EMDR and Somatic Experiencing

Healing trauma starts within the body. EMDR and Somatic Experiencing are modalities proven to help process difficult memories, emotions, and trauma patterns. Because of this, mental health professionals have more resources than ever before to help address a multitude of trauma responses that clients may have. With so many different options to choose from, we will break down the difference between these somatic therapies.

EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was discovered in the 1980s by Francine Shapiro. This psychotherapy is a memory based therapy. The goal of EMDR is to access, stimulate, and reprocess memories held in maladaptive memory networks. According to emrd.com, more than 30 positive controlled outcome studies have been done on EMDR therapy. This powerful therapy can help treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, eating disorders, insomnia, and CPTSD to name a few.

Want to learn more? Click here to sign up for our next EMDR Basic Training course.

Somatic Experiencing

Somatic experiencing is a body-oriented therapy. This includes psychotherapy, medicine, coaching, teaching, and physical therapy. Dr. Peter A. Levine pioneered this practice. In this therapeutic approach to healing trauma, one can assess where a person is stuck within the fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response. Somatic experiencing then provides clinical tools to resolve these fixated physiological states.

Want to learn more? Click here to sign up for our next Speaker Series on Somatic Experiencing.

“All emotions, even those that are suppressed and unexpressed, have physical effects.”

– Marilyn Van M. Derbur-