Integrated Somatics & EMDR Therapy
Harness the full potential of the mind-body connection by integrating Somatics with EMDR for nervous system regulation and support of profound healing.
“The mind and body are like parallel universes. Anything that happens in the mental universe must leave tracks in the physical one.” – Deepak Chopra
Access the mind-body connection to strengthen and restore nervous system regulation, release stress and trauma that’s held in your body, and feel calm and centered from the inside out.
Do some or all of of these sound like you: Are you easily triggered or activated? Does it take you a long time to calm down? Do you shut down and disconnect? Do you freeze up? Or, do you make yourself small and focus on others?
These are tell-tale signs of a nervous system that’s had to face to overwhelming or chronic stress - or both - and has gotten stuck in dysregulation - also known as getting stuck in the Fight-or-Flight Response, or, as we now know it, the Fight/Flight/Freeze/Flop/Fawn Response. All of these responses are designed to keep us safe and protected during a stressful or threatening event. As such, they’re a good thing.
Getting stuck and staying there for too long, however, is too much of a good thing. Not only does pent-up trauma and mental stress make you feel bad emotionally, it truly feels bad physically, in the form of tension, soreness, aches, pains, and physical fatigue. We know carrying around trauma and mental stress can contribute to a whole host of physical ailments and conditions, too - high blood pressure, ulcers, lowered immune function, to name a few.
It is possible to do something about it - to recalibrate a nervous system that’s been altered by chronic or overwhelming stress, release stress and trauma that’s been stored in the body, and get you to a place of calm centeredness.
That’s where integrating Somatics comes in.
What is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy is a tool for building your awareness of your body’s state of being and a tool for developing how you respond. The nervous system is an intricate web spanning from the top of our heads to the tips of our fingers and toes. Because of the mind-body connection, even a mental change can stimulate our bodies. And in fact, our bodies are the communicator that signals our minds about what’s wrong. For example, if you take a walk and suddenly feel pain in your ankle, it’s a signal that your ankle is overworked or hurt. If you watch a horror movie, you might feel the hairs on your neck stand up on end. Whichever way your body chooses to communicate an emotion or problem, its signals are there for your attention. It’s up to you to tune in and respond. Your response to your bodily signals are meant to remedy dysregulation. That’s why building awareness is important, as well as building an effective repertoire of somatic movement and strategies for responding. Consistent and well-attuned responses will recalibrate your nervous system, so that it becomes stronger and more easily and quickly regulated and restored to a calm and relaxed state.
The key to using somatics in a way that works best for you is to pick tools and strategies that target the most dysregulated areas of your nervous system. Your body sends signals to communicate what it needs and where. Somatic therapy helps your mind attune to those signals so that you can respond as quickly and effectively as possible.
How does Somatics work?
There are five core components underlying somatic therapy, each one touching on a different area of the nervous system:
Mind-body connection: Somatics-based movements integrate the mind and the body by promoting heightened awareness of your body’s sensations and movements, to better understand your body’s unique response to stimuli, stress, or emotions.
Breathwork: Intentional breathing is a foundational skill in somatic practice. It helps to switch your nervous system from Fight-or-Flight (Fight/Flight/Freeze/Flop/Fawn) to Rest-and Digest, promote calm relaxation and a felt sense of well-being.
Mindful movement: The core movements of all somatic practices involve slow, gentle movements during which you are paying attention to the present, ongoing moment-to-moment nature of the experience on purpose and without judgment. This promotoes a sense of focus and relaxation while building boldily awareness and acceptance.
Tension release: Stress and trauma, whether physical or mental, may cause chronic muscle tension. Somatic movement is designed to target and release this tension in a physically and emotionally healing way.
Neuroplasticity: The brain is an organ that can continue to heal and grow throughout our lives. Mindful somatics can rewire neural pathways to build or more balanced and well-regulated nervous system.
What would Integrating Somatics and EMDR look like?
One of the aspects most liked by my clients who chose to blend Somatics with their EMDR therapy that they report as most significant is the discovery of how much stress and trauma has been held in their body and how deep and profound releasing it can feel. The other is how soon it can happen. Somatics work is begun during the early part of therapy. We’ll spend some time customizing the somatic work to how your body uniquely responds to and holds on to stress and trauma. I’ll teach you somatic tools to use when you’re upset, in distress, and in your fight-flight-freeze-flop-fawn response to self-regulate, get grounded and centered, and restore your sense of calm. You’ll master and practice these tools so you can access them easily whenever you need them. This will help you to be able to next go on and be able to handle processing difficult circumstances and traumatic memories with EMDR. We will also collaborate on developing a customized ten-minute daily somatic practice routine for you to develop the strength and resilience of your nervous system.
Can Somatic Therapy be done online?
Yes, online Somatic Therapy is just as effective as in-person Somatic Therapy. And as with the other therapies, many people really like the experience of safety and comfort they get from being at home, with easy access to soothing objects, people, and pets.
How do I decide whether Integrated Somatics and EMDR Therapy would be a good fit for me?
If your emotional reaction goes from zero to sixty in no time flat, if you notice it takes you a really long time to calm down, or if you find yourself getting locked in to anxiety, fear, panic, anger or numbness, or if you go into knee-jerk people pleasing mode to avoid conflict, consider integrating Somatics into your EMDR therapy. If you find yourself jumpy, easily triggered or activated, or emotionally “all over the place”, the help in regulating your nervous system that integrating Somatics brings might be very useful for you.
You may be very aware that your stress is making you feel physically tense and fatigued. If that’s the case, Integrated Somatics could be very helpful and healing for you.