Somatic EMDR: Healing Trauma Through Mind-Body Integration
At CARE Counseling, we are committed to offering therapeutic approaches that honor your whole experience—emotionally, cognitively, and physically. Somatic EMDR is an integrated trauma therapy that combines the established effectiveness of EMDR with somatic (body-focused) awareness techniques. This comprehensive approach helps individuals process distressing experiences by engaging both the mind and the body's natural healing systems.
What Is Somatic EMDR?
Somatic EMDR blends two powerful, evidence-based approaches:
EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): A method that helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories through bilateral stimulation (guided eye movements, taps, or sounds). This reduces the emotional "charge" of the memory, allowing it to be stored as a normal, non-threatening past event.
Somatic Therapy: A body-centered approach focusing on physical sensations and nervous system responses. It acknowledges that trauma is often "held" in the body long after the event has passed.
When combined, Somatic EMDR acknowledges that trauma is not just a mental image—it is a physiological experience that influences your heart rate, muscle tension, and overall sense of safety.
Why Integrate Somatic Work with EMDR?
Traumatic experiences leave imprints far beyond thoughts. Many people experience hypervigilance, chronic tension, or "numbness" years after a traumatic event. Somatic EMDR helps clients:
Foster Internal Safety: Reconnect with the body in a grounded way, creating a "safe harbor" within yourself.
Stay in the Window of Tolerance: By tracking body sensations, we ensure your nervous system stays in a regulated zone where healing can happen without you becoming overwhelmed or "shut down."
Release Physical Trauma: Discharge the "survival energy" stored in muscle patterns or nervous system dysregulation while simultaneously reprocessing the cognitive memory.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How is Somatic EMDR different from regular EMDR? A: While standard EMDR focuses heavily on thoughts and images, Somatic EMDR places equal importance on the physical sensations occurring in the body during reprocessing. We use body-based grounding tools to ensure you remain present and regulated.
Q: Who can benefit from Somatic EMDR? A: It is a strong fit for individuals experiencing chronic tension, hypervigilance, or a sense of "disconnection" from their body. It is also effective for those who have found that traditional talk therapy hasn't fully addressed their physical symptoms of trauma.
Q: Is Somatic EMDR covered by insurance? A: Yes. At CARE Counseling, we accept many insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna. When our licensed clinicians use Somatic EMDR to treat a clinical diagnosis, it is billed as a standard outpatient therapy session.
Q: Do I have to relive my trauma to do Somatic EMDR? A: No. Somatic EMDR is designed to be a gentle process. We prioritize stabilization and grounding first, and the "processing" phase is designed to reduce intensity, not increase it.
What to Expect in a Session
Somatic EMDR sessions at our Naperville office or via telehealth are structured to support your pace:
Stabilization: We build a toolkit of grounding and regulation skills before we begin any deep processing.
Tracking Sensations: Your therapist will guide you to notice internal shifts—like a tightening in the chest or a softening in the shoulders—as you engage with bilateral stimulation.
Reprocessing: Traumatic memories are worked through until their emotional and physical intensity diminishes.
Integration: We consolidate your new insights and physical sense of calm into your daily life.
Why Choose CARE Counseling?
At CARE Counseling, we recognize that trauma affects every part of you. Our therapists are trained in Somatic EMDR to help you move beyond "managing" symptoms to achieving true embodiment and empowerment.
Ready to heal your mind and body? Visit carecounseling.healthcare to meet our clinicians or to schedule an initial consultation.
Building a community to strengthen the community—one body at a time.
