What is Somatic EMDR?
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.
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.
“The Talk,” How to Tell a Potential Partner that You Have Herpes - Part 1
How to Disclose a Herpes Diagnosis as an opportunity for self-care, growth and connection!
Having worked with people who have Herpes over the past few years, I understand the all-consuming concern about whether or not someone will ever have sex, relationships, and families, after the "life-changing gift" of Herpes. This fear seems to peak around having the dreaded “Talk," disclosing to potential partners – when and where, and what to say.
Over the next 3 weeks I will be sharing the guideline that I have developed after reading a number of materials on the subject, participating in discussions with experts as well as clients and using my knowledge from my trauma-informed professional training. Keep in mind that these are just guidelines. Everyone is different and have different circumstances so I go into more detail in my trauma-informed individual therapy for people with herpes and the women’s online support group for herpes.
1. Don't disclose on the first date, unless you are planning on kissing or having sex with someone.* It’s usually best to wait until around the third date.
Disclosing right away often invites potential partners to focus on the virus as opposed to focusing on you. Also, remember that you are the sum of your parts, and that they are not going to know that unless we give them a chance to find out.
I would rather have you focus on getting to know each other before sharing your STI status. Notice that I mean “your” as in BOTH OF YOUR STI status. Don’t forget that most people who have Herpes don’t even know that they have it so you may not be the only one with a positive status.
In addition to that, what if it turns out that that potential partner doesn't have any potential after all? What if the chemistry turns out to be missing? What if there is no compatibility? Then, you just revealed something very personal to someone with whom you don't even see a future with. You get to choose too!
*I will discuss that next…
2. Why disclosing before kissing if oral herpes is so common or if you know that you have genital herpes?
You are building trust with this person.
You are showing that you care about your health and their health.
You know that sooner or later that will need to become a topic of conversation so you are modeling open and honest communication.
Last, but not least, you are challenging the herpes stigma
3. Have “The Talk” in person.
In a world where we are constantly bombarded by emails, texts, and social media, being able to communicate in person is becoming a rarity and we losing our ability to fully express ourselves in conversation. Not only this is a strength that will empower you in any relationship; but it will also speak to your character and willingness to address delicate matters with confidence and self-awareness.
Having “The Talk” in person also gives you both the chance to have each other’s full-attention and the ability to read each other's body language, which can give people a lot of information that is missed in text and on the phone. It allows you to have more open and organic discussions that lead to more intimacy.
To be continued next week….on Part 2
If you, or someone you know have been affected by genital herpes and is looking for support and guidance; you found the right place. I offer both in-person and online trauma-informed individual therapy for people struggling with herpes and an online herpes support groups for women.
Contact me today for a FREE 20-minute phone consultation at: (858) 842-0234 or email me at: miriam@miriamchorfreitas.com I’m looking forward to hearing from you!
