Description
A guide to help EMDR practitioners to integrate somatic therapy into their sessions.
Clients who have experienced traumatic events and seek EMDR therapists rely on them as guides through their most vulnerable moments. Trauma leaves an imprint on the body, and if clinicians don’t know how to stay embodied in the midst of these powerful relational moments, they risk shutting down with their clients or becoming overwhelmed by the process. If the body is not integrated into EMDR therapy, full and effective trauma treatment is unlikely.
This book offers an integrative model of treatment that teaches therapists how to increase the client’s capacity to sense and feel the body, helps the client work through traumatic memories in a safe and regulated manner, and facilitates lasting integration.
Part I (foundational concepts) offers a broad discussion of theory and science related to trauma treatment. Readers will be introduced to essential components of EMDR therapy and somatic psychology. The discussion then deepens into the science of embodiment through the lens of research on emotion, memory, attachment, interpersonal neurobiology, and the impact of trauma on overall health. This part of the book emphasizes the principles of successful trauma treatment as phase-oriented, mindfulness-based, noninterpretive, experiential, relational, regulation focused, and resilience-informed.
Part II (interventions) presents advanced scripted protocols that can be integrated into the eight phases of EMDR therapy. These interventions provide support for therapists and clients who want to build somatic awareness through experiential explorations that incorporate mindfulness of sensations, movement impulses, breath, and boundaries.
Other topics discussed include a focus on complex PTSD and attachment trauma, which addresses topics such as working with preverbal memories, identifying ego states, and regulating dissociation; chronic pain or illness; and culturally-based traumatic events. Also included is a focused model of embodied self-care to prevent compassion fatigue and burnout.
HM (verified owner) –
This book is a easy read helping EMDR clinicians weave together a few healing modalities. It is well worth your money and time!
Angela Dixon (verified owner) –
This is a well written book combining EMDR & somatic interventions.
Stacy (verified owner) –
This is a must have for EMDR therapists! and those really interested in the work.
asc (verified owner) –
This book is amazing at not only explaining how trauma affects the mind & body, but also providing simple ways to apply techniques to bring healing for PTSD.
It has been helping me tremendously & I will continue to use this book time & time again to heal from trauma. I am so thankful for the wealth of knowledge these 2 authors have shared. A must have for anyone touched by trauma!
Laurie Belanger (verified owner) –
This is a well written and very logically organized introduction for integrating two deeply important therapeutic modalities. I love how clearly it is written, taking sometimes complex material and making it fairly straightforward. They address some of the critical issues EMDR therapists pour into as they develop: complex trauma & dissociation, cultural sensitivity, chronic pain & illness, and the importance of therapist self care to avoid Burnout. If there were a therapist career syllabus for what to read on “How to build oneself into a quality trauma therapist”, this book would be on that list. I am very happy to have it in my library of important works, and will be sharing it as an EMDR Consultant with my consultees! Thank you for providing this valuable resource to the EMDR community.
Dolores Gutierrez (verified owner) –
The book helps for a better understanding of techniques using EMDR
JT (verified owner) –
This is an amazing book. Helpful & practical tools and interventions for therapists to use with clients. Highly recommend it.
ingrid kuran (verified owner) –
Thank you for this essential integration between these 2 important trauma healing modalities.
Joseph Floyd (verified owner) –
This book is not filled with informative information and practical exercises! The somatic piece is weaved throughout the whole book and is addressed in a variety of different client situations. This has been one of the most useful books I have read for my therapy practice.
Linda M. Guhe (verified owner) –
Since I am scheduled to take the EMDR training soon, I wanted to read about applications of the method. I made a very good choice in purchasing this book. It is informative and will be of great value in my practice.
Ruth Trowbridge (verified owner) –
I have taken several courses from Maiberger Institute and studied this book prior to the Attachment training. Understanding and experiencing the somatic approach is best done through the workshops, but the book holds up as a reference much like Jim Knipe’s ‘Toolbox.’ I use the book’s scripts and other somatic interventions on a regular basis in my private practice as an LPC specializing in EMDR, anxiety and trauma. Enjoy!
Amanda Ann Gregory (verified owner) –
I started to providing EMDR therapy without realizing the importance of somatic interventions. Big mistake! Once I integrated the body my clients made a lot more progress. This book gave me a lot of ideas on how to further my practice but it also helped to validate what I was already doing. Sometimes as clinicians we utilize a certain intervention having no idea what it’s called or why we do it. This book helped me to realize that I am on the right track.
Taryn (verified owner) –
Anyone wanting to expand EMDR practice should get this book. Lots of exercises and well written to capture both SE and EMDR
Pat (verified owner) –
This book is amazing for EMDR clinicians. The language in the book is easy to understand but also gives depth. It also gives you a step by step scripts. Overall I would highly recommend this book for therapist and is definitely worth the money!
The only thing I would give constructive criticism on is I wish they also made a spiral bound version. This would make it easier to print of the script easier. Although i feel the flow of this book is really good, I wish the scripts were more separate from the reading text. By doing this it would make it easier to make copies when your going from “client to client”. Also maybe providing visuals aids might be helpful in understanding some of these materials.
Laura Karr (verified owner) –
If you are a therapist you NEED this book! There is brilliant science about embodiment, stress, and interpersonal neurobiology. There are a ton of interventions in this book that will be useful for you as a human and for your clients. There are interventions specific to Complex PTSD, attachment trauma, and chronic pain. There is a chapter on self care for therapists. You need this chapter. This book has been life changing for me as a therapist, as a trauma survivor, as someone who experiences headaches… If you are not including the body and somatic psychology in your practice, I’d like to invite you to learn from Arielle and Barb in this book. And if you already know and value somatic psychology – these interventions will be such a resource! I’ve learned how to get curious and notice my body which has changed everything and become my greatest tool as a therapist.
T. Hill (verified owner) –
If I could give this six stars, I would! This book is for trained EMDR professionals and will get you connected to the important world of the body. The authors provide multiple exercises, which can be practiced and integrated into your sessions. Worth it!
Tamara Evans (verified owner) –
Read this and then sign up for somatic experiencing training. If you’re already trained in EMDR, you’re used to spending money on CE’s anyway so dive in. Also the table of contents in this book is really good because if you are looking for a specific issue you’re working with a client on, it’ll guide you to the right page.
J. Manson (verified owner) –
Good book