Beyond the Surface: Enhancing Trauma Processing with EMDR and Somatic Techniques
#MentalHealthProfessionals #TherapistTools #ClinicianResources #PsychologyTools #TherapySkills #EMDR #PartsWork #IFS #ProfessionalDevelopment
As a disclaimer, EnvisionCo Blog is reader-supported. Some links on this site are for additional informational purposes whereas some others are affiliate links (don't worry, these will be clearly marked as such). When you click through an affiliate link on our site and sign-up for a service or finalize a purchase, we may earn affiliate commissions. This of course is at no additional cost to you. Additionally, EnvisionCo Blog is for informational and educational purposes only and is in no way intended to be a substitute for financial advice by a registered certified financial planner, medical advice by a qualified physician, or therapy by a trained mental health professional. .
Heads up: This one’s mainly for those in my audience who provide psychotherapy services (i.e. therapists, social workers, psychologists, nurse practitioners, and other mental health professionals). If you’re reading as a client or just curious, the ideas can still be interesting, but they aren’t a substitute for personal mental health care. |
One of the things I appreciate about being a therapist and coach is that there is always something new to learn. No matter how long we have been in the field, how many trainings we have attended, or how many clients we have supported, there will always be opportunities to expand our knowledge and strengthen our skills. Sometimes, those opportunities introduce us to a new approach. Other times, they help us look at something we already know from a different perspective.
When it comes to trauma treatment, I believe it is especially important to remain open to learning. Trauma does not look the same for everyone, and the healing process is not always a straight line. We may have clients who are ready to make changes but struggle to move forward. Others may understand their patterns intellectually but find themselves repeating the same behaviors, feeling stuck between what they want to do and what feels safe to do.
As clinicians, how do we continue supporting our clients when the approaches we have been using do not seem to be getting us where we want to go? Sometimes, the answer may involve taking a closer look at what is happening beneath the surface and exploring how different therapeutic approaches can work together. That is why I wanted to share an upcoming professional development opportunity for therapists who work with complex trauma.
Sometimes, We Need to Look Beneath the Surface
Have you ever worked with a client who seemed ready to move forward but then pulled back when it was time to make a change? Perhaps they have difficulty discussing certain experiences, become overwhelmed when approaching painful memories, or struggle with patterns that continue to interfere with their progress. We may find ourselves wondering whether we need to introduce another intervention or approach the situation differently. From an Internal Family Systems (IFS) perspective, I am reminded that what we see on the surface may not tell the whole story. Sometimes, a part of a client wants to move forward, while another part is working hard to protect them from the possibility of being hurt, overwhelmed, or disappointed again. Think about it. If a person has learned that certain emotions, experiences, or relationships are unsafe, it makes sense that some parts of them may be hesitant to revisit those experiences. Even when the person consciously wants to heal, their protective responses may have a different idea about what is needed to stay safe.
This is one reason I appreciate approaches that encourage us to become curious about what is happening within our clients rather than immediately trying to change what we see. Instead of viewing a client's hesitation as simply resistance, we can explore what might be contributing to it and what that client may need to feel more supported in the process. Of course, understanding these protective responses is only one part of the work. We also need clinical skills that help us assess complex trauma, establish safety, and determine how to approach trauma processing in a way that considers each client's individual needs.
Exploring the Integration of EMDR and Parts Work
A training opportunity that caught my attention is (affiliate link) EMDR & Parts Work for Treating Complex Trauma: Somatic Techniques to Decrease Defensiveness and Facilitate Trauma Processing, presented by Arielle Schwartz, PhD, CCTP-II, E-RYT, EMDR-C. Dr. Schwartz is a clinical psychologist, trauma educator, and author known for her work in complex trauma, PTSD, somatic psychology, and trauma recovery. Her approach brings together several therapeutic perspectives, including EMDR, parts work, and mindfulness-based interventions. The free, live training will explore ways clinicians can integrate EMDR with parts work when supporting clients with complex trauma histories. The focus includes understanding dissociation, recognizing protective responses, and developing skills that may help clients remain engaged in the therapeutic process. What I find particularly interesting about this topic is the opportunity to consider how our clients experience trauma on multiple levels. There may be memories that need to be processed, emotions that feel difficult to access, protective parts that are not ready to let go, and physical responses that influence how safe a client feels in the present moment. Having different approaches available can help us think more broadly about the needs of the people we serve. The goal is not to use every technique we learn with every client. Rather, it is to continue developing the knowledge and clinical judgment needed to determine what may be helpful for each individual.
What Will the Training Cover?
The training is scheduled for October 22, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time. The advertised program includes more than six hours of instruction, interactive question-and-answer opportunities, and course materials. Here is a closer look at some of the topics participants can expect to explore.
Understanding Complex Trauma and the Nervous System
The first area focuses on the neurobiology of PTSD and complex PTSD, including the effects of chronic stress, dissociation, and trauma. Participants will explore interpersonal neurobiology, somatic psychology, social engagement, and polyvagal theory. The curriculum also introduces skills related to relational awareness and co-regulation. These concepts can help clinicians think more intentionally about the therapeutic relationship and the role that safety and connection may play in trauma treatment.
Assessing Trauma and Understanding Protective Parts
This area focuses on gathering trauma histories and developing case conceptualizations that account for repeated, developmental, and sociocultural trauma. The training explores dissociation, insecure attachment, and the ways parts, ego states, and defenses may influence a client's ability to engage in treatment. Participants will also learn strategies for approaching clients who may be described as resistant, with an emphasis on understanding emotional dysregulation, developing compassion, and helping clients connect with their adult selves. When we begin to recognize that a behavior may serve a protective purpose, we have an opportunity to approach it with greater curiosity. Instead of asking how we can get rid of the behavior, we can begin exploring what is driving it and what might help the client move toward a different experience.
Integrating EMDR and Parts Work in Trauma Treatment
The training will also cover the eight phases of EMDR therapy, bilateral stimulation, preparation for trauma reprocessing, and modified EMDR protocols for complex trauma. Participants will explore skills involving mindfulness, acceptance, self-compassion, containment, and building supportive relationships with parts of the self. Additional topics include facilitating repair scenarios, reprocessing traumatic memories, and positive state installation. As with any trauma treatment approach, the integration of these methods requires appropriate training, clinical judgment, and attention to the client's readiness. The purpose of continuing education is to strengthen our ability to make informed decisions about the interventions we use and the clients with whom we use them.
Supporting Resilience and Post-Traumatic Growth
The final area focuses on resilience and the healing process. Participants will explore resilience as both a process and an outcome, along with ways to help clients move from learned helplessness toward learned optimism. I appreciate that this topic extends the conversation beyond the traumatic experience itself. While processing trauma is important, we also want to support clients as they discover their strengths, develop new ways of responding to challenges, and recognize the possibilities available to them moving forward. Healing is not simply about what happened to a person. It is also about helping them develop the resources, relationships, and internal capacity to navigate life beyond those experiences.
Why Continuing Education Matters
One of the things I enjoy about professional development is the reminder that we do not have to approach every clinical challenge from the same perspective. We can continue learning, ask different questions, and explore approaches that may help us better understand the people sitting across from us. For those of us interested in parts work, there is something meaningful about recognizing that a client's internal world may be more complicated than what we initially observe. A client can want to change and still feel afraid of changing. They can understand a pattern and still struggle to respond differently. They can want relief from their symptoms while also feeling hesitant to let go of the strategies that once helped them cope. Rather than treating these experiences as contradictions, we can recognize that different needs and concerns may be present at the same time. This perspective does not mean that parts work or EMDR is the right fit for every client. It does, however, invite us to remain curious about the many factors that can influence the healing process. Continuing education gives us opportunities to strengthen that curiosity with additional knowledge and practical skills. If you work with clients experiencing complex trauma, or if you are interested in learning more about integrating EMDR and parts work, this training may be worth exploring.
Meet the Presenter: Arielle Schwartz, PhD
Dr. Arielle Schwartz is a clinical psychologist, therapeutic yoga instructor, and internationally recognized educator in PTSD and complex trauma. She is the author of several books on trauma recovery, including (affiliate link) The Complex PTSD Treatment Manual, EMDR Therapy and Somatic Psychology, and (affiliate link) The Complex PTSD Workbook. Her work integrates mind-body approaches to trauma recovery, including somatic psychology, EMDR, parts work, and mindfulness-based interventions. Through her clinical practice, writing, and professional training, she helps clinicians explore ways to bring these perspectives into their work with clients. For therapists who want to expand their understanding of complex trauma and integrative treatment approaches, this training provides an opportunity to learn from an experienced professional in the field.
Keep Learning, Keep Growing
As clinicians, we spend so much time supporting other people’s growth that it can be easy to overlook our own. However, continuing to sharpen our knowledge and strengthen our skills is part of caring for the work we do and the people we serve. We will not always have an immediate answer for every clinical challenge, and we will not always see progress unfold as quickly as we would like. That does not mean we have failed. Sometimes, it simply means there is more to understand, another perspective to consider, or a different way to approach the work. If you are looking for a practical space to reflect and sharpen your skills, the training (affiliate link) EMDR & Parts Work for Treating Complex Trauma: Somatic Techniques to Decrease Defensiveness and Facilitate Trauma Processing is an upcoming opportunity to dive deeper into trauma-informed practice. While this training normally costs $249.99, registration is completely free for a limited time. The training will occur on Thursday, October 22, 2026 from 9:30am until 5:00pm CT; however, if you cannot attend live, registering while it is free still grants you access to watch the replay for three days following the event.
(Note: Continuing education credits are available for an additional fee; please review the options at checkout if CE credit is needed.)
A friendly reminder here, to help us keep creating free educational content, the EnvisionCo Blog participates in affiliate partnerships. If you choose to purchase a course through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. If this article resonated with you, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments, or have you share it with a friend or colleague who might need this resource today. Small conversations about mental wellness can make a meaningful difference. And please remember that wherever you are on this wellness journey, do not worry about getting it perfect; just get it going. Until next time. Happy reading!
Affiliate Link |
Creating supportive environments is essential in our clinical work, but it is equally vital in our own lives to preserve our nervous system capacity for presence and co-regulation. Financial stress can quietly keep our bodies on high alert, creating an ongoing internal load that makes daily functioning more taxing. If high-interest debt is adding to your mental strain, consolidating those balances into one predictable payment with a SoFi Personal Loan can offer a practical way to lower interest rates and create much-needed breathing room. (If you apply through my affiliate link and are approved, SoFi gives both of us a $300 bonus as a thank-you.) Just as we offer our clients compassionate curiosity and tailored accommodations, we can ask ourselves what structural shifts will help us reduce chronic stress, build internal predictability, and continue showing up for this work with sustainable energy. |
“I believe that a different therapy must be constructed for each patient because each has a unique story.” ~Irvin D. Yalom
Here at EnvisionCo Blog, we try to keep ads to a minimum making our blog entirely reader-supported. We may feature links on this site for additional informational purposes. From time to time, we may feature other links which are affiliate links (and these will be clearly marked). When you click through an affiliate link on our site and sign up for a service or finalize a purchase, we may earn affiliate commissions. This is of course at no additional cost to you. However, if you like what you see and would like to make a donation to help us keep ads to a minimum, we would greatly appreciate it! Nothing fancy. We accept the price of a cup coffee with as much gratitude as we would the price of a tank of gas!
Comments