Why EMDR and Somatic Experiencing Are a Powerful Pairing
Some experiences don’t stay in the past — even when you’ve talked about them, understood them, and “moved on” intellectually.
They linger in the body.
You might notice it as tension that doesn’t fully release, emotional reactions that feel bigger than the moment, or a sense that your system is still bracing — even when life is relatively calm.
This is where pairing EMDR with Somatic Experiencing (SE) becomes especially powerful.
Not because either modality is incomplete on its own — but because together, they help the body finish what it wasn’t able to complete at the time.
Why the Body Holds On to Past Experiences
When something overwhelming, confusing, or emotionally intense happens, the nervous system’s first job is survival.
If there wasn’t enough safety, time, or support to process what happened, the experience may remain stored as:
incomplete stress responses
patterns of tension or collapse
implicit beliefs about safety, trust, or worth
physiological habits the body learned to rely on
Even years later, the body may still respond as if the experience is unfinished.
Insight alone doesn’t resolve this — because the body isn’t operating on logic. It’s operating on sensation, timing, and safety.
What EMDR Does Well
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps the brain reprocess past experiences so they can be integrated into present-day awareness.
Through bilateral stimulation, EMDR supports the brain in:
reducing emotional charge
loosening rigid beliefs formed under stress
completing neural processing and response patterns that were interrupted
Many people notice that memories feel more distant, less intense, or simply no longer intrusive.
What Somatic Experiencing Adds
Somatic Experiencing (SE) works directly with the nervous system’s physiological responses — tracking sensation, movement, breath, and subtle shifts in the body.
SE helps:
restore regulation and stability
release stored tension gradually
build capacity without overwhelm
increase awareness of internal cues
support the body in completing stress cycles
Rather than focusing on the mental story, SE listens to the story the body is telling.
This creates a sense of safety in the system that allows deeper resolution to occur.
Why They Work So Well Together
When EMDR and Somatic Experiencing are integrated thoughtfully, the work becomes both precise and gentle.
EMDR helps the brain process the meaning of past experiences.
SE helps the body process the impact they left behind.
Together, they work on both explicit and implicit memory. Supporting:
resolution without retraumatization
pacing that honors your nervous system
shifts that feel embodied, not forced
relief that doesn’t rely on constant effort
Clients often describe this pairing as feeling more complete — as if their system finally understands that the experience is over.
What Resolution Feels Like
Resolution doesn’t mean forgetting what happened.
It often shows up as:
more space between trigger and reaction
less tension held automatically
emotional responses that feel proportional
a quieter inner landscape
greater trust in your body’s signals
The past doesn’t disappear — it loses its grip.
A Grounded, Nervous-System-Informed Approach
In my work, EMDR and Somatic Experiencing are used with careful pacing, attunement, and respect for your system’s limits.
We’re not forcing release.
We’re creating the conditions for it.
This approach is especially supportive for intuitive, creative, and sensitive women whose systems learned to adapt early — and are now ready to soften without collapsing.
In-Person EMDR & Somatic Therapy in Carmel-by-the-Sea
I offer in-person EMDR and somatic therapy in Carmel-by-the-Sea, serving women in Monterey, Big Sur, and Santa Cruz, as well as virtual sessions throughout California.
If you’ve done insight-based work but still feel the body holding on, this pairing may be what allows things to finally settle.
This blog is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Results from therapy may vary.Ashley K. Whelan is a holistic psychotherapist in California offering EMDR, somatic therapy, and psychedelic integration for women seeking mind-body-spirit healing, with in-person sessions available in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey, and Big Sur.