Written by Helenita Frounfelkner
Life Coach • Somatic Practitioner • Somatic-Informed EMDR Practitioner • Breathwork Facilitator
Helenita specializes in helping women reconnect with themselves through nervous system-informed, body-based approaches to healing. Drawing from both professional training and her own lived experience, she integrates somatic coaching, Somatic EMDR-informed support, breathwork and embodiment practices to help clients move beyond survival patterns and into a more connected, authentic way of living.
If you’ve been researching healing modalities, you’ve probably come across EMDR. Maybe a friend recommended it, your therapist mentioned it or you’ve heard people describe it as life changing.
Then you found the term Somatic EMDR and wondered…
“Is that the same thing?”
The short answer is no.
While Somatic EMDR and traditional EMDR share some foundational principles, they aren’t the same practice. Understanding the difference can help you determine which approach is the best fit for your goals and where you are in your healing journey.
What Is Traditional EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy approach developed to help people process distressing memories and reduce the emotional impact those memories continue to have in the present. It’s provided by licensed mental health professionals who have completed specialized EMDR training.
Traditional EMDR follows a structured clinical protocol and is designed to support the treatment of trauma and other mental health concerns.
For many people, it’s an incredibly effective form of therapy.
Where Somatic EMDR Differs
Somatic EMDR-informed coaching approaches emotional processing through the lens of the nervous system and the body.
Rather than focusing solely on thoughts or memories, we also pay attention to what your body is communicating in the present moment. You might notice changes in your breathing, areas of tension, shifts in posture, sensations that arise or subtle impulses your body has learned to suppress over time.
These experiences become valuable sources of information.
They help us understand not only what you’ve lived through, but also how those experiences may still be showing up in your nervous system today.
Why the Body Matters
One of the things I’ve learned through my own journey and through working with clients is that insight doesn’t always create change.
Many people understand exactly why they react the way they do. They’ve read the books, spent years in therapy and can clearly explain the patterns they’d like to change.
Yet their body continues responding in familiar ways.
That’s not because they’ve failed.
It’s because understanding and experiencing are different processes.
Body-based approaches help create opportunities for new experiences, not just new understanding.
What a Session May Include
Every session looks a little different because every person brings a different story.
Depending on your goals, we may integrate bilateral stimulation, grounding practices, nervous system education, guided body awareness, breathwork or gentle somatic interventions that help you notice and stay connected to your present-moment experience.
There isn’t a script that every client follows.
Instead, we move at a pace that honors your nervous system while remaining curious about what your body is communicating.
A Collaborative Approach
One of the things I value most is collaboration.
Many of my clients are already working with wonderful therapists, physicians or other healthcare professionals. My role isn’t to replace that support. It’s to complement it by offering a body-based perspective that helps clients deepen their awareness, strengthen their connection to themselves and integrate what they’re already learning.
I believe healing works best when practitioners stay within their scope, communicate well and keep the client’s wellbeing at the center of every decision.
Is Somatic EMDR Right for You?
If you’re looking for psychotherapy or clinical EMDR treatment, working with a licensed EMDR therapist is the appropriate path.
If you’re looking for a coaching relationship that incorporates nervous system awareness, body-based practices and Somatic EMDR-informed interventions to support personal growth and emotional processing, this work may be a wonderful fit.
The goal isn’t to tell you which path you should choose.
It’s to help you understand your options so you can make the decision that feels most aligned with your needs.
A Final Thought
One of the things I appreciate most about Somatic EMDR is that it continues reminding me of something I deeply believe.
Your body isn’t working against you.
It’s communicating with you.
When we slow down enough to listen with curiosity instead of judgment, we often discover that the body has been carrying wisdom, protection and resilience all along.
Sometimes healing begins simply by learning how to listen.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Somatic EMDR the same as EMDR therapy?
No. Native Moons offers Somatic EMDR-informed coaching, which is a non-clinical, body-based approach that differs from licensed EMDR psychotherapy. If you’re seeking clinical EMDR treatment for a mental health condition, we encourage working with a licensed EMDR therapist. - Can I work with you if I’m already seeing a therapist?
Absolutely. Many clients work with both a therapist and a somatic coach. These approaches often complement one another by supporting different aspects of the healing process. - Do you diagnose or treat mental health conditions?
No. Native Moons provides coaching and nervous system-informed support. We do not diagnose or treat mental health conditions, and we collaborate with licensed professionals whenever appropriate.
Curious Whether Somatic EMDR-Informed Coaching Is Right for You?
Healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. If you’re looking for a collaborative, body-based approach that complements the work you’re already doing and helps you reconnect with your nervous system, I’d love to explore whether this approach is the right fit for you. Contact us and learn more.
