EMDR & SE
Combining Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Somatic Experiencing (SE) for trauma therapy
Trauma isn’t defined by an event, but rather, trauma occurs when our ability to respond to a person or situation becomes overwhelmed. Trauma isn’t just something we remember, it’s something we carry in our bodies. While talk therapy helps us process our experiences mentally, it often doesn’t reach the deep, physiological imprints that trauma leaves behind. To truly heal at the root, we need more than logic and insights, we need to retrain the nervous system. This is where EMDR and SE come in. They are trauma resolution therapies that have distinct techniques and theories, and integrating them together offers a comprehensive framework for addressing trauma.
"The Nervous System Holds The Key To The Body's Incredible Potential To Heal Itself." - Sir Jay Holder
Two Powerful Trauma Therapies
Combining Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Somatic Experiencing (SE) for trauma therapy
EMDR: Rewiring Trauma Responses
EMDR is an efficient way to process the memories of stressful and traumatic events that have shifted how we feel about ourselves and the world. Using bilateral (left-right) stimulation (such as eye movement, tapping, or tactile vibrations) EMDR allows the brain to:
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Access memories that were never fully processed, and address them in a controlled, safe way
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Reprocess distressing memories and emotions so they no longer feel disturbing
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Integrate past experiences into present reality
For additional information and research on EMDR, please visit:
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EMDRIA, the International EMDR Association
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EMDR Canada Association
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The EMDR Institute
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Here's a great video that describes well how EMDR works.
EMDR can help with symptoms such as: - Persistent feeling of guilt (“I did something wrong” or “It's my fault if this happened”) - Fears, panic - Sense of emptiness, numbness - Sleep disturbances and nightmares - Grief that develops into debilitating depression - Overwhelming sadness - Flashbacks, and intrusive thoughts - Difficulty talking about the trauma, the event/memory/situation, and how it makes you feel EMDR can significantly reduce emotional distress, relieve uncomfortable physical symptoms and transform negative beliefs so you can get past stuck points, restore healthy functioning, and engage in life in a more resilient and successful way.
Somatic Experiencing: Releasing Trauma from the body
SE focuses on the physiological manifestations of trauma in the body. It emphasizes that traumatic experiences can lead to dysregulation in the autonomic nervous system, causing people to get stuck in a stress response (patterns of fight, flight, and freeze) that have become a way of living. Because of that, the goal in therapy with an SE lens is to resolve symptoms of stress, shock and trauma that accumulates in the body and nervous system. Since trauma often gets locked in muscle tension, posture, breathing patterns, and gut responses, somatic techniques help to:
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Restore balance in the nervous system, so you feel calmer and more present
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Release physical tension and stored stress, so that there is a return to more wholeness and health.
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Rebuild a sense of safety in your body
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Reclaim a sense of empowerment and ease
Individuals are invited to track sensations in their body while participating in specific interventions to facilitate the completion of interrupted protective responses allowing for more space and ease inside. For additional information and research on SE, please visit Somatic Experiencing International.
Benefits of Combining EMDR and SE for Healing Trauma
EMDR and SE both recognize the inherent capacity for healing within each individual and seek to empower people to access their innate resources for recovery. By combining the appoaches, I help you heal at both the cognitive and physiological level, creating lasting change and relief rather than temporary coping strategies. If you’ve tried talk therapy but still feel stuck, it’s not because you’re broken, it’s because trauma healing requires a deeper approach. Your mind, body, and nervous system all need to process and integrate what happened so you can truly move forward.
If you’re curious and want to explore how these approaches can help you, I’d love to connect. Reach out today and take the next step toward healing.