Healing from Trauma and PTSD: A Holistic Approach with EMDR and Somatic Experiencing

Trauma is a powerful force. It can feel like it shapes everything—the way we think, how we feel, and even how we experience the world around us. It can leave us stuck in patterns of anxiety, fear, or helplessness, sometimes long after the event itself is over. For some, this can turn into Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)—a condition where the emotional and physical scars of trauma continue to echo through daily life.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the weight of past trauma, or find yourself reliving painful memories or struggling with constant stress, know this: Healing is possible. And it doesn’t have to be done in a one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter way. Trauma affects everyone differently, which is why it’s essential to approach healing from a holistic perspective—one that considers the mind, body, and spirit. This is where therapies like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Somatic Experiencing come in.

Understanding Trauma and PTSD

Trauma is not just an event; it’s how the event impacts us emotionally, physically, and mentally. It could be a car accident, childhood abuse, combat experience, loss of a loved one, or even witnessing something frightening or violent. The effects of trauma can show up in many different ways: anxiety, intrusive memories, emotional numbness, hypervigilance, and chronic physical tension, to name a few.

PTSD is a common response to trauma, but not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD. PTSD occurs when the traumatic event disrupts the brain's ability to process and integrate the experience, leading to persistent, intense symptoms that can interfere with daily functioning. For some, this means nightmares, flashbacks, or avoiding anything that might remind them of the trauma. For others, it might show up as feeling constantly on edge or disconnected from others.

Regardless of how trauma presents itself, the key to healing is processing—reprocessing those memories and emotions in a way that restores balance and peace.

The Holistic Approach: Integrating Mind, Body, and Emotion

When it comes to healing from trauma, the traditional approach often focuses on talk therapy and cognitive work—examining thoughts, beliefs, and narratives. But trauma is more than just a mental or emotional wound; it’s stored in the body, too. That’s why a truly holistic approach to trauma recovery incorporates both mind and body. Two powerful therapeutic modalities that address this mind-body connection are EMDR and Somatic Experiencing.

EMDR: Reprocessing Trauma at the Root

EMDR is one of the most effective treatments for trauma and PTSD. It involves using bilateral stimulation (typically in the form of eye movements) to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories. Think of it as a sort of “mental reboot.” Traumatic memories can get stuck in the brain’s emotional centers, keeping the trauma alive long after the event itself has passed. EMDR helps shift these memories out of the emotional centers and into more neutral areas of the brain, reducing their emotional charge.

During an EMDR session, the therapist will ask you to focus on a distressing memory while guiding you through a series of eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation. The idea is to help your brain process the memory in a way that’s less triggering and more manageable. Over time, the memory loses its emotional intensity, and you’re left with a new, less charged perspective on the event.

This process doesn’t require you to re-live the trauma in the same way that traditional talk therapy might. Instead, it allows the brain to reprocess the traumatic experience in a safe, controlled environment, facilitating healing without overwhelming the system.

Somatic Experiencing: Healing the Body's Response to Trauma

Somatic Experiencing (SE), developed by trauma therapist Peter Levine, is another transformative approach that works deeply with the body’s responses to trauma. The premise behind SE is that trauma doesn’t just affect our emotions and thoughts—it also gets stuck in the body. When we experience something traumatic, our nervous system goes into "fight, flight, or freeze" mode. But in many cases, that energy doesn’t get fully discharged, leaving the body in a state of tension, constriction, or numbness.

In Somatic Experiencing, the therapist helps you become more aware of bodily sensations related to the trauma. This might involve noticing tension in certain areas, feeling where energy is stuck, or identifying where you feel sensations of fear or safety in your body. By gently guiding you through these sensations, SE helps you release the held energy and return to a more balanced state.

For example, if you’re recalling a traumatic event, you might notice that your chest tightens, or your stomach feels knotted. By focusing on those sensations (instead of the memory itself), you can start to release some of the physical tension stored in your body. Over time, this helps the nervous system recalibrate, restoring a sense of safety and relaxation.

Somatic Experiencing helps people reconnect with their bodies, so they’re no longer at war with themselves. It’s about learning how to discharge the leftover energy from trauma, rather than letting it linger and manifest as chronic anxiety, muscle tension, or dissociation.

Integrating EMDR and Somatic Experiencing for Holistic Healing

While EMDR works with the brain to reprocess traumatic memories, SE works with the body to release physical tension and trauma energy. These modalities address both the mental and physical dimensions of trauma, leading to a deeper and more comprehensive recovery.

Healing from trauma is not about erasing the past. It’s about transforming how the past lives in your present. It’s about moving from a place of stuckness to one of flow, where you can experience life without the heavy weight of unresolved pain.

Why Healing Is Possible

It’s easy to feel like trauma has defined you, especially if it’s been a part of your life for a long time. But the truth is, trauma doesn’t have to control your future. With the right support, tools, and therapies like EMDR and Somatic Experiencing, healing is absolutely possible. It’s a process—sometimes slow, sometimes non-linear—but with each step, you’re reclaiming more of yourself. You’re learning how to live in a body and mind that are at peace, no longer carrying the heavy burden of past trauma.

If you’re struggling with the impact of trauma or PTSD, I encourage you to explore these holistic approaches. Whether it’s through EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, or another trauma-informed modality, there are pathways to healing that honor your body, your mind, and your unique journey. Healing is possible. You are not alone.

About Rooted Healing
At Rooted Healing, we specialize in trauma-informed care using holistic approaches like EMDR and Somatic Experiencing. If you’re looking to heal from past trauma, anxiety, PTSD, or other emotional challenges, we’re here to help you on your journey. Contact us today by clicking here to learn more about how these modalities can help you reclaim your life.