Explore the transformative potential of EMDR therapy by centering somatic practices as foundational to healing. The conversation reflects on a successful training experience, underscoring the importance of human connection and flexibility in teaching. Delve into the intricate ties between depression, bodily sensations, and emotional expression. The speakers challenge conventional views on nervous system regulation, advocating for genuine engagement with emotions. Discover insights on affect phobia and the necessity of ongoing education for therapists.

In the world of EMDR therapy, it's easy to get caught up in technique—perfecting protocols, refining scripts, and ensuring procedural accuracy. But what happens when we step beyond protocol and start seeing the therapeutic process as an intersubjective experience—one that includes not just our clients but ourselves as well?In a recent episode of Notice That: An EMDR Podcast, we had the opportunity to sit down with Jenniffer Weller-White, LCSW, and Nicole Deems, LMFT, both clinicians and EMDR consultants who have been immersed in the work of Somatic Integration and Processing (SIP) for several years. Their journey through EMDR, SIP, and case conceptualization offers a powerful insight into how these frameworks can revolutionize the way we think about therapy—not just for our clients, but for our own growth and development as therapists.Case Conceptualization: More Than Treatment PlanningOne of the core themes of this conversation was rethinking case conceptualization. Traditionally, case conceptualization has been viewed as a tool for treatment planning—a structured way to organize symptoms, identify target memories, and plan interventions. But Jenniffer and Nicole emphasize that it’s so much more than that.“Case conceptualization is not just about treatment planning—it’s about every facet of the therapeutic process, including our own professional development.”At its core, case conceptualization is about making meaning—understanding how a client’s strategies, symptoms, and relational patterns are expressions of their life experiences. SIP provides a language and framework for recognizing these patterns in a way that humanizes them rather than reducing them to clinical formulations.Instead of seeing symptoms as pathology, SIP invites us to view them as adaptive strategies—deeply ingrained responses that once served a purpose. When we shift from problem-solving mode to meaning-making mode, we create space for clients to understand themselves in a new and profoundly validating way.The Language of Strategy: Reframing “Symptoms”A major takeaway from this discussion was the importance of language in therapy. Words shape perception. The way we describe a client’s experiences directly impacts how they interpret themselves.Jenniffer and Nicole shared how SIP has changed the way they talk about “triggers” and “maladaptive behaviors”—terms that can sometimes feel pathologizing. Instead, they use the word “strategy.”“Being able to neutralize language around being ‘triggered’ and instead frame it as a strategy is incredibly softening for clients. It shifts the focus from ‘something is wrong with me’ to ‘this is how I learned to survive.’”This subtle shift can be transformative. When a client moves from feeling shame about their symptoms to seeing them as intelligent, adaptive responses to past experiences, they can begin to approach their healing with compassion instead of self-judgment.Even more powerful? When clients themselves adopt this language.“I love when clients start using the word ‘strategy’ themselves—when they say things like, ‘Oh, I think this is just my system’s strategy to keep me safe.’ That’s when you know a shift is happening.”The Intersubjective Space: Healing Through RelationshipA core principle of SIP is the intersubjective space—the relational field between therapist and client where healing occurs.In traditional EMDR, the therapist’s role is often viewed as directive: administering the protocol, tracking the client’s responses, and moving them through the phases of treatment. While this structure is necessary, Jenniffer and Nicole spoke to the depth that is added when we integrate the relational component.“At first, EMDR felt too prescriptive to me. When I found SIP, I realized it was giving language to what I was already doing—bringing in the human, relational, and nuanced aspects of therapy.”When we understand the intersubjective space, we become aware of what’s happening between us and our clients in real time—the subtle shifts, the unspoken communication, the moments of connection or disconnection. Instead of simply “delivering” EMDR, we learn to co-create the experience with our clients.This is especially important when working with complex trauma, where the wound itself is often relational. Healing doesn’t come from following a script—it comes from the experience of being truly seen and understood.“Disconfirming experiences happen in the intersubjective space. Clients don’t just hear new information—they feel something different in the relationship with us, and that’s what changes them.”Building Community Through Shared LanguageOne of the most exciting aspects of SIP isn’t just its impact on client work—it’s how it has helped build a professional community.Jennifer and Nicole shared how their shared language has transformed the way they collaborate—from peer supervision to case consultation to even co-facilitating trainings.“We can reduce barriers in our field by building shared language. Even if our sessions look different, we can come together with the same foundational understanding.”This vision has led them to expand SIP training in South Carolina, where they are working to bring together clinicians who want to connect through this framework and build ongoing consultation communities.Takeaways for Your PracticeSo, what can you take from this conversation and start using in your own work?Reframe symptoms as strategies – Instead of seeing client behaviors as “problems,” recognize them as adaptive strategies that have helped them survive.Use shared language to enhance therapy – Introduce terms like strategy, intersubjective space, and system activation to help clients better understand their experiences.Recognize the role of relationship in EMDR – Protocols are important, but healing happens in the relational space. Stay attuned to what’s unfolding between you and your client.Build community around case conceptualization – Having a shared framework makes consultation richer, deepens professional relationships, and combats burnout.Upcoming Opportunities to Learn MoreIf this resonates with you, there are some exciting opportunities to engage further:EMDR Canada Conference (March 2025 – Vancouver, BC)We’re thrilled to be presenting Breaking the Relational Enactment: Mapping the Cycle of Repression, where we’ll explore how unconscious cycles keep clients stuck and how we can interrupt these patterns in EMDR therapy.SIP Training in South Carolina (May 2025 – Hybrid Option Available)Jennifer and Nicole are hosting an in-person SIP Level 1 Training, where you can dive deep into this framework and connect with a growing community of therapists integrating these concepts.EMDRIA Conference Proposal (Fall 2025 – Pending Approval!)We’ve submitted our proposal for Enactment-Focused EMDR: Targeting the Space Between Attachment Wounds. This presentation will focus on how attachment wounds shape enactments in therapy and how EMDR can be used to target the space between those wounds, helping clients break free from unconscious relational patterns.If you’re interested in learning more about these trainings, upcoming events, or getting involved in consultation, check out Beyond Healing Institute.SIP, EMDR, and case conceptualization are more than clinical tools—they are invitations into deeper understanding, connection, and transformation. Whether you’re a new therapist or a seasoned clinician, there is always room to refine the way we make meaning of our work.What are your takeaways from this? How has case conceptualization shaped your clinical journey? Drop a comment and let’s keep the conversation going!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bridging EMDR and Somatic Experiencing: A Conversation with Amanda Johnson & Rachel CagleCurious about how EMDR and Somatic Experiencing can work together? In this episode of Notice That, we explore the integration of these two modalities, the challenges and rewards of blending them, and how they can enhance trauma therapy. Tune in to hear Amanda Johnson and Rachel Cagle share their insights and experiences with Jen.Listen to the Full Episode: Somatic Experiencing and EMDR: Interview with Amanda Johnson and Rachel Cagle Why Blend EMDR and Somatic Experiencing?Many trauma therapists are trained in both EMDR and SE but struggle with how to integrate them effectively. EMDR provides a structured, protocol-driven approach to trauma reprocessing, while SE is a more fluid, intuitive method focused on tracking bodily sensations and releasing stored survival energy. Despite their differences, these modalities share a common goal: helping clients process trauma in a way that feels safe and regulated for their nervous system.Our guests, Amanda Johnson, LCSW, and Rachel Cagle, LPC, share their journeys into both EMDR and SE and how they’ve learned to blend them in practice.💬 Amanda: “I had a profound personal experience with a therapist who integrated EMDR and somatic work. That moment changed everything for me—I realized there was so much more happening in my body than I had been aware of.”💬 Rachel: “Talk therapy alone felt like it was missing something. When I started receiving somatic therapy as a client, it shifted something internally for me. I knew I wanted to bring that into my work with clients.”Where EMDR and SE Complement Each OtherThroughout the episode, Amanda and Rachel highlight specific ways that SE can enhance EMDR, particularly for clients who struggle with embodiment.🔹 Pendulation and Titration: SE emphasizes moving between activation and regulation, mirroring EMDR’s use of dual attention and calm place resourcing. “In SE, we learn to gently introduce activation, pendulate back to safety, and slowly build the nervous system’s capacity for intensity,” Rachel explains.🔹 Tracking the Body’s Cues: EMDR often includes body scans, but SE provides a deeper framework for understanding bodily signals. Amanda describes how SE helps her notice micro-movements in clients—like subtle shifts in breath or posture—that offer valuable information for the healing process.🔹 Expanding Affect Tolerance Before Reprocessing: One of the biggest mistakes therapists make in EMDR is pushing into reprocessing before a client has the affect tolerance to stay with activation. SE teaches clinicians how to gradually increase that tolerance, making EMDR more effective. “If a system doesn’t yet know how to process and release activation, it’s too early for trauma processing,” Amanda explains.Challenges in IntegrationDespite their synergy, integrating these approaches can be tricky. Amanda shares a formative experience early in her training where she presented an EMDR case at a Peter Levine case consultation.💬 Amanda: “I had just finished my EMDR training and had worked with a client using a single-episode trauma approach. When I described this in the consultation, I felt like I had made a huge mistake—like EMDR wasn’t supposed to be used for this client’s complex trauma history. That moment really threw me. I actually put EMDR on the shelf for a while because I wasn’t sure how to reconcile the two approaches.”For Rachel, the challenge has been introducing SE concepts to long-term EMDR clients.💬 Rachel: “With newer clients, I can naturally integrate both approaches from the beginning, but with established clients, I sometimes have to introduce SE more explicitly. It can feel like I’m asking them to do something totally different, and that takes some adjusting.”Do Therapists Need Formal SE Training to Work Somatically?If you’re an EMDR therapist who wants to bring in more somatic awareness but isn’t sure if full SE training is the right path, Amanda and Rachel suggest exploring:✅ Polyvagal Theory: Learning about nervous system states can significantly enhance your EMDR work.✅ Shorter Somatic Trainings: Many organizations offer introductory somatic courses that are less intensive than full SE certification.✅ Personal Somatic Work: One of the best ways to integrate somatics into your practice is to experience it yourself. “If we’re asking our clients to engage with their bodies in this way, we should be doing that work, too,” Amanda emphasizes.Final Thoughts: An Ongoing IntegrationBlending EMDR and SE isn’t about choosing one over the other—it’s about allowing both to influence the way we show up with clients. As Amanda puts it:💬 “EMDR gave me the coloring book—the structure and framework—but SE taught me how to color outside the lines in a way that makes sense for each client.”For therapists who feel torn between structured and fluid approaches, Rachel offers this encouragement:💬 “Everything doesn’t have to fit neatly into a model. The best therapy is relational, responsive, and flexible. Give yourself permission to integrate what works for you.”Connect with Amanda & RachelIf you’re interested in learning more about integrating EMDR and SE, Amanda and Rachel both offer consultation:🔹 Amanda Johnson, LCSW – amandajohnsonlcsw.com🔹 Rachel Cagle, LPC – Connect via Beyond HealingWhat are your thoughts on blending EMDR and SE? Have you tried integrating somatic approaches into your trauma work? Let us know in the comments below!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Listen in to hear Jen and Bridger sit down with Kristine Mark-Griffin for a discussion on working with children using EMDR. Christine is the founder of EMDR for Kids. She is an EMDRIA approved Consultant & advanced trainer. She is the author of the award winning EMDR Workbook for Kids and is the lead trainer at EMDR for Kids. Christine’s professional experience has included working in non-profit, child welfare, juvenile justice, community mental health, school-based mental health and higher education settings. Working in these various settings over the years has deepened her knowledge and understanding of complex trauma but has also exposed her to some of the most beautiful stories of healing and resilience. Christine is also a perinatal mental health certified therapist and loves working with expecting and new mamas! She provides a variety of EMDR consultation services & training and welcomes EMDR clinicians to join her offerings below! If you are a therapist who is interested in working towards EMDR certification or becoming a Consultant-in-training (CIT) with Christine, please complete the All EMDR therapists are welcome to join monthly drop-in EMDR consultation groups. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Listen in to hear Jen, Melissa, and Bridger talk about their relationship over the past five years in starting Beyond Healing and embracing authenticity and humanness through it all. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Happy New Year! Listen in to hear Jen and Bridger talk about some super exciting things coming in 2025 including a new podcast setup, conference presentations, a new EMDR Basic Training, and so much more! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this exciting episode, we sit down with Danielle Ciccone and Michele Topel, the creators of Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy. Combining the transformative power of EMDR with the therapeutic benefits of ketamine, this innovative modality is expanding the possibilities for trauma healing and mental wellness.Danielle and Michele, co-founders of the Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy Institute, share insights into the neurobiology behind this approach, the development of their EMDRIA-approved advanced training, and the results of their 2024 pilot study demonstrating significant reductions in PTSD symptoms.Tune in to explore:How Ketamine-Assisted EMDR was developed.The unique synergy between EMDR and ketamine therapy.Key considerations for clinicians interested in integrating this modality into their practice.Whether you're an EMDR therapist or someone passionate about cutting-edge trauma therapies, this episode is packed with valuable insights you won’t want to miss.Learn more about their work at ketamineassistedemdr.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sandra Paulsen, a seasoned clinical psychologist and author, dives deep into EMDR and ego state therapy, blending neurobiology with trauma healing. She introduces her NEST framework, designed to tackle obstacles in trauma recovery. The discussion highlights the neuroaffective foundations essential for understanding dissociation and self-fragmentation. Sandra also emphasizes the integration of somatic therapies and innovative tools like LENS Neurofeedback, showcasing a holistic approach to healing that encourages adaptability and inclusivity in therapeutic practices.

The conversation dives into the emotional complexities of concluding therapy, revealing the mix of relief and grief clients often feel. It emphasizes the unique bonds formed between therapists and clients, and the intentionality required when ending these relationships. The discussion highlights the importance of EMDR certification and how it shapes professional development. Additionally, it touches on the broader implications of therapeutic transitions, especially for adoptive families, and explores grief through media representations like the show 'Shrinking'.

Join Jen and Bridger as they delve into the reevaluation phase of EMDR therapy and the innovative three-pronged protocol. They discuss the importance of revisiting foundational training to enhance understanding and address emotional experiences. The conversation emphasizes how flexible and individualized approaches can transform clients' therapeutic journeys. Additionally, they highlight upcoming certification opportunities and tease future events, ensuring listeners are excited about learning and professional growth in the field.