Somatic Psychotherapy with EMDR

Somatic Psychotherapy with EMDR (Natural Processing developed and taught by Craig Penner, PhD)

Lisa Ervin has been offering EMDR since 2010. 

She also offers a therapeutic approach that brings together key elements of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and somatic psychotherapy. This integration supports clients in resolving trauma and emotional pain by engaging not just the mind, but also the body’s innate ability to heal.

Why a Somatic Approach?

A somatic approach to psychotherapy involves paying close attention to the physical sensations, movement impulses, and body-based experiences that arise during emotional processing. Rather than relying solely on verbal dialogue or cognitive insight, somatic therapy recognizes that the body holds important information about our emotional lives—especially when it comes to trauma, anxiety, and attachment wounds.

By now, you may be familiar with the work of Bessel van der Kolk in his ground-breaking book The Body Keeps the Score, or Peter Levine’s influential work in Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma. From these and other experts in the field of trauma and neuroscience, we know that working at the level of the body is a powerful, effective, and evidence-based approach with proven results.

Many traumatic experiences are stored not just in memory, but in the nervous system—below the level of conscious thought. A somatic approach like Natural Processing:

• Helps clients stay grounded and present while processing difficult material
• Supports the release of trauma that talking alone can't resolve
• Enhances mind-body awareness, fostering a deeper sense of safety and self-regulation
• Encourages natural healing pathways to emerge without forcing or re-traumatizing

Natural Processing brings together the best of somatic therapy and EMDR, allowing deep healing to unfold through both the body and the mind.