Notice That

Jen Savage and Melissa Sundwall

Notice That - An EMDR Podcast

  • What if EMDR Was a Truly Somatic Therapy?

    What if EMDR Was a Truly Somatic Therapy?

    In the world of EMDR therapy, conversations about somatics are becoming more and more common. But what if somatics wasn’t just a helpful layer to add onto EMDR? What if it was the foundation? What if we could reimagine EMDR as a truly somatic therapy—one that centers the body as the primary source of healing, rather than just another variable to account for?

    In a recent episode of Notice That: An EMDR Podcast, Melissa, Bridger, and Jen gathered to reflect on their first EMDR Basic Training as trainers through Beyond Healing Institute—and to introduce a new series that dares to ask big, paradigm-shifting questions about the nature of trauma and the future of EMDR.

    Launching Something New: The First Beyond Healing EMDR Training

    After two years of planning and waiting for approval, the team finally launched their EMDR Basic Training—and it exceeded expectations. What struck them most was how natural the experience felt. The structure of the training emphasized spaciousness, human connection, and honoring the therapist as a vital part of the therapeutic process. Participants left not just informed, but embodied—ready to bring the work into their practice with confidence and clarity.

    For Melissa, this experience prompted deeper questions about the nature of EMDR itself—questions that have been simmering for years: What would it mean to practice EMDR from a truly somatic orientation? What would change if we made the body—not the memory—the primary focus?

    Trauma as the Disallowance of Natural Expression

    One of the core ideas introduced in this episode is a somatic definition of trauma:

    Trauma is a moment when the body is disallowed its natural response.

    Whether through physical restraint, anesthesia, shaming, fear, or relational danger, the body’s innate need to express gets halted. What remains is energy that no longer has a context—a charge without a story. That disoriented energy gets stored in the body and, over time, leads to patterns of dissociation, confusion, and eventually depression.

    From this lens, trauma work is about recontextualizing that energy—giving it back its story—and then addressing the fear (or phobia) that originally caused it to be repressed. Healing, then, becomes about both remembering and reclaiming what the body lost access to.

    Suppression, Repression, and Depression: A Somatic Venn Diagram

    The team explored the difference between suppression and repression, noting that these terms are often used interchangeably but reflect very different processes. Suppression is a conscious decision to hold something back—functional, temporary, and often socially necessary. Repression, on the other hand, is unconscious and usually the result of overwhelming trauma.

    Chronic repression, over time, often leads to depression—what Melissa described as a loss of access to the body’s vital energy. This devitalization shows up as apathy, confusion, loss of identity, and disconnection from wants, needs, and affect. The work of trauma healing becomes a process of revitalization—not just regulation.

    Moving Beyond Regulation

    One of the major themes of this episode is the critique of the current cultural obsession with “nervous system regulation.” While regulation is a helpful part of the process, it is far from the whole picture. Melissa invites us to ask:

    Why are we so afraid of activation? Why do we associate calmness with healing, and intensity with danger?

    From a somatic lens, regulation is not about minimizing activation—it’s about supporting the body in accurately responding to the environment. That means we need to move beyond the dichotomy of regulated = good and dysregulated = bad. Sometimes, yelling, shaking, crying, or expressing intense emotion is the most accurate and necessary response a body can have.

    Rewriting the Protocol: Why EMDR Isn’t Somatic (Yet)

    Despite its growing popularity, EMDR in its standard form is not a somatic therapy. As Melissa puts it bluntly:

    “The only thing somatic about the standard protocol is one question: ‘Where do you feel that in your body?’

    Even the body scan at the end of Phase 6 is often used to check if the client is “done,” rather than to deeply listen to the body’s story. Somatics, in its truest form, isn’t about control or compliance. It’s about contact. Real, honest, present-moment contact with the body as it is—not as we want it to be.

    The team explored how preparation in somatically-focused EMDR would look radically different. Rather than beginning with calmness and containment, it might begin with something more raw and real:

    “Welcome to your body. How does it feel to be here? What sensations do you notice? Can you feel your aliveness?”

    Preparing the Body for Healing

    In this series, the team will continue to explore how trauma healing changes when we lead with the body. Upcoming episodes will dive into:

    • The concept of affect phobia—why we’re so afraid of feeling, and how to titrate our way back into sensation.
    • The somatic preparation phase—how to support clients in making safe, loving contact with their bodies before jumping into memory work.
    • The reclamation of sensation and affect—how we guide clients back into vitality in ways that feel empowering, not destabilizing.

    And most importantly: how to do all of this without losing the humanity, play, and relational connection that makes healing possible

    Want to Learn More?

    If this episode sparked something in you—whether a question, a memory, or a deep resonance—we want to invite you into further learning. Beyond Healing Institute’s EMDR Basic Training is infused with this somatic lens, and there are three opportunities to join us in 2025:

    🗓 May 15–17 | Springfield, Missouri (Live + Zoom)

    🗓 August 7–9 | Springfield, Missouri (Live + Zoom)

    🗓 November 13–15 | Springfield, Missouri (Live + Zoom)

    You can learn more and register at connectbeyondhealing.com

    Takeaways for Your Practice

    Here are a few reflections you might carry with you into your clinical work:

    • Reconsider what it means to “regulate.” Is calmness the goal—or is presence?
    • Invite the body into the process—not as a data point, but as a guide.
    • Be curious about what was disallowed. What energy, affect, or expression was blocked—and why?
    • Give clients permission to rediscover themselves. Vitality can be confusing at first. Let there be room for exploration, play, and gentle messiness.

    The somatic turn in EMDR isn’t a rejection of the protocol—it’s a reimagining of what’s possible when we bring the whole human into the room. Including ourselves.

    What stood out to you from this conversation? How are you thinking about trauma, the body, and EMDR differently? Drop a comment or reach out—we’d love to keep this dialogue going.

    The post What if EMDR Was a Truly Somatic Therapy? first appeared on Notice That.

    The post What if EMDR Was a Truly Somatic Therapy? appeared first on Notice That.

    27 March 2025, 2:35 pm
  • Beyond Protocol: EMDR, Case Conceptualization, and the Power of Shared Language

    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 Wellerwhite, 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 Planning

    One 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 Relationship

    A 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 Language

    One 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.

    Jenniffer 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 Practice

    So, what can you take from this conversation and start using in your own work?

    1. Reframe symptoms as strategies – Instead of seeing client behaviors as “problems,” recognize them as adaptive strategies that have helped them survive.
    2. Use shared language to enhance therapy – Introduce terms like strategy, intersubjective space, and system activation to help clients better understand their experiences.
    3. 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.
    4. Build community around case conceptualization – Having a shared framework makes consultation richer, deepens professional relationships, and combats burnout.

    Upcoming Opportunities to Learn More

    If 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)

    Jenniffer 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!

    Did you know?  After full completion of Beyond Healing Institute’s Somatic Integration and Processing training, each participant can receive 21 NBCC hours.

    Contact BHC

    Think Beyond Podcasts:

    Support a Child with a Donation Today!

    • Donate here!
    • 100% of the proceeds donated to the Burntout Educator will provide high quality therapy for a child in the public school system.

    Connect with us on social media: Facebook & Instagram 

    Credits

    Executive Directors: Jennifer and Ryan Savage, Melissa Bentinnedi, Bridger Falkenstien

    Hosts: Jennifer Savage, Melissa Benintendi, and Bridger Falkenstien

    Podcast Producer: Bridger Falkenstien

    Original Music Composers: Bridger Falkenstein and Caleb Boston

    The post Beyond Protocol: EMDR, Case Conceptualization, and the Power of Shared Language first appeared on Notice That.

    The post Beyond Protocol: EMDR, Case Conceptualization, and the Power of Shared Language appeared first on Notice That.

    6 March 2025, 1:04 pm
  • Somatic Experiencing and EMDR: Interview with Amanda Johnson and Rachel Cagle

    Somatic Experiencing and EMDR: Interview with Amanda Johnson and Rachel Cagle

    Bridging EMDR and Somatic Experiencing: A Conversation with Amanda Johnson & Rachel Cagle

    Curious 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 Other

    Throughout 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 Integration

    Despite 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 Integration

    Blending 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 & Rachel

    If 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 Healing

    What 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!

    Did you know?  After full completion of Beyond Healing Institute’s Somatic Integration and Processing training, each participant can receive 21 NBCC hours.

    Contact BHC

    Think Beyond Podcasts:

    Support a Child with a Donation Today!

    • Donate here!
    • 100% of the proceeds donated to the Burntout Educator will provide high quality therapy for a child in the public school system.

    Connect with us on social media: Facebook & Instagram 

    Credits

    Executive Directors: Jennifer and Ryan Savage, Melissa Bentinnedi, Bridger Falkenstien

    Hosts: Jennifer Savage, Melissa Benintendi, and Bridger Falkenstien

    Podcast Producer: Bridger Falkenstien

    Original Music Composers: Bridger Falkenstein and Caleb Boston

    The post Somatic Experiencing and EMDR: Interview with Amanda Johnson and Rachel Cagle first appeared on Notice That.

    The post Somatic Experiencing and EMDR: Interview with Amanda Johnson and Rachel Cagle appeared first on Notice That.

    14 February 2025, 5:23 pm
  • EMDR with Kids: Interview with Christine Mark-Griffin

    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.

    Did you know?  After full completion of Beyond Healing Institute’s Somatic Integration and Processing training, each participant can receive 21 NBCC hours.

    Contact BHC

    Think Beyond Podcasts:

    Support a Child with a Donation Today!

    • Donate here!
    • 100% of the proceeds donated to the Burntout Educator will provide high quality therapy for a child in the public school system.

    Connect with us on social media: Facebook & Instagram 

    Credits

    Executive Directors: Jennifer and Ryan Savage, Melissa Bentinnedi, Bridger Falkenstien

    Hosts: Jennifer Savage, Melissa Benintendi, and Bridger Falkenstien

    Podcast Producer: Bridger Falkenstien

    Original Music Composers: Bridger Falkenstein and Caleb Boston

    The post EMDR with Kids: Interview with Christine Mark-Griffin first appeared on Notice That.

    The post EMDR with Kids: Interview with Christine Mark-Griffin appeared first on Notice That.

    6 February 2025, 2:28 pm
  • Beyond is Evolving!: Shifts and Refocusing

    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.

    Did you know?  After full completion of Beyond Healing Institute’s Somatic Integration and Processing training, each participant can receive 21 NBCC hours.

    Contact BHC

    Think Beyond Podcasts:

    Support a Child with a Donation Today!

    • Donate here!
    • 100% of the proceeds donated to the Burntout Educator will provide high quality therapy for a child in the public school system.

    Connect with us on social media: Facebook & Instagram 

    Credits

    Executive Directors: Jennifer and Ryan Savage, Melissa Bentinnedi, Bridger Falkenstien

    Hosts: Jennifer Savage, Melissa Benintendi, and Bridger Falkenstien

    Podcast Producer: Bridger Falkenstien

    Original Music Composers: Bridger Falkenstein and Caleb Boston

    The post Beyond is Evolving!: Shifts and Refocusing first appeared on Notice That.

    The post Beyond is Evolving!: Shifts and Refocusing appeared first on Notice That.

    6 February 2025, 1:03 pm
  • Happy New Year!

    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!

    The post Happy New Year! first appeared on Notice That.

    The post Happy New Year! appeared first on Notice That.

    16 January 2025, 2:02 pm
  • Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy: Interview with Danielle Ciccone & Michele Topel

    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.

    Did you know?  After full completion of Beyond Healing Institute’s Somatic Integration and Processing training, each participant can receive 21 NBCC hours.

    Contact BHC

    Think Beyond Podcasts:

    Support a Child with a Donation Today!

    • Donate here!
    • 100% of the proceeds donated to the Burntout Educator will provide high quality therapy for a child in the public school system.

    Connect with us on social media: Facebook & Instagram 

    Credits

    Executive Directors: Jennifer and Ryan Savage, Melissa Bentinnedi, Bridger Falkenstien

    Hosts: Jennifer Savage, Melissa Benintendi, and Bridger Falkenstien

    Podcast Producer: Bridger Falkenstien

    Original Music Composers: Bridger Falkenstein and Caleb Boston

    The post Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy: Interview with Danielle Ciccone & Michele Topel first appeared on Notice That.

    The post Ketamine Assisted EMDR Therapy: Interview with Danielle Ciccone & Michele Topel appeared first on Notice That.

    9 January 2025, 3:22 pm
  • EMDR, Ego-States, and Neurobiology – Interview with Sandra Paulsen

    Listen in to hear Jen and Bridger’s conversation with Sandra Paulsen. Yes, THE Sandra Paulsen. The author of some of your favorite books for trauma related dissociation treatment and several popular EMDR texts. Some of her work includes When There Are no Words, Looking Through the Eyes of Trauma and Dissociation, Neurobiology and Treatment of Traumatic Dissociation, and her most recent works, We’re Listening Body, and Indigenous Trauma and Dissociation. — For those of you who don’t know Sandra, she is a clinical and consulting psychologist who has used EMDR and ego state therapy to help many trauma survivors heal for over thirty years. She uses the early trauma approach of EMDR in combination with somatic methods, an intuitive understanding of traumatic reenactment experience, and ego state work to transform and repair trauma held in implicit memory. In this conversation, Sandra shares about her experience in developing NEST, N – E – S – T – an integrated and systematic means to identify and address obstacles to the therapeutic repair of the effects of trauma. “N” represents the neuroaffective foundations of our understanding and treatment of trauma, including the Early Trauma approach of EMDR. These foundations are inspired by the seminal contributions of Panksepp, Porges, Schore, and many more. Additionally, Sandra uses technologies such as LENS Neurofeedback, TouchPoints, and AlphaStim where indicated to assist in healing work. “E” stands for the emphasis on Embodiment that emerges from utilizing somatic therapeutic interventions to repair somatic dissociation and other bodily and energetic holdings that result from trauma in infancy and beyond. “S” represents the system of ego states, which she addresses with Ego State Therapy, seeking to mitigate the protective functions of those states that interfere with working with other hurt child aspects of the self that were disowned for survival. Subsequently, we mediate internal conflicts and orient forsaken aspects of self to present circumstances and more. “T” signifies that the approach is a therapy consistent with the core reparative process of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy. Sandra is known for her integration of the above therapies in a systematic way tailored to the needs of the individual. Sandra has many resources available for therapists as well as some workshops on NEST so if you’re interested, head over to paulsenpsychology.com to find out more. Before we dive into the episode, we just wanted to share a few of the upcoming training opportunities happening in the institute. Relevant to this episode actually, Jen and I will be doing another SIP II training in Healing the Fragmented self where we connect the basic principles of SIP including the venn diagram and intersubjectivity into how the self is formed throughout development and how it can become fragmented into self states. We also have a couple more workshops that we’re doing in January which includes Offering Healing Intensives, where Jen and I will share our approach to setting up and facilitating EMDR retreats as well as intensives in EMDR therapy. Then Melissa will be doing a workshop on nature based resourcing where she will introduce you to a way of using nature-based resources during Phase 2 of EMDR therapy, focusing on fostering a secure attachment to the natural world. Participants will explore how the four elements—earth, water, fire, and air—can be integrated into therapeutic practice to provide grounding, safety, and connection for clients. If you’re interested in any or all of these things, head over to our website at connectbeyondhealing.com and click on the for therapists tab.

    Did you know?  After full completion of Beyond Healing Institute’s Somatic Integration and Processing training, each participant can receive 21 NBCC hours.

    Contact BHC

    Think Beyond Podcasts:

    Support a Child with a Donation Today!

    • Donate here!
    • 100% of the proceeds donated to the Burntout Educator will provide high quality therapy for a child in the public school system.

    Connect with us on social media: Facebook & Instagram 

    Credits

    Executive Directors: Jennifer and Ryan Savage, Melissa Bentinnedi, Bridger Falkenstien

    Hosts: Jennifer Savage, Melissa Benintendi, and Bridger Falkenstien

    Podcast Producer: Bridger Falkenstien

    Original Music Composers: Bridger Falkenstein and Caleb Boston

    The post EMDR, Ego-States, and Neurobiology – Interview with Sandra Paulsen first appeared on Notice That.

    The post EMDR, Ego-States, and Neurobiology – Interview with Sandra Paulsen appeared first on Notice That.

    22 November 2024, 8:32 pm
  • Ending Therapy: How do You Know?

    Listen in to hear Jen and Bridger’s discussion on ending therapy. This conversation is a part of Notice That’s Back to Basics series where the hosts work through Francine Shapiro’s Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures, now in its third edition.

    Did you know?  After full completion of Beyond Healing Institute’s Somatic Integration and Processing training, each participant can receive 21 NBCC hours.

    Contact BHC

    Think Beyond Podcasts:

    Support a Child with a Donation Today!

    • Donate here!
    • 100% of the proceeds donated to the Burntout Educator will provide high quality therapy for a child in the public school system.

    Connect with us on social media: Facebook & Instagram 

    Credits

    Executive Directors: Jennifer and Ryan Savage, Melissa Bentinnedi, Bridger Falkenstien

    Hosts: Jennifer Savage, Melissa Benintendi, and Bridger Falkenstien

    Podcast Producer: Bridger Falkenstien

    Original Music Composers: Bridger Falkenstein and Caleb Boston

    The post Ending Therapy: How do You Know? first appeared on Notice That.

    The post Ending Therapy: How do You Know? appeared first on Notice That.

    7 November 2024, 1:55 pm
  • Reevaluation and the Three Pronged Protocol

    Listen in to hear Jen and Bridger discuss Reevaluation in the standard 8-phase protocol of EMDR, as well as the three pronged protocol embedded in the adaptive information processing (AIP) model. This conversation is a part of the Back to Basics series where the hosts of Notice That are reading through Francine Shapiro’s eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures (3rd ed.).

    Did you know?  After full completion of Beyond Healing Institute’s Somatic Integration and Processing training, each participant can receive 21 NBCC hours.

    Contact BHC

    Think Beyond Podcasts:

    Support a Child with a Donation Today!

    • Donate here!
    • 100% of the proceeds donated to the Burntout Educator will provide high quality therapy for a child in the public school system.

    Connect with us on social media: Facebook & Instagram 

    Credits

    Executive Directors: Jennifer and Ryan Savage, Melissa Bentinnedi, Bridger Falkenstien

    Hosts: Jennifer Savage, Melissa Benintendi, and Bridger Falkenstien

    Podcast Producer: Bridger Falkenstien

    Original Music Composers: Bridger Falkenstein and Caleb Boston

    The post Reevaluation and the Three Pronged Protocol first appeared on Notice That.

    The post Reevaluation and the Three Pronged Protocol appeared first on Notice That.

    24 October 2024, 12:25 pm
  • The EMDR Continuum: Interview with Roy Kiessling

    Listen in to hear Jen and Bridger’s conversation with Roy Kiessling about the EMDR processing continuum.

    In this conversation, Roy shares about the differences between EMD, EMDr, and EMDR processing where unrestricted and full network processing is the goal. Many clinicians struggle in working with clients who are quick to dysregulate or experience various forms of dissociation and abreaction to the EMDR process; the EMDR continuum can be such a faithful guide in working to support clients where they are and where they want to be.

    Did you know?  After full completion of Beyond Healing Institute’s Somatic Integration and Processing training, each participant can receive 21 NBCC hours.

    Contact BHC

    Think Beyond Podcasts:

    Support a Child with a Donation Today!

    • Donate here!
    • 100% of the proceeds donated to the Burntout Educator will provide high quality therapy for a child in the public school system.

    Connect with us on social media: Facebook & Instagram 

    Credits

    Executive Directors: Jennifer and Ryan Savage, Melissa Bentinnedi, Bridger Falkenstien

    Hosts: Jennifer Savage, Melissa Benintendi, and Bridger Falkenstien

    Podcast Producer: Bridger Falkenstien

    Original Music Composers: Bridger Falkenstein and Caleb Boston

    The post The EMDR Continuum: Interview with Roy Kiessling first appeared on Notice That.

    The post The EMDR Continuum: Interview with Roy Kiessling appeared first on Notice That.

    10 October 2024, 1:14 pm
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