Somatic EMDR

Somatic EMDR combines the traditional principles of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) with body-based, or somatic, therapies. While standard EMDR helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories through bilateral stimulation, somatic EMDR adds focused attention on physical sensations, posture, breath, and the body’s instinctive responses. This approach recognizes that trauma is not stored only as thoughts or images—it also lives in the nervous system and tissues of the body. By gently integrating somatic awareness, clients can process unresolved experiences more completely and safely.

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In a somatic EMDR session, you might be invited to notice subtle bodily cues—tightness, temperature changes, shifts in breath—and explore how these sensations relate to emotional or traumatic memories. As the EMDR process unfolds, these sensations often begin to change, signaling that the nervous system is releasing old patterns of stress or survival responses. This body-guided approach can help clients access deeper layers of healing that talk therapy alone may not reach.

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Somatic EMDR also integrates seamlessly with parts work, which views the mind as a collection of protective and wounded “parts” that each carry their own emotions, beliefs, and needs. When combined, EMDR helps reprocess traumatic memories while IFS supports clients in building compassionate relationships with the parts of themselves that hold pain or survival strategies. This integration allows clients to stay more regulated and curious during processing, creating a gentler and more collaborative healing experience. Additionally, the use of resource tapping—a method of strengthening positive, body-based resources through bilateral stimulation—helps clients access feelings of safety, resilience, and support before and during trauma work. Together, these approaches create a grounded, flexible, and deeply supportive framework for healing.

I completed my Somatic EMDR program with Embody Lab in Oct 2025 and I now integrate Somatic EMDR interventions into my practice.