If you've been researching trauma therapy, you've probably come across both EMDR therapy and somatic therapy. You may be wondering: Can somatic therapy and EMDR be used together?

The short answer is yes. In fact, many trauma therapists intentionally integrate both approaches because trauma affects much more than our thoughts, it also changes how our nervous system responds to the world around us. Rather than competing approaches, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, a type of somatic therapy, often work together to help people process trauma in a way that feels both effective and manageable.

At Moment Psychotherapy, our therapists received specialized trainings in both EMDR and somatic therapy and often integrate these approaches because healing from trauma isn't just about remembering what happened, it's also about helping your body learn that the danger has passed.

What Is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based psychotherapy developed to help people recover from traumatic and distressing life experiences.

During EMDR, your therapist helps you recall specific memories while using bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, tapping, or alternating sounds. This process helps the brain reprocess memories that have become "stuck," allowing them to become less emotionally overwhelming over time.

EMDR has been shown to help people experiencing:

PTSD
Complex trauma
Childhood trauma
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Medical trauma
Car accident trauma
Grief
Sexual assault
Distressing life experiences

The goal is not to erase your memories. Instead, EMDR helps those memories become something you remember, rather than something you continue to relive.

What Is Somatic Therapy?

"Somatic therapy" is an umbrella term for therapies that recognize the important connection between the mind and body.

At Moment Psychotherapy, our somatic work is primarily informed by Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP), a trauma therapy developed by Pat Ogden that integrates neuroscience, attachment theory, mindfulness, and body awareness.

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is based on the understanding that trauma affects not only our emotions and thoughts but also our nervous system. After overwhelming experiences, our bodies may continue responding as though danger is still present, even when we logically know we are safe.

You might notice this as:

Constant tension in your shoulders, jaw, or stomach
Holding your breath without realizing it
Feeling disconnected or numb from your body
Becoming overwhelmed during conflict
Shutting down emotionally
Always feeling "on guard"
Difficulty relaxing, even when nothing feels wrong

Rather than focusing only on what happened, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy also explores how your body is responding in the present moment.

Your therapist may ask questions such as:

As you talk about this experience, what do you notice happening in your body?
How is your breathing right now?
Do you notice your shoulders tightening?
Is there an impulse to move, pull away, protect yourself, or push something away?
Can we simply observe that sensation together for a moment?

These questions help increase awareness of the nervous system and build the ability to stay connected to your present experience without becoming overwhelmed.

Why EMDR and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Work Well Together

One of the biggest misconceptions about trauma therapy is that healing happens simply by talking through painful memories or understanding them intellectually. In reality, many people already know why they react the way they do. They recognize that their childhood was difficult, that an abusive relationship has ended, that they don’t have to feel anxious all the time, or that a traumatic event is over. Yet despite this insight, their body may continue to respond as though the danger is still happening. Their heart races, muscles tense, breathing becomes shallow, or they instinctively shut down, even when they logically know they are safe.

This is why EMDR and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy can work so well together. EMDR helps the brain process traumatic memories that have become "stuck," allowing them to be stored in a more adaptive way. At the same time, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy helps people become aware of how trauma continues to show up in their nervous system through body sensations, posture, breathing patterns, muscle tension, and automatic survival responses. By increasing awareness of these patterns and strengthening the ability to regulate them, clients often feel better equipped to engage in trauma processing without becoming overwhelmed.

Rather than treating trauma as only a cognitive or emotional experience, integrating EMDR and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy acknowledges that healing involves both the mind and the body. Together, these approaches support not only the processing of traumatic memories but also the development of a greater sense of safety, flexibility, and connection in everyday life.

How Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Can Prepare You for EMDR

One of the most important phases of EMDR is preparation. Contrary to what many people expect, therapists don't immediately begin processing traumatic memories. Instead, time is spent helping clients develop enough internal stability before beginning trauma reprocessing. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy offers many practical skills that support this phase.

These may include:

Learning to notice early signs of nervous system activation
Expanding your window of tolerance—the range in which you can experience emotions without becoming overwhelmed or shutting down
Practicing grounding and orienting to the present environment
Increasing awareness of body sensations
Learning to track shifts in breathing, muscle tension, posture, and movement
Strengthening your ability to return to a regulated state after stress

These skills often help clients feel more prepared for EMDR and reduce the likelihood of becoming emotionally flooded during memory processing.

How Sensorimotor Skills Can Be Integrated During EMDR

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy doesn't stop once trauma processing begins. Throughout EMDR, your therapist continues paying close attention to how your nervous system responds as memories emerge. Rather than focusing only on your thoughts, your therapist may invite you to notice what is happening in your body in real time. This might include observing:

Changes in your breathing
Muscle tension or relaxation
Shifts in posture
Facial expressions
Body sensations such as heaviness, warmth, or tightness
Natural impulses to move, pull away, protect yourself, or reach out
Feelings of collapse, shutdown, or withdrawal

These observations aren't about analyzing your body, they're about understanding how your nervous system learned to adapt to overwhelming experiences. For example, someone who grew up with frequent criticism may notice themselves lowering their head, holding their breath, or making themselves physically smaller whenever they speak. Another person may discover an impulse to push away, curl inward, or freeze while recalling a traumatic event. By bringing gentle awareness to these automatic patterns, therapy creates opportunities for new experiences. Over time, your nervous system can begin to experience greater flexibility, safety, and choice, rather than relying solely on the survival responses that once helped protect you.

Is Combining EMDR and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Helpful for Complex Trauma?

For many people, trauma isn't a single event. It develops over years of chronic stress, emotional neglect, childhood abuse, attachment wounds, or repeated experiences of feeling unsafe. These experiences shape not only how we think about ourselves but also how our nervous system responds to everyday life. Even when there is no immediate danger, the body may continue reacting as though it needs to stay on high alert.

People living with complex trauma often experience:

Chronic anxiety or hypervigilance
Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected from themselves
Dissociation or "checking out"
Persistent shame or self-criticism
Difficulty trusting others
People-pleasing or difficulty setting boundaries
Feeling overwhelmed by emotions or relationships

Because these patterns developed gradually over many years, healing often benefits from a gradual approach as well. Rather than following a rigid protocol, therapists who integrate EMDR and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy continually assess what your nervous system needs in the moment. Some sessions may focus on building regulation and stability, while others may involve trauma reprocessing through EMDR. Moving flexibly between these approaches allows therapy to honor your nervous system's pace, creating a treatment experience that is both effective and compassionate.

Looking for EMDR and Somatic Therapy in NYC?

If you're looking for EMDR therapy in NYC or somatic therapy in NYC, finding a therapist trained in both approaches can provide a more comprehensive path to healing. At Moment Psychotherapy, we integrate EMDR therapy and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy to support both the psychological and physiological effects of trauma. We believe healing happens at the pace of your nervous system—not by forcing yourself to relive painful experiences before you're ready. Whether you're struggling with PTSD, anxiety, complex trauma, or feeling stuck despite years of talk therapy, our goal is to help you develop a greater sense of safety, flexibility, and connection with yourself.

If you're curious whether EMDR, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, or an integrated approach may be right for you, we'd be happy to help you explore your options through a free 15-min consultation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is one form of somatic therapy specifically developed for treating trauma and attachment wounds. It integrates body awareness, mindfulness, neuroscience, and traditional psychotherapy.
Absolutely. Many therapists use Sensorimotor Psychotherapy to help clients build grounding, body awareness, and nervous system regulation before beginning EMDR trauma processing.
For many people, yes. In fact, many trauma therapists intentionally integrate these approaches. The pace of therapy is individualized based on your nervous system, history, and readiness rather than following a rigid protocol
You don't have to decide on your own. During your initial consultation, your therapist will learn about your goals, symptoms, and history before recommending an approach that fits your needs. Sometimes that involves EMDR, sometimes Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and often a thoughtful combination of both.

Can Somatic Therapy and EMDR Be Used Together? How Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and EMDR Complement Each Other