How to Know If Somatic EMDR Is Right for You—5 Signs It’s Time to Get Support
Somatic EMDR - What is it, Is It Right for Me?
When trauma lives not just in your mind but in your body, standard talk therapy may leave you feeling under-processed. That’s where Somatic EMDR comes in — a powerful blend of traditional EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and somatic (body-based) therapies designed to help you not only understand your trauma but feel it, move through it, and begin to live from a place of ease and embodied resilience.
Typically used for complex trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and for adults and high performers who are already highly self-aware but still feel “stuck,” Somatic EMDR offers a path forward that honors both mind and body.
What is Somatic EMDR?
At its core, Somatic EMDR combines the structured protocol of EMDR—which engages bilateral stimulation (like guided eye movements, taps, or sounds) to help the brain re-process traumatic memories Cleveland Clinic+2American Psychological Association+2—with somatic awareness work that brings attention to bodily sensations, movement patterns, nervous-system responses, and what your body is holding onto. Arielle Schwartz, PhD+2Natasha Alan-Williams+2
In practice, that means your therapist guides you in safely accessing and re-processing a memory while staying attuned to sensations in your body—tightness, pulse, breath, shifts of energy—helping your system to move out of freeze, fight or flight, into a more regulated state. Arielle Schwartz, PhD+1
Because trauma is stored not only as a story in your mind but as an imprint in your nervous system and body, this mind-body approach helps what was once fragmented become integrated: you no longer just think about change—you embody it. Arielle Schwartz, PhD+1
In other words, Somatic EMDR is ideal when you’re done with merely rationalizing your experiences—but ready to feel safe, grounded, and whole in your body again.
5 Signs Somatic EMDR Might Be Right for You
You’re deeply self-aware but still feel stuck.
You know your patterns, you understand why you react the way you do—but you can’t seem to change the underlying energy or shift how it lives in your body.Your body is doing the talking.
You experience persistent physical symptoms—tight shoulders, chest tension, shallow breathing, startle responses, dissociation—that don’t fully get addressed in traditional talk therapy.You perform well externally but feel off internally.
High achiever, busy professional, intentional parent or go-get-it person—on the outside you’re doing fine. On the inside you feel like you’re managing rather than living, and your nervous system is quietly over-taxed.You’ve tried therapy and mindfulness, but your nervous system still runs the show.
You practice breathwork and journaling, yet when trigger hits or pressure builds you revert to old survival mode. A more embodied approach is needed.You’re ready for embodied change—not just insight.
You no longer just want to understand your history—you want to re-pattern your nervous system and feel different in your body: calm, present, resilient.
Why This Matters in Trauma & PTSD Recovery
Trauma isn’t only a memory—it’s a pattern in your nervous system, a body-held story that shows up as reactivity, dissociation, self-criticism or emotional freeze. Research shows that therapies that include somatic awareness and nervous-system regulation in conjunction with EMDR yield deeper, more lasting shifts. Arielle Schwartz, PhD+1
By addressing what happened and how your body still lives it, Somatic EMDR helps you complete what got interrupted, restore safety in your system, and reclaim your capacity to live fully and intentionally.
How to Get Started & What to Look For
If this resonates with you, the next step is to find a therapist trained in both EMDR and somatic interventions. On your first consultation you might ask:
“How do you integrate body-based awareness (breath, movement, nervous-system regulation) into EMDR sessions?”
“What support do you provide when sensations surface during processing?”
“Do you help me build ongoing nervous-system resilience between sessions?”
In Del Mar and online throughout California, I specialize in Somatic EMDR for adults, high performers, moms, trafficked professionals and holistically-minded individuals looking for embodied change. If you’re ready to shift from insight to embodied healing, reach out today to schedule your consultation and begin your journey toward trauma recovery, nervous-system regulation, and a life lived in alignment.
