Somatic EMDR
Heal from trauma by listening to your body
A Whole-Body Approach to Healing
Trauma doesn’t just live in your memories—it lives in your body. Somatic EMDR therapy combines the power of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) with somatic (body-based) approaches to help you process trauma, release stored stress, and reclaim a sense of safety and aliveness.
Whether you’ve experienced chronic stress, childhood trauma, emotional neglect, or struggle with anxiety, panic, or shutdown, this approach offers a gentle yet powerful way to reconnect with yourself—body and mind.
What Is Somatic EMDR?
Somatic EMDR is an integrated therapy that brings together:
EMDR Therapy, a highly effective, evidence-based treatment for trauma and PTSD that uses bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements or tapping) to reprocess distressing memories
Somatic Therapy, a body-based approach that helps you listen to your body’s signals, regulate your nervous system, and complete stuck survival responses (like fight, flight, freeze, or fawn)
Together, these methods don’t just help you talk about trauma—they help you actually resolve it.
Why Use a Somatic Approach?
The word soma means “the body known from within.” Somatic therapy helps restore connection with your inner self and physical sensations, especially when trauma has caused you to go numb, dissociate, or feel stuck in cycles of anxiety or shutdown.
Somatic EMDR can help you:
Reconnect with your body and sense of self
Regulate panic, anxiety, and overwhelm
Release tension, pain, or numbness held in the body
Complete and resolve unprocessed stress responses
Process trauma in a safe, titrated, and body-informed way
What We Do in Somatic EMDR Sessions
This work is paced and collaborative. We don’t dive into trauma headfirst—we build your capacity first. Our sessions may include:
Grounding — Strengthening your ability to feel safe in your body and in the present moment.
Resourcing — Creating emotional anchors like calm, confidence, or protection that help you feel more regulated.
Somatic Awareness — Learning how to notice sensations, tension, and shifts in your body.
Titration & Sequencing — Approaching trauma slowly, in manageable pieces, and noticing how the body begins to release.
Movement & Completion — Supporting your body in finishing survival responses that were frozen during past events.
Who Is Somatic EMDR For?
This approach is especially supportive for:
Adults with complex trauma, PTSD, or emotional abuse histories
Neurodivergent clients (including autistic or highly sensitive individuals)
Survivors of childhood neglect, relational trauma, or chronic stress
People experiencing anxiety, panic, dissociation, or chronic pain
Anyone who feels “stuck in their head” but disconnected from their body
You don’t have to force yourself to relive traumatic events. Somatic EMDR respects your pace, your body, and your story.
Why It Works
Research shows that both EMDR and Somatic Therapy are among the most effective treatments for trauma. When combined, they amplify each other’s strengths—helping you experience relief not just cognitively, but physiologically.
In fact, many people report significant improvement within just a few sessions. Results may include:
Fewer panic symptoms
Improved emotional regulation
Reduced chronic tension or pain
Greater ease, vitality, and self-trust
You Deserve to Feel Safe in Your Body Again
Somatic EMDR is not about pushing through or toughing it out. It’s about gently helping your system remember how to feel calm, connected, and whole.
If you’re ready to explore this healing path, I’d be honored to walk alongside you.