The Trauma Tango: Blending EMDR and Somatic Therapy

Blending EMDR and Somatic Therapy

Therapy has traditionally placed a lot of emphasis on understanding.

Understanding why we feel something.

Understanding where a pattern came from.

Understanding how our childhood experiences shaped us.

That understanding can be incredibly valuable.

But sometimes understanding isn't the same thing as feeling different.

We can know exactly why we have a particular response and still experience that response.

This is where an integrative approach can be meaningful.

We can explore the story while also exploring our body's response to the story.

We can build insight while building awareness.

We can process the past while staying connected to the present.

And we can work toward helping the mind and body feel less like separate systems and more like blended parts of the same experience.  (see what I did there?)

EMDR and the Body

EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a structured form of psychotherapy that helps us process distressing and traumatic memories that continue to affect us in the present. (American Psychological Association, 2025)

One of the things I particularly appreciate about EMDR is that we don’t necessarily have to talk through every detail of a traumatic experience.

Instead, EMDR can involve noticing the thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and memories connected to an experience while using bilateral stimulation as part of the reprocessing process.

This creates an opportunity to pay attention not only to what we remember, but also to what we notice happening within the body as we process.

What happens when we think about the memory?

Where do we notice it?

Does our chest tighten? Does our stomach drop?

Do we feel numb? Do we want to move away, freeze, shut down, or protect ourselves?

These physical responses become important information during the therapeutic process.

Why Blend the Two?

Somatic therapy places attention on the relationship between our experiences, emotions, nervous system, and physical sensations.

Rather than treating the body as something separate from the therapeutic process, we can bring the body into the process and become curious about what it is communicating.

Sometimes that means slowing down.

Sometimes it means noticing a sensation without immediately trying to change it.

Sometimes it means grounding, orienting to our environment, creating more space between ourselves and an overwhelming experience, or helping our nervous system experience something different.

For me, this is where EMDR and somatic work can complement one another.

EMDR provides a structured framework for trauma processing, while somatic approaches can help us remain connected to what is happening in our bodies throughout that process.

The goal isn't to force our bodies to "let go" or to make every physical sensation disappear. Instead, the work can involve developing greater awareness, safety, choice, and connection with our bodies.

As Francine Shapiro might say, “Go With That!”

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References

American Psychological Association. (2025). Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Adults.

American Psychological Association. (2023). What is EMDR therapy and why is it used to treat PTSD?