Talking in Therapy isn’t Enough? Reprocessing Trauma with EMDR

Erica Bonham, LPC, MA joins Kristie and Felicia to demystify EMDR therapy and how it actually works to heal the brain. They explore how bilateral stimulation mimics REM sleep to "unstick" traumatic memories trapped in the nervous system. Erica advocates for a bottom-up approach to recovery to address the somatic and emotional roots of distress. Some takeaways: How bilateral stimulation helps the brain reprocess Why a somatic approach is often more effective than cognitive insight How to develop compassion for the internal mechanisms that try to keep us safe For sponsorships, please reach out to [email protected] Join our Substack community: https://whatyourtherapistthinks.subst... Follow WYTT on Instagram:   / wyttpodcast   Follow Felicia on Instagram:   / the_bad_therapist   Episode referenced: What Type Of Trauma Do I Have? Understanding Trauma    • What Type Of Trauma Do I Have? Understandi...   Use our promo code "WYTT" for up to 20% Off at CozyEarth.com. Connect with Erica Website: https://www.avoscounseling.com/erica Facebook:   / avoscounseling   Instagram:   / avoscounseling   LinkedIn:   / erica-bonham-956262147   YouTube:    / @ejbonham1207   Read Erica’s Book: Always Enough, Never Done: https://tinyurl.com/wyttalwaysenough Chapters 00:00 Introduction 05:10 Setting the Record Straight on EMDR 09:14 What EMDR Actually Feels Like 12:30 Why Trauma Lives in the Body 15:20 Top Down vs Bottom Up Healing 18:15 Why You Cannot Think Your Way Out 22:10 This Work Is Hard but Necessary 27:00 Understanding the Trauma Triangle 33:05 When EMDR Actually Works Best 44:00 Clearing Trauma and Losing Your Identity 49:00 The Power and Risk of EMDR *Hosts: Kristie Plantinga and Felicia Keller Boyle *Listen to the audio version wherever you get your podcasts *Brought to you by BestTherapists.com: http://besttherapists.com/ *Produced by PodVision: https://pod.vision/ If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review, or share it with a friend who might need it! This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. If you’re struggling, please reach out to a licensed therapist or call your local crisis line for support.