EMDR, Parts Work, & Somatic Therapy - Healing Trauma At It's Roots:

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At Empower Women Counseling, we believe trauma is carried in every layer of a woman’s being—body, mind, and spirit. Trauma is not just a memory from the past; it is stored in the nervous system, in the protective parts of self, and in the ways we’ve learned to survive in a world that often silences women’s voices.

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True healing requires more than talk. It asks us to work with the body, the nervous system, and the inner world of parts. This is why we specialize in three powerful, evidence-based, and holistic approaches: EMDR, Parts Work, and Somatic Therapy. Together, these tools create a path to lasting transformation and wholeness.

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EMDR: 

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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) helps the brain and body release trauma that has become stuck, allowing painful memories to lose their intensity.

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1. Preparation – Building safety and resourcing.

2. Targeting Trauma – Identifying distressing memories and current triggers.

3. Bilateral Stimulation – Using eye movements or tapping to reprocess trauma.

4. Integration – The nervous system learns a new story: I am safe. I am enough. I can trust myself.

EMDR allows women to move out of cycles of reactivity and into a more grounded sense of safety and freedom.

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Parts Work - Healing the Inner System: 

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Internal Family Systems (IFS) , Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy (DNMS) and parts work recognize that each of us carries many inner voices or “parts” that developed to protect us from harm. These include:

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• The Critic that pushes perfection.

• The People Pleaser that avoids conflict.

• The Overachiever that never lets you rest.

• The Wounded Inner Child that holds pain, fear, and unmet needs.

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Through therapy, we meet these parts with compassion. Instead of fighting them, we learn from them. Over time, they unburden what they’ve carried, making space for your core Self—the calm, compassionate, wise center that leads healing from within.

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Somatic Therapy - Restoring Safety in the Body: 

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Trauma is not only psychological—it is deeply physical. Somatic therapy works directly with the body and nervous system to restore a sense of grounding and safety.

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We use body-based practices such as:

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• Vagal nerve regulation to calm fight, flight, freeze, and fawn  responses.

• Breathwork and gentle movement to bring presence back into the body.

• Tracking sensations to notice where trauma lives and gently release it.

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Somatic work teaches the body that the danger has passed, creating capacity for joy, rest, and connection.

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Why do we use these three tools? 

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• EMDR (AF - attachment focused) helps the nervous system reprocess trauma.

• Parts Work helps the psyche understand and integrate the protective strategies born of trauma.

• Somatic Therapy helps the body feel safe enough to stay present and grounded.

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Together, they address trauma on every level—body, mind, and spirit—creating a truly holistic path toward healing.

 

 

A Feminist and Holistic Path: 

 

At Empower Women Counseling, we hold all of this through a feminist lens. We recognize that women’s pain is not only personal but also systemic—shaped by cultural expectations, patriarchy, and intergenerational wounds. Healing, then, is not just about recovery—it is about reclamation.

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Through EMDR, Parts Work, and Somatic Therapy, we help women release the weight of trauma, reconnect with their inner wisdom, and step into the fullness of who they are.

 

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If you are interested in determining if you are a good candidate for trauma therapy please reach out to schedule an intake appointment here. 

 

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