Is EMDR Somatic Therapy?
When it comes to therapy, the landscape is rich and diverse, offering a range of modalities to address mental health concerns. EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and somatic therapy are two such approaches, each with its own unique methods and principles. But are they one and the same?
What Is EMDR?
EMDR is a psychotherapy approach developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. It was originally designed to alleviate distress associated with traumatic memories. Over the years, it has been widely used to treat various conditions, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and more.
Key Components of EMDR:
Bilateral Stimulation: One of the hallmark features of EMDR is bilateral stimulation, which involves the therapist guiding the client's eye movements from side to side. This can also be done through taps or auditory cues.
Focused Attention: During EMDR sessions, clients are asked to recall distressing memories while simultaneously focusing on the bilateral stimulation. This process is believed to help reprocess these memories, reducing their emotional intensity.
Phases of Treatment: EMDR typically involves several phases, including history-taking, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, and closure. These phases are structured to guide the client through the healing process.
What Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy, on the other hand, encompasses a broader category of therapeutic approaches that focus on the mind-body connection. The term "somatic" refers to the body, and somatic therapies emphasize the importance of bodily sensations, movement, and physical experiences in understanding and addressing mental health concerns.
Characteristics of Somatic Therapy:
Body-Centered Approaches: Somatic therapy includes a variety of body-centered techniques such as breathwork, mindfulness, yoga, dance, and more. These techniques aim to help individuals become more aware of their bodily sensations and use them as a tool for healing.
Trauma-Informed: Many somatic therapies are trauma-informed, recognizing that trauma can be held in the body. By addressing physical sensations and releasing stored tension, somatic therapy aims to promote healing from trauma.
Mind-Body Integration: The goal of somatic therapy is to integrate the mind and body, recognizing that emotional experiences are often expressed through physical sensations. By working with the body, individuals can access and process emotions in a holistic way.
Is EMDR Considered Somatic Therapy?
Now, back to the original question: Is EMDR considered somatic therapy? The answer lies in the overlap of these two approaches.
While EMDR is not typically classified as a form of somatic therapy, it does incorporate elements that consider the body's role in processing trauma. The bilateral stimulation used in EMDR can be seen as a way of engaging the body in the therapeutic process. Clients may notice physical sensations, changes in tension, or shifts in bodily awareness during EMDR sessions.
However, EMDR primarily focuses on the reprocessing of traumatic memories using bilateral stimulation and cognitive interventions. As EMDR therapy focuses directly on the memory, and is intended to change the way that the memory is stored in the brain, it thus works to reduce and eliminate the problematic symptoms.
An example of reprocessing of a traumatic memory is to go from the thought “I am a victim” to “I am a SURVIVOR”!
EMDR does not emphasize body-centered practices as extensively as other somatic therapies like Somatic Experiencing or Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. We will look more closely at Somatic Experience Therapy in a future blog post!
Get Trauma Therapy in Kelowna, BC
While EMDR shares some similarities with somatic therapy in its consideration of the body's role in trauma processing, it is not typically categorized as somatic therapy. However, both EMDR and somatic therapy have shown effectiveness in helping individuals heal from trauma and improve their overall well-being. The choice between the two may depend on the individual's preferences, the nature of their concerns, and the recommendations of their therapist.
Ultimately, the most important factor is finding a therapeutic approach that feels right for the individual, whether it involves the rhythmic eye movements of EMDR or the mindful body awareness of somatic therapy. In the journey toward healing, what matters most is the path that leads to growth, resilience, and emotional well-being.
At Kelowna Trauma Therapy, we specialize in both EMDR and Somatic Experiencing in Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton, Peachland, and the Greater Okanagan area. Contact us to learn more or book a free consultation.
