed receipts) that you can submit to your insurance company for potential out-of-network reimbursement. We also offer a limited number of sliding scale spots. We offer a free 15-minute consultation to answer questions and discuss your needs.
Begin Your Somatic Experiencing Journey
Address
5 Cold Hill Road South, Suite 18
Mendham, NJ 07945
(Across from Kings Shopping Center)
Wheelchair accessible with parking available. Note: Multiple buildings at this location. Allow extra time for your first visit to locate Suite 18.
Areas Served
Morris County
Serving all of New Jersey virtually via Zoom. In-person sessions in Mendham.
Session Options
In-Person at Mendham Office
Virtual Sessions (All of NJ via Zoom)
Fees
Individual Therapy: $150 • Couples Therapy: $175
Limited sliding scale spots available
Contact
Phone: 973-769-4334
Email: info@livingwellnj.com
Response time: 24-48 hours