Integrative Trauma Therapy: How I Combine Different Approaches to Support Deep Healing

One of the questions I get from potential clients is:

“What actually happens in trauma therapy?”

Many therapists list the approaches they use — EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic therapy, and others — but it can still feel unclear what that means in practice.

Rather than using a single rigid model, I practice integrative trauma therapy, blending several evidence-based approaches depending on what a client needs in the moment.

Below is a non-exhaustive look at how I often weave these approaches together in therapy.

Starting With Parts Work (Internal Family Systems)

IFS-informed therapy is often one of the easiest and most intuitive ways to begin understanding what is affecting us today.

Many people notice that different parts of them react in different ways.

For example:

Someone may have a part that struggles to speak up when a family member speaks to them harshly.

Instead of immediately trying to change this reaction, we begin by getting to know the part.

We might explore:

• what sensations appear in your body when it shows up
• what thoughts or words the part says
• what emotions arise
• whether it holds images or memories

Over time, we begin building a relationship with that part.

Often we discover that even parts that cause pain today originally developed to protect you.

For example, the part that stops you from speaking up may be afraid that if you did respond, something worse might happen — rejection, punishment, humiliation, or loss of connection.

Many of these parts formed their roles in response to earlier experiences where staying quiet really did help you survive.

When these parts are understood and supported, they often relax their roles and stop needing to protect you in such extreme ways.

Reprocessing Memories With EMDR

Once we identify parts that hold painful experiences, I often integrate EMDR therapy.

EMDR helps the brain process memories that may have become “stuck” when they originally happened.

Traumatic experiences can overwhelm the brain’s normal processing system. As a result, memories may remain stored in a way that still feels emotionally or physically present.

Through EMDR, clients can revisit those memories while the brain’s natural processing system becomes active again.

Over time, memories that once felt overwhelming can shift.

Clients may notice:

• new insights about what happened
• changes in emotional intensity
• different body sensations
• shifts in self-beliefs

If multiple experiences are connected to the same pattern, we can move through a series of memories, allowing the system to process them more fully.

If you want to understand more about how trauma memories are stored and processed, you can read more in this blog post.

Addressing Relational Wounds With Attachment-Focused EMDR

Many of the painful experiences people carry are relational — neglect, emotional injury, or attachment wounds that developed in important relationships.

Attachment-focused EMDR adapts the standard EMDR protocol to better address these kinds of experiences.

Rather than heavily analyzing a memory, the process helps clients gently access past relational experiences while providing additional internal resources.

Sometimes this means helping the nervous system experience forms of support, protection, or care that may have been missing at the time.

This allows healing to occur not only at a cognitive level, but at an emotional and relational level as well.

Working With the Body (Sensorimotor Psychotherapy)

Trauma is not only stored in memory — it is also stored in the body.

Sensorimotor psychotherapy helps us pay attention to body sensations, impulses, and movement patterns that may be connected to past experiences.

For example, after animals escape a life-threatening event, they often shake or move in ways that allow the survival energy to move through their bodies.

Humans, however, often override these impulses. We try to stay composed, appear normal, or move on quickly.

Sometimes this means the nervous system never fully completes its natural response to the threat.

Trauma can also result from incomplete defensive actions.

Examples include:

• not being able to push someone away
• being unable to run or leave
• losing the ability to speak during a threat response

Sensorimotor work allows us to notice these impulses and, when appropriate, support the body in completing those actions safely.

This can help the nervous system release energy that has been held since the original experience.

Using the Body as a Resource

Sometimes we also use simple somatic resources to support regulation during therapy.

This might include self-touch, such as placing a hand over the heart or gently hugging yourself.

These small gestures can activate calming systems in the body and provide a sense of support during difficult moments in therapy.

Bringing Insights Out of Stillness

Traditional therapy often happens sitting still in a chair, which can sometimes unintentionally create a kind of freeze state.

At times, toward the end of a session, I may invite clients to notice what their body wants to do next.

This might involve:

• stretching
• shifting posture
• standing
• moving in a small way that feels natural

This helps integrate the work of the session and allows the nervous system to leave therapy in a more regulated state, rather than remaining in stillness.

Integrating Multiple Approaches

Each of these approaches offers something valuable.

IFS helps us understand the internal system of parts.

EMDR helps the brain process painful experiences that may still feel present.

Attachment-focused EMDR helps address relational wounds.

Sensorimotor psychotherapy helps the body complete responses that were interrupted during trauma.

By weaving these approaches together, therapy can address trauma at multiple levels simultaneously:

• cognitive
• emotional
• relational
• somatic

This integrative approach often allows for deeper and more lasting healing than relying on a single method alone.

If You're Considering Trauma Therapy

If past experiences still show up in your relationships, emotions, or body reactions, trauma therapy can help your nervous system process what happened and develop new patterns.

I offer trauma therapy in Denver and online across Colorado, integrating EMDR, IFS-informed therapy, and somatic approaches to support deep healing.

You can learn more about my trauma therapy services here.

Or you’re welcome to schedule a free consultation to see if we might be a good fit.