Healing Trauma with EMDR, Internal Family Systems, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

Continuing advances and revelations in neuroscience are bolstering the art and science of psychotherapy, leading to more effective and efficient resolutions of complex human conditions. This is particularly evident in the treatment of Trauma and Stress Related Disorders. Trauma is increasingly recognized as a condition manifesting in a wide range of symptoms, often overlapping with features of Borderline Personality Disorder, including Mood Instability, Self-destructive Behavior, Substance Abuse, Eating Disorders, Impulsive Behavior, Irritability, Depression, and Anxiety (Harvey, 1990; Fisher, 2007). If you're feeling stuck with symptoms that resist change, it may indicate underlying Trauma.

Trauma is understood as an experience that overwhelms our capacity for Integration. Resolving trauma requires a compassionate, Phase-Oriented Treatment approach, emphasizing safety and empowerment. Persistent symptoms can be effectively addressed by examining their origins and recognizing how they may have helped us cope or survive. In this context, they can be compassionately understood, providing greater perspective on the burdens carried within exaggerated Roles and Relationship patterns. As more adaptive coping strategies are developed through therapies like Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, symptoms can begin to relax and stabilize, paving the way for resolving underlying trauma. Mindfulness meditation skills play a central role in this process, forming a foundation for trauma therapy. The body retains keys to traumatic experiences at an implicit level, becoming a reliable source of healing as we attune ourselves to its wisdom. Leaders in the field, such as Bessel van der Kolk, advocate for Somatic approaches like Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and EMDR therapy as essential tools for effective trauma treatment.

EMDR therapy, along with Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and IFS (Internal Family Systems) therapy, are modern Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approaches which incorporate Mindfulness-based principles such as compassionate attention and valuing personal present experiences. Experts like Daniel Siegel highlight the intrinsic benefits of Integration that arise from Mindfulness practice. The focus on Mindfulness is significant in explaining why Evidence-Based Research supports EMDR as an effective treatment for resolving Trauma-related disorders. The applicability of EMDR has expanded to include clinical applications in the resolution of protracted Grief, Depression, Anxiety, and Behavioral Addictions. I frequently find that EMDR therapy facilitates a more efficient and effective process in both Individual and Couples Therapy.

Both Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and EMDR focus on multiple experiential modalities, including visual imagery, thoughts, emotions, and body sensations. These approaches are backed by decades of research into how the human brain stores and resolves traumatic experiences, aligning well with established clinical practices for safe Phase-Oriented Trauma Treatment. This involves starting with stabilization and resource development as essential foundations for processing disturbance targets. I consistently find that this initial resource development work is surprisingly rewarding and a powerful source of healing in itself.

Several theories attempt to explain how and why EMDR therapy is effective. The simplest premise is that alternating bilateral stimulation—through eye movements or tapping between the right and left sides of the body and corresponding brain hemispheres—strengthens what is true while resolving what is distorted. Traumatic memories are often stored in an isolated manner within the brain's neuro-networks, hindering access and modification by the range of experiences available for forming life perspectives. I liken it to resolving a skip on a record or CD, allowing the music to play through and be enjoyed again. EMDR facilitates access to an individual’s true capacity for adaptive perspectives, healthy reconciliation, and the resumption of age-appropriate growth and development.

I.F.S. therapy shares many similarities with other mindfulness-based psychological approaches and spiritual traditions, all emphasizing the importance of cultivating a compassionate relationship with the Self. Richard Schwartz describes "Self" or "Self-energy" as a central healing force, characterized by qualities such as Curiosity, Calmness, Clarity, Courage, Confidence, Creativity, Compassion, and Connectedness. By making space for our "Self," we enhance and fortify a healing presence capable of reaching vulnerable aspects of our internal system in a safe and respectful manner. Engaging with the various layers and elements of our internal system builds trust in our compassionate curiosity and constructive perspectives surrounding extreme protective patterns. The burdens we bear, manifesting as limiting beliefs and painful emotions rooted in trauma, can start to resolve. Our understanding of Self undergoes significant transformation as we delineate from the burdens our parts mistakenly adopt as integral to our identity. 

D.W. Winnicott (1965) introduced the term "False Self" to identify an Object Relations phenomenon stemming from the child's response to severe disruptions in the Primary Maternal Preoccupation upon which we rely. The quest for consistent attunement with our primary caregivers is so paramount that the ego employs drastic measures of adaptation, often becoming what it perceives is necessary to maintain connection. This results in a child presenting as what the parent appears to need rather than joyously mirroring their authentic self. Such early chronic relational trauma is increasingly recognized as "Complex Trauma." 

Much of the afflictions we face as human beings can be framed as various forms of "mistaken identity" regarding who we truly are and the disconnection from our genuine Self. The tendency to be engulfed by emotionality, extreme limiting beliefs, and distorted perspectives is a phenomenon Schwartz refers to as "Blending." When we overly identify with our emotional dramas, it is akin to an actor who loses themselves in their role. The "un-blending" of our parts from our Self can occur when we embrace curiosity and take an earnest interest in understanding how and why our parts have become emotionally invested in different facets of our experiences. When Schwartz begins working with clients, he invites them to identify the part they wish to explore in or around their body and focus their attention there. This process resembles mindfulness practices that encourage a return to the present moment in the body, facilitating the un-blending of our parts from our Self. This practice fosters a relational dynamic that cultivates compassionate connections and builds trust in our Self. As our parts come to recognize their ability to un-blend, differentiate, and find their rightful place within us, the healing presence of Self energy allows previously overwhelming experiences to be appropriately addressed and gradually transformed. The relationship with Self embodies an invitation to embrace and nurture our most vulnerable aspects with unconditional loving kindness. In the context of the 12-step tradition, "turning it over" to a higher power can be viewed as an important step in the un-blending process. 

Carl Jung referred to the higher Self as the "Self with a capital 'S.'" He developed a therapeutic technique known as "Active Imagining," which facilitates relationships and dialogue with various aspects of our internal world expressed through dream imagery, artwork, and sand tray play. Modern Jungian therapist Donald Kalsched (The Inner World of Trauma, 1996) has observed that Richard Schwartz's I.F.S. therapy provides an effective means of accessing and healing traumatized aspects of the personality. The therapeutic principle of welcoming all parts of our experience is a cornerstone of I.F.S., mindfulness practices, and Carl Jung's active imagining. Although it may appear counter-intuitive to engage with what seems to be the source of our fears, pain, and suffering, the clinical expertise in EMDR therapy, pain management, and cognitive behavioral treatments for anxiety disorders supports this strategy (Stephen Levine, A Gradual Awakening, 1979; Who Dies, 1982; David Burns, When Panic Attacks, 2006; Peter Levine, Freedom from Pain, 2012). Sensorimotor Psychotherapy also aligns with these practices, emphasizing the significance of the body in processing trauma.