Somatic EMDR in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Healing Mind and BodyThere's a version of healing that happens in the mind where you gain insight, understand your patterns, and make sense of your history. That kind of understanding matters. But for many people, it isn't the whole picture.
Somatic EMDR brings healing into the body too.
What is Somatic EMDR?
Somatic EMDR integrates the evidence-based processing of traditional EMDR with a deeper attention to what the body is holding. Rather than focusing only on memories and thoughts, Somatic EMDR pays close attention to physical sensations: the tension, the tightening, the places in your body where past experiences still live and works with those sensations as part of the healing process.
The word "somatic" simply means relating to the body. And the body, it turns out, holds a lot.
Trauma, stress, and overwhelming experiences don't just leave a mark on our memories. They leave a mark on our nervous systems, shaping how we breathe, how we hold ourselves, how we respond to perceived threat even when we're objectively safe. Somatic EMDR works with both dimensions simultaneously, helping healing happen not just cognitively but throughout the whole nervous system.
How it works
In a Somatic EMDR session, we work with both the memory or experience you're processing and the physical sensations that arise as you do. You might notice tightness in your chest, a heaviness in your shoulders, or an impulse to pull away or brace, and rather than moving past these sensations, we slow down and work with them directly.
This body-inclusive approach helps your nervous system complete responses that may have been interrupted during the original overwhelming experience: releasing what's been held and restoring a sense of safety and ease that lives not just in your mind, but in your body.
The pace is always guided by you. If something feels like too much, we slow down. Your comfort and sense of control are a priority throughout every session.
Who Somatic EMDR can help
Somatic EMDR can be particularly helpful for people who:
Have tried traditional talk therapy and still feel something is missing
Notice trauma or stress showing up primarily in their body through tension, chronic pain, fatigue, or physical reactivity
Feel disconnected from their body or have difficulty sensing what they're feeling physically
Are working through trauma, PTSD, anxiety, or burnout and want a more complete, body-inclusive approach to healing
Getting Started
I offer a free 15-minute consultation to talk through what you're experiencing and see if Somatic EMDR feels like the right fit.
In-person sessions are available in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with telehealth available for clients in Ohio and Florida.
