The neurobiology of attachment and trauma has resulted in the recent emergence of somatic interventions for treating trauma. This workshop will frame Porges’ polyvagal theory, Schore’s right hemisphere and developmental postulates with in the neural network understand of the Adaptive Information Process theory that underlies EMDR; introduce several key somatic interventions including: somatic resources, tracking, discharging, pendulation, micro-movements, and boundaries, with a framework of somatic empathy (Stanley, 2006), and 3) identify where the eight step process of EMDRIA specific somatic elements can be utilized while maintaining the integrity of EMDR.
Examples are for Phase One: Treatment planning: Identifying whether the individual can move directly to EMDR or needs “wires hook up” to the soma, for Phase Two: Preparation via a) teaching tracking internal sensations, b) somatic resourcing to strengthen the self through engaging the ventral vagal system, c) instructing in discharging sympathetic arousal, d) enabling internal coherency to be established through titrating between resources and disturbance to induce spontaneous oscillation; Phase Four: Desensitization in which the somatic are set aside unless looping occurs, or which somatic interweaves may include tracking, micro-movements, boundaries; and Phase Seven: Closure via establishing internal coherency, as a few among other phased somatic interventions. The workshop provides substantial practicum time to gain familiarity with the somatic methods.