What is Somatic EMDR?

Somatic EMDR, is a new therapeutic approach that combines two powerful therapy modalities:

• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), which helps people reprocess traumatic memories and resolve traumatization by stimulating bilateral brain activity (like side-to-side eye movements, tapping, or sounds).

• Somatic Therapy, which focuses on the body's felt sense — meaning the sensations, tension, movements, and energy in the body — to help release trauma that's "stored" physically, not just cognitively.

When you combine them, Somatic EMDR helps a client not just think about a traumatic memory but feel and reprocess the body responses to it.

So how it looks in practice?

• Before diving into heavy memories, a therapist might help the client build somatic resources (like grounding, noticing safety cues, or orienting in the present moment).

• During reprocessing, instead of focusing solely on the memory, the client might track what's happening inside their body — for example, a tightness in the chest, a sense of heat, or a trembling.

• The therapist may use bilateral stimulation while gently guiding the client to stay present with body sensations, allowing trauma energy stuck in the body to move and resolve.

Why it's important?
Trauma often bypasses words. The body holds reactions even when the mind "forgets."
Somatic EMDR brings healing to both mind and body.

How is somatic emdr different from traditional emdr?

Traditional EMDR Somatic EMDR

Main Focus: Primarily on cognitive memories: Focuses on both the cognitive memories and the

thoughts, images, beliefs, emotions linked body’s sensations and movements during to the trauma. processing.

Processing Style: Targets memories by Actively tracks what the body feels and does

activating them and using bilateral (tightness, shaking, numbness)

stimulation (like eye movements) to alongside memory processing.

process distress.

Client Awareness: Mostly asked about Client is also encouraged to notice

the memory, thoughts, emotions, and name bodily experiences:

and belief shifts. tension, breath changes, somatic impulses.

Goal: Reduce the distress and negative Release trapped trauma energy

beliefs linked to the trauma memory. in the body and restore nervous system

regulation, alongside cognitive healing.

Techniques Added: Follows 8 phases, May weave in grounding, titration, pendulation,

usually staying pretty structured. somatic resourcing, and more flexible tracking

of body experiences.

In Summary,

• Traditional EMDR works a lot from the "neck up" (memory, emotions, cognition).

• Somatic EMDR works from the "neck down, too" (nervous system, body sensations, instinctual survival responses).

Both can be very healing and effective— but with Somatic EMDR the process can be better paced, more body-centered, and more manageable to clients. It can be extra helpful for people whose trauma shows up physically (like chronic pain, dissociation, or deep anxiety without a clear "story"). Some clients feel safer with Somatic EMDR because it emphasizes going at the body’s pace and helps prevent overwhelm.

When might Somatic EMDR be especially recommended over traditional EMDR?

✅ Body Memories — physical sensations (pain, tightness, trembling) without clear verbal memories.
✅ Developmental Trauma — early life trauma (neglect, attachment wounds) where the nervous system got shaped over time, not just by one event.
✅ Chronic Health Conditions — like fibromyalgia, migraines, digestive issues linked to unresolved trauma.
✅ Easily Overwhelmed — intense emotions or body reactions that feel too big, too fast.
✅ No Clear Story — knowing you feel anxious, fearful, or "off," but not having clear memories to process.
✅ Need for Slow Pace — needing gentle, body-based tracking rather than diving deep into heavy memories right away.

What are the basics of trauma and effective trauma-informed care?

What is trauma?

Trauma is any experience that overwhelms the nervous system, which is comprised of the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord) and the peripherical nervous system (the nerves that run throughout our bodies); and, threatens our instinctual need for safety and survival. 

We all experience trauma and we all have a natural drive to go through these experiences, resolve them and grow from them. However, when we experience an event or a series of events that are so beyond our level of resilience that our spontaneous ability to learn, grow and adapt to our new circumstances shuts down and our nervous system loses its ability to respond effectively to the experience. We default to our instinctual need for safety and survival and withdraw, we get traumatized by the circumstances and often develop chronic symptoms of anxiety, depression, guilt and shame, relationship difficulties, and, even, addictions as a result of that. That is what is commonly known as Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Complex-PTSD.

What is effective trauma-informed care?

Effective trauma treatment requires a holistic approach to addressing cognitive, emotional, and somatic(physical) symptoms. Traditional talk therapy usually focuses on thoughts and feelings leaving out the somatic/physiological responses to the traumatizing event(s).  

Therapists trained in the combined use of EMDR and Somatic Therapy have advanced tools to work with post-traumatic stress. They are able to use somatic interventions with EMDR Therapy to help clients work through traumatic memories without becoming too overwhelmed or shutting down completely. The aim is to work within the “window of tolerance,” which is an optimal zone of nervous system arousal where we are able to respond effectively to our emotional distress without getting re-traumatized in therapy.

If you or someone you know is struggling with trauma, PTSD, or C-PTSD, and wants to learn more about SOMATIC EMDR and trauma-informed individual therapy, contact me today to schedule your free 20-minute phone consultation at: (858) 842-0234 or email me at: miriam@miriamchorfreitas.com