More Than a Memory: Healing Your Nervous System with Somatic EMDR
We’ve all heard the phrase “it’s all in your head.” But for anyone who has lived through trauma, chronic stress, or deep anxiety, you know that isn’t true. You feel it in the tightness of your chest, the knot in your stomach, or the way your shoulders perpetually hike up toward your ears.
At CARE Counseling, we understand that your body often remembers what your mind tries to forget. That is why we offer Somatic EMDR—an innovative, research-supported approach that bridges the gap between traditional brain-based reprocessing and the deep-seated wisdom of your body.
What is Somatic EMDR?
Standard EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is world-renowned for helping the brain reprocess traumatic memories so they no longer feel like present-day threats. Somatic EMDR takes this a step further by integrating "bottom-up" processing.
While traditional EMDR focuses on thoughts and images, the Somatic approach focuses on the physical sensations of trauma. By tracking things like your breath, muscle tension, and heart rate during the reprocessing phase, we help your nervous system finally "discharge" the survival energy—the fight, flight, or freeze response—that has been stuck in your body for years.
Why Focus on the Body?
Trauma doesn’t just change how we think; it changes how our nervous system operates. This is why you might feel "on edge" even when you know you are safe.
Somatic EMDR is particularly powerful for:
Complex Trauma: When "stuckness" feels more like a physical weight than a specific memory.
Physical Symptoms: Easing chronic tension, headaches, or digestive issues linked to emotional stress.
Emotional Regulation: Helping you feel "grounded" and safe in your own skin again.
Disconnectedness: Assisting those who feel "numb" or disconnected from their emotions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How does Somatic EMDR help with physical pain? A: Trauma is often stored in the tissues and nervous system as chronic tension. By reprocessing the memory while focusing on the physical sensation, we allow the body to release the "stored" stress, which can lead to a significant reduction in stress-related physical pain.
Q: Is Somatic EMDR different from "Talk Therapy"? A: Yes. While we do talk, the focus is on the experience in the body. We spend less time analyzing the "why" and more time noticing the "how"—how the trauma lives in your body and how it can be released through bilateral stimulation.
Q: Is this treatment covered by insurance? A: Yes. At CARE Counseling, we accept major plans like BCBS, 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: What is "Bilateral Stimulation"? A: This refers to the rhythmic left-right stimulation of the brain, usually via guided eye movements, handheld "tappers," or audio tones. This process mimics the brain's natural processing during REM sleep.
The CARE Counseling Difference: A Strengths-Based Approach
At CARE Counseling, our mission is to provide cutting-edge, compassionate care through a strengths-based lens. We believe that your body’s symptoms aren’t "broken" parts of you—they are survival strategies your body used to keep you safe.
When you work with our clinicians in Naperville or via telehealth, you aren't just a set of symptoms to be fixed. We honor your unique journey and empower you to drive the process. By combining the structure of EMDR with the gentleness of somatic awareness, we provide a safe, equitable space where you can build lasting resilience.
Ready to Reconnect?
If you feel like your body is still reacting to a past that your mind is ready to leave behind, Somatic EMDR may be the missing piece of your healing journey.
Take the next step with us. Visit carecounseling.healthcare to meet our team or to schedule a consultation.
Building a community to strengthen the community—one body, and one mind, at a time.
