Why EMDR and Somatic Therapy and a blended Therapeutic Approach?

Have you ever gone for a brisk walk or run after a distressing event? Maybe following argument with a parent in childhood? Or after a conflict with a loved one in adulthood? Did you find the movement helped you sift through a storm of negative thoughts, or simply let you tire yourself out enough to move through the day or night?

If yes, pat yourself on the back, you intuitively used your own nervous system, and physical abilities to help regulate your own emotions.

What is happening to our neurobiology in a moment of high emotion?

Your nervous system is skilled at using your five sense to assess safety and threat 24/7. We use eye contact, tone of voice, and sometimes touch to communicate but while this happening your brain is receiving signals and sending them to your body planning for the next action. When this happens a bodily or somatic sensation may arise , and if we have the tools we can name this as an emotion we are "feeling." Emotions are our interpersonal maps for survival.

When assessing for safety the sympathetic nervous system is not distinguishing between "emotional" safety or "physical" safety. It is simple sending signals to the brain for action. The sympathetic nervous system is a network of nerves that helps your body activate its “fight-or-flight” response. This system’s activity increases when you’re in a moment of high emotion. Its effects include increasing your heart rate, improving your eyesight and slowing down processes like digestion. Think of it as a complex interstate highway system in a larger city, each on ramp and off ramp are your nerve clusters sending signals throughout your body.

Somatic therapies incuding EMDR incorporate your whole system into trauma recovery and personal growth.

While cognitive therapies such as psychoanalysis, CBT and DBT focus on your mind, thoughts, and verbal processing skills. EMDR uses your mind, body, and thoughts to aide in reducing symptoms of trauma. How does EMDR do this? EMDR uses bilateral stimulation sets, via rapid eye movements, body tapping or tappers, or alternating sounds to assist in the reprocessing of emotions stored with negative or traumatic memories. This allows you to focus on a distressing image without nervous system overwhelm.

EMDR remains one of the top 3 recommended therapies for trauma recovery by the American Psychological Association or APA.

It has been researched for its effectiveness and versatility as a therapeutic modality since 1992. Much of the early research began with treating veterans and later included repeated childhood trauma or what we now refer to as 'complex' traumas and CPSTD.

If EMDR is so great, why do we even need cognitive or talk therapies?

My style blends talk therapy with Somatic therapies because the therapy alliance or therapist client relationship is also essential to successful therapy and personal growth. Cognitive therapies are longer term and can be used to prepare for somatic therapies, and review progress with them if desired.