Somatic Experiencing vs EMDR
Somatic experiencing and eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) are two different types of therapies focused on resolving trauma.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is caused by trauma, but can be treated with the right type of therapy. EMDR and somatic experiencing both focus on treating the effects of trauma, but their differences lie in their methods and procedures.
What is Somatic Experiencing?
The Greek word "soma" means “body.” Somatic experiencing is a body-oriented therapy that releases the physical effects of trauma. The key purpose of somatic experiencing is to connect the mind to the body and help the client resolve symptoms of trauma.
Dr. Peter Levine developed somatic experiencing in the late 70s to help clients reduce their symptoms of traumatic experiences. This modality can benefit anyone who has been through traumatic experiences at any point in their life. It can help various levels of trauma, whether the symptoms are considered severe or mild.
While somatic experiencing is known for treating PTSD, it can help with multiple other issues such as:
- Anxiety
- Chronic pain
- Grief
- Substance abuse
Somatic experiencing targets all of the physical effects of a negative experience through a mind-body connection. These physical effects of pent-up emotions can come in the form of muscle tension, difficulty sleeping, and even digestive issues.
The Somatic Experiencing Framework
Somatic experiencing follows a five-step framework called SIBAM. It stands for:
- Sensation
- Imagery
- Behavior
- Affect
- Meaning
The process begins with identifying bodily sensations and ends with finding meaning behind the feelings caused by trauma.
The purpose of SIBAM is to connect the mind to the body and incorporate mindfulness into the lives of the client. This will help return a clear and concise recall of events.
Sensation
The first step involves the client noting how their body feels in regards to the five senses. The client will recognize all of their physical feelings like muscle tension, heartbeat, and breathing and then describe them to the therapist.
Imagery
The second step involves the client describing how they feel when introduced to hypothetical scenarios or guided imagery.
Behavior
The third step involves the therapist noting the behaviors of the client during the first two steps. They will observe things such as facial expression, heart rate, and other physical movement or functions.
Affect
The fourth step has the client mindfully express their experience. They’ll learn how to properly recall the memories and form their cognitions and emotions when describing their traumatic experience.
Meaning
The fifth and final step has the client reflect on the event and find the meaning behind their feelings. This will help capture a complete picture of the traumatic experience.
Going through these steps can reduce the symptoms of PTSD. In one study of 150 somatic experiencing clients, 90% either had drastically improved lifestyles or no symptoms of PTSD after the process.
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Read our full guide on somatic experiencing here.
What is EMDR?
EMDR is an older form of trauma therapy than somatic experiencing, and is considered the gold standard for resolving trauma. It utilizes rapid eye movement (REM) sleep to help the client process traumatic memories which leads to reduced symptoms.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to mimic REM sleep, which activates both long-term and short-term memory in the brain. The brain is then primed to process traumatic memories and store them away like non-traumatic memories. There are multiple approaches to bilateral stimulation. Some of them include:
- Following an object side to side with just eyes
- Alternating sounds with headphones
- Alternating tapping on either side of the body
These stimuli will cause eye movements that replicate the movement in REM sleep. The therapist and client decide which form works the best.
The Eight Phases of EMDR
The process of EMDR works in eight different phases. The protocol is strict in its structure, but the length of each phase can take as long as necessary.
Planning & History Taking
This first phase involves the client making a game plan with their therapist. They’ll develop a relationship and talk about available resources.
Preparation
The second phase involves the therapist preparing the client for their experiences in EMDR. They’ll discuss approximate timelines, and what to expect both procedurally and emotionally.
Related Article: Psychoeducation
Assessment
In this phase, the therapist will narrow in on a specific memory, and identify the client's feelings and emotions.
Desensitization
The fourth phase is crucial as it is the beginning of bilateral stimulation. The client will think on the memory while receiving bilateral stimulation. At first, they’re likely to relive the difficult emotions. But as this phase of treatment continues, they may feel new emotions surrounding the event, eventually becoming desensitized to it. During breaks, the therapist will check in with the client about how they’re feeling.
Installation
When the levels of stress have gone down, the therapist will work with the client to replace negative emotions with positive ones.
Body Scan
Body scanning looks for any remaining negative emotions or physical sensations related to the trauma, followed by procedures to remove them.
Closure
The second to last phase involves bringing thoughts and emotions together, ultimately resulting in a calm healing state.
Re-evaluation
The final phase involves confirmation that the treatment worked. The client and therapist will discuss what treatment will look like going forward.
Having gone through all eight phases, your therapist might want to check up on you to make sure everything is ok. Emotional relief will follow as the discomfort that was experienced when reliving the traumatic events, will go away.
Read our full guide on EMDR here.
Somatic Experiencing vs EMDR
While both therapeutic approaches work to accomplish the same goal, they accomplish it in very different ways.
Trauma-focused therapy is a pivotal step in the resolution of trauma. At Sequoia Behavioral Health, we have a wonderful team of professionals, who provide both somatic experiencing and EMDR as a part of an integrative therapy approach. Call us today to get started.
Similarities
There are three important similarities that both therapy procedures share: What they treat, the evidence behind them, and how they incorporate the mind-body connection.
What They Treat
The biggest similarity is that they both are primarily used to treat trauma, but they can be effective in treating other issues. EMDR and somatic experiencing have been used in treating severe cases of:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Grief
They both have the same goal of reducing distress and improving emotional regulation.
Related Article: Why Does Grief Make You Tired?
Evidence
Both types of therapy have been proven effective over and over again. They’re based on scientific research, with years of proof that they help resolve trauma and improve PTSD, anxiety and grief symptoms.
Bodily Awareness
The final similarity listed is their emphasis on physical senses and bodily awareness. They both involve techniques where the client needs to evaluate their physical and emotional states.
Differences
Of course, while these two therapies are proven to treat trauma, they do so quite differently. There are a few different reasons a therapist may recommend one over the other.
Steps and Procedures
The biggest difference between EMDR and somatic experiencing is their techniques and approaches to treatment. Somatic experiencing is more fluid and less specific about the exact order, and methods required for treatment, while EMDR follows a stricter and more structured approach.
Techniques
The techniques carried out by somatic experiencing are more body-focused. It works on resolving pent-up trauma that’s stored in the body. Each step of the therapy involves mindfulness of bodily sensations, and the release of trauma in the body.
EMDR, on the other hand, primarily works to resolve the client's emotions and feelings. Traumatic memories aren’t stored correctly, or the same way as regular memories. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to store the memories properly.
Trauma-Focused Therapies at Sequoia Behavioral Health
Finding the right therapy can be difficult, as different people have different needs. Located in Mesa AZ, Sequoia Behavioral Health, offers a wide range of therapeutic solutions to help with many different levels of care. Schedule a call with us to get started.