If you’re trying to choose a trauma therapy and finding it hard to figure out which fits you best, this blog post is for you. This post covers what, how, and who best fits with EMDR, somatic experiencing, and IFS therapies. Below, you’ll find easy-to-read information on how to begin searching for a trauma therapist and which trauma therapy in Milwaukee, WI may benefit you most.
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What Do All Three Trauma Therapies Have in Common?
Most body-oriented trauma therapies start with an initial stabilization phase after the intake and assessment period. This is due to the body needing the ability to regulate both inside trauma therapy sessions and in your day-to-day life in between sessions. Different forms of trauma therapy create healing through different mechanisms in the body and mind. But all aim to help you decrease trauma-related symptoms and improve the quality of your life.
What Is EMDR Therapy and Who Does It Help Most?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was created by Dr. Shapiro during the 1980s. This form of trauma therapy is supported by the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) system that is present in each person’s body. EMDR stimulates or restarts the AIP system by engaging in bilateral stimulation. This is typically done through alternating shoulder taps, side-to-side eye movements, watching a light bar move from left to right and right to left, or alternating audio tones in your left and right ear.
When the human body experiences trauma, high levels of overwhelm, or chronic stress, for example, this Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) system can become bogged down and stuck. This stuckness does not allow the traumatic material to be fully processed and integrated into the body. This then leads to trauma symptoms. In EMDR therapy, you are trying to reignite the AIP process to allow for the integration of past traumatic experiences stored within the body.
EMDR therapy works well for many different people, including men who have experienced trauma. Most of the time, EMDR can help you decrease the emotional charge and the visceral responses that trauma has created over time. As a person engages in EMDR reprocessing, they notice less reactivity and more responsiveness. They also experience better sleep, decreases in anxiety, and overall less hypervigilance in their lives.
What Is Somatic Experiencing and Is It Right for You?
Somatic Experiencing is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on healing the body and regulating the nervous system to restore balance and equilibrium. It brings one’s attention to subtle shifts within their physiology, expansion of emotion, and working through defense mechanisms that are often over-exaggerated by past trauma or overwhelm. This therapy helps to restore the mind-body connection, which often becomes disconnected or numb from trauma. As with trauma, the body typically constricts, tenses, or braces in its response to shock, trauma, or overwhelm. Somatic experiencing works to heal these connections and bring relaxation to the muscles and body.
After experiencing trauma, children or people may develop various forms of defense mechanisms that keep that traumatic material stored within the body. These common defense mechanisms may be intellectualization, rationalization, compartmentalization, dissociation, suppression, or derealization. Somatic experiencing works to lessen the intense response these defense mechanisms have on your life through titration and pendulation. When trauma is stored in the body, it acts as an infection. It creates trauma symptoms, increased reactivity, and rapid changes in emotion. It can also lead to challenges with sleep, interpersonal difficulties, and a decreasing sense of self-esteem and confidence.
Why Somatic Experiencing Works So Well for Men
Somatic experiencing works by bringing back an authentic connection to yourself and a feeling of safety. This will look different for every person. Through this work, you’ll have a better connection to emotion and subtle shifts in your body. You will also notice improved productivity because you won’t be stuck in ruminating thoughts. And you’ll have more energy for life and the people who love you.
Somatic experiencing works very well with a number of different individuals, especially for men. Men tend to have many different layers to how they hold stress and trauma within their bodies and subsequently how it plays out in their lives. Somatic experiencing works great to target self-destructive habitual patterns that wreak havoc in your life. It also helps decrease anxiety and a dysregulated nervous system. Somatic experiencing works to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD, as well as other trauma-related or trauma shock symptoms.
What Is IFS Therapy and How Does It Help with Trauma?
Internal family systems helps to create healing in your body by working with different aspects of your identity, also known as parts of self. These parts develop based on your past experiences and upbringing. IFS works by addressing how these parts interact or do not interact together as you navigate life. For example, sometimes with chronic traumatization, some parts of the self may feel inadequate or unable to feel safe within the body. This can create distress if this part rears its head during heated conversations with your partner or in business meetings. By working to establish better communication and relationships with parts, you are able to resolve trauma and heal the body.
IFS works well for all sorts of individuals because we’re all made up of different parts of ourselves. This form of psychotherapy can be very beneficial to both men and women, as well as different cultures and ethnicities, because even those variables play into what parts of the self become cemented or repressed throughout our lifetime.
How Do EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, and IFS Actually Compare?
Depending on you, your history, and the clinician you go with, either of these three forms of therapy can be beneficial. One therapy isn’t necessarily higher than the other in terms of being the best. Somatic experiencing and IFS have up-and-coming research to support their efficacy. Whereas EMDR has research and is also working to hone its research to determine what exactly in the EMDR process helps you heal.
The biggest thing you can be aware of when finding a trauma therapist is how well the clinician is trained and how well you fit with that therapist. A trauma therapist can be highly trained, but their interpersonal skills might leave you feeling alone inside the therapy room. This will not be conducive to healing. Always remember that when you start therapy, it is also within your realm of control to stop and find a new therapist when you need to.
Which Trauma Therapy Is Right for You? A Practical Guide for Men in Milwaukee
So, you’re not only looking for a way to heal from past trauma, but also how it works. Here are some steps of how trauma therapy for men works in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
- You begin to research and find a trauma therapist near you that have the availability that matches your life schedule. Decide if you want to work with an in-person trauma therapist or a virtual trauma therapist. If you’re going to work with an in-person trauma therapist, you’ll have to decide on how far you want to drive. For those in the Franklin, Glendale, and Oak Creek areas, it’s about 35 minutes to Revitalize Mental Health’s office location.
- While doing this research, you will also want to research which forms of psychotherapy for trauma you would like to try.
- Then you reach out to trauma therapists you are intrigued by for a free 15-minute consultation. This way, you can determine if you are both a good fit to work together.
- After the consultation calls, you decide which therapist you have the best connection with and whose clinical training matches what you need.
- An intake appointment is scheduled.
- The first few sessions will be dedicated to assessment and getting to know one another. It’s very likely that these first few sessions will have little trauma work involved in them as you and the therapist are building a professional relationship.
- When working with a somatic experiencing practitioner, you’ll begin to intentionally build your own ability to self-regulate your emotions and nervous system. This prepares you for the integration of past traumatic experiences. As your ability to regulate expands, we will start to pendulate between areas of calm and stillness in your body. We will also visit areas of activation or stress held in the body. This begins to create trauma integration and the release of held tension in the body.
What Trauma Therapy in Milwaukee, WI, Is Best for Men Specifically?
This can be challenging to answer, but I’ll give it a shot. This depends on you, your past, and what you want your life to be like. If you feel disconnected from your body, not in touch with your emotions, struggle with reactivity, and feel like a shell of your former self, somatic experiencing may be beneficial. Somatic experiencing therapy is great for childhood trauma, PTSD, vicarious trauma, and grief and loss. This is because it connects with the felt sense held deep within the body.
EMDR therapy is great for tackling multiple traumas or single-incident traumas. IFS works well if you feel like you’re not connected with aspects of your inner identity.
What to Expect When You Start Trauma Therapy Regardless of Which Approach You Choose
As mentioned above, when you start trauma therapy in Milwaukee, WI, the first few sessions will look very similar. You want to build a relationship that you can lean on and trust with your therapist. Some of the material discussed and integrated in future sessions may be pretty intense or heavy. This doesn’t mean you have to relive the trauma. But in order to heal, you may need to notice the aspects of trauma that have not been integrated into your body and mind.
How Do You Find a Qualified Trauma Therapist in Milwaukee and Surrounding Counties?
When finding a trauma therapist in Milwaukee, WI, there are a few things you want to look for. You want to look for a therapist you connect with, their clinical training, and experience in treating trauma. Location may also be important if you’re looking for an in-person therapy session. Drive time is something to consider when making this decision.
If you’re living in Elm Grove, but you have to drive to the lower east side of Milwaukee, is that going to be doable? If you’re in West Allis or Greenfield, in-person or virtual trauma therapy could both be options at Revitalize Mental Health. Determining whether virtual trauma therapy may be better suited for you can be important, too. Online trauma therapy is just as effective as in-person trauma therapy.
FAQs About EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, and IFS
Trying to decide between EMDR, somatic experiencing, and IFS, but not sure where to start? Whether you’re comparing approaches for the first time or wondering which method works best for men, the answers below are here to help. If you’re just trying to understand what the process actually looks like before committing, you’ll find that here too.
There is no wrong place to start, just the next right step toward healing.
What is the difference between EMDR and somatic experiencing?
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to stimulate the AIP system to help process and integrate trauma. Somatic experiencing uses back-and-forth pendulation between areas of calm openness and areas of tension or discomfort in the body. This expands your capacity and helps integrate past traumatic experiences. IFS uses parts work to build healthier relationships with these parts. The goal is that your awareness of how each part functions no longer negatively impacts your daily life.
Can EMDR, somatic experiencing, and IFS be used together?
Yes, they can all be used together or interwoven at specific points during a trauma therapy session. The bigger question is, what is the clinician’s training level in these different areas to use them effectively?
How do I know which trauma therapy approach is right for me?
This is a great question and something you will need to determine on your own. If you know that you tend to live in your head and need to drop into your body, then maybe somatic experiencing therapy can be beneficial. If there are standalone traumatic events that need to be processed through, then possibly EMDR could be a good fit. Most people who utilize EMDR and somatic experiencing are doing so because general talk therapy has not been effective for them in the past.
How long does EMDR therapy take compared to somatic experiencing?
There isn’t a timeline to EMDR or somatic experiencing therapy. EMDR can be very short if it’s just a single traumatic event as well as somatic experiencing. However, if it’s complex PTSD, then EMDR and somatic experiencing can take six months to a couple of years to create healing.
What if I start one type of trauma therapy and it doesn’t feel right?
If you’re in trauma therapy and it doesn’t feel right initially, this could be something to talk about with your therapist. Sometimes it takes a few sessions to build the momentum and trust you need to start healing. Other times, therapy stalls because of a therapist’s lack of training, outside stressors, or because you’re working through a massive traumatic event that takes time to heal from. But always be aware of how you’re feeling in relation to the sessions or if you’re feeling repulsed by them. Those are very important factors to discuss with your therapist.
Which trauma therapy works best for men?
In my experience, I have found that somatic experiencing and EMDR work well for men. At Revitalize Mental Health, I tend to do more somatic experiencing therapy. It helps work through the defense mechanisms men have created to navigate their lives so that healing can take place. I am also certified in EMDR therapy.
Stop Guessing and Start Healing
Whether you live near the Milwaukee County Zoo, New Berlin, Bayview, or the Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs building, you can connect with a trained trauma therapist who can help you heal. You can experience peace and enjoy your life once again. Your life doesn’t have to be ruled by the chains of past trauma, the flashbacks, the worry of what if, or the ruminating thoughts. The body is very resilient and can heal from many different traumatic experiences. Let’s get started on the healing journey together.
Begin Healing with the Right Trauma Therapy in Milwaukee WI
Choosing the right trauma therapy is one of the most important decisions you can make for your healing and your life. You have already taken the first step by doing the research and asking the right questions. Now it is time to take the next one. Trauma therapy in Milwaukee, WI gives you a space to stop white-knuckling the past and start working through it in a way that actually reaches the root. At Revitalize Mental Health, we will work together to find the approach that fits your body, your history, and your goals — and we will go at a pace that feels right for you every step of the way.
- Complete the online form or call 720.295.6703 to get started.
- Begin meeting with a compassionate trauma therapist to see if we’re a good fit.
- Take the first step toward breaking free from the past and start healing today.
Schedule a Consultation Today!
Additional Services Offered at Revitalize Mental Health in Wisconsin and Colorado
At Revitalize Mental Health, I understand that finding the right trauma therapy is only half the battle; actually committing to the process and trusting that your body can heal is the other half. While this blog focuses on comparing EMDR, somatic experiencing, and IFS to help you find the right fit, I also work with men navigating a range of challenges, including Perfectionism, Panic, Mood Disorders, Grief and Loss, Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), Schizophrenia, EMDR Trauma Therapy for First Responders and Military Personnel, and Men and Infidelity.
I frequently work with men who have spent years researching, overthinking, and putting off getting help, men who knew something needed to change but weren’t sure where to start. Sessions are collaborative and intentionally paced, using evidence-based approaches such as EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, CBT, and ACT, bottom-up therapies that meet your nervous system where it is and help you build the capacity to heal at a pace that feels right for your body and your life. I offer both in-person therapy in the Milwaukee area, as well as virtual therapy throughout Wisconsin and Colorado.
About The Author
I’m Daniel, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the founder of Revitalize Mental Health. I specialize in helping men navigate the often overwhelming process of finding the right trauma therapy and committing to it. Many of the men I work with have done the research and know something needs to change. But they have struggled to find an approach that truly fits them.
I understand that taking that step can feel uncertain. But staying stuck in the same patterns while waiting for the perfect moment costs you more than you may realize.
My work is grounded in the belief that no single trauma therapy fits every man the same way. As a certified EMDR therapist with advanced training in Somatic Experiencing, ACT, and CBT, I bring a flexible and individualized approach to every session. Together, we identify what your body and nervous system need most. We then build a path toward healing that actually fits your life. The result is a man who no longer has to choose between pushing through and falling apart. He can finally move forward with clarity and purpose.
