We create this content from the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, and Squamish Nations. As settlers providing therapy services in so-called Vancouver, we’re committed to moving beyond acknowledgment into active accountability.

In This Guide:

• Understanding EMDR & Somatic Approaches
• Traditional Healing & Bilateral Stimulation
• Cultural Body Wisdom & Nervous System Care
• Urban Practice of Embodied Healing
• Nature-Based Elements in Body-Oriented Therapy
• Accessing These Approaches Online & In-Person
• Reflecting on Your Healing Journey

Understanding EMDR & Somatic Approaches

Let’s talk about how these fancy-sounding therapy approaches actually connect with ancient wisdom (spoiler alert: our ancestors were onto something long before Western psychology caught up!).

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy might sound like a mouthful, but at its core, it’s about helping our nervous systems process experiences through bilateral stimulation – something many cultural practices have used for generations. Think of it as your brain’s way of doing a reset dance, but make it healing.

Somatic therapy, meanwhile, is basically your body’s way of saying “hey, I’ve got some wisdom to share too!” It’s about reconnecting with our bodies’ inherent knowledge, something colonial systems have long tried to disconnect us from.

Reflection Questions:

• When was the last time you felt truly connected to your body’s wisdom?
• What cultural practices help you feel grounded in your body?
• How does your body tell you what it needs? (Yes, that post-lunch nap craving counts!)
  

Traditional Healing & Bilateral Stimulation

Here’s something cool: that bilateral stimulation that EMDR therapy uses? Communities worldwide have been doing similar practices forever. From drumming circles to traditional dances, these rhythmic, side-to-side movements have been helping folx process and heal for generations.

In Vancouver’s diverse communities, we see how different cultural traditions incorporate movement and rhythm into healing:

• Traditional drumming practices
• Dance ceremonies
• Walking meditation
• Rhythmic breathing practices
• Movement-based storytelling
  

Learn more about how EMDR therapy can support your healing journey.

Cultural Body Wisdom & Nervous System Care

Our bodies carry stories – not just our own, but those of our ancestors too. Through somatic therapy, we can reconnect with this wisdom while acknowledging how systemic oppression impacts our nervous systems. (Yes, that stress you’re feeling? It’s not just you – it’s centuries of stuff!)

Think of your nervous system like a DJ – it’s constantly mixing tracks of safety, danger, and everything in between. Colonial systems have tried to convince us there’s only one way to dance, but we know better. Our bodies hold multiple rhythms, multiple truths.

Reflection Questions:

• What messages did your culture teach you about body wisdom?
• How does your body feel when you’re truly safe?
• What ancestral practices help you feel regulated?
  

Urban Practice of Embodied Healing

Living in Vancouver means navigating urban spaces while trying to stay connected to embodied wisdom. It’s like trying to hear your favorite song in a busy coffee shop – challenging but not impossible!

We can find ways to practice embodied healing even in the concrete jungle:

• Finding quiet spaces in urban parks
• Creating sacred spaces in our homes
• Using movement in daily commutes
• Connecting with community through shared practices
  

Nature-Based Elements in Body-Oriented Therapy

Even in the city, we can incorporate nature-based elements into our healing work. The mountains aren’t just a pretty backdrop for your Instagram stories – they’re witnesses to our healing journeys.

Whether it’s feeling the rain (which, let’s be honest, is a pretty regular occurrence in Vancouver) or noticing the seasonal changes in our local parks, nature provides endless opportunities for grounding and regulation.

Reflection Questions:

• How do you connect with nature in the city?
• What elements of nature help you feel most grounded?
• How might urban nature support your healing?
  

Accessing These Approaches Online & In-Person

Whether you’re accessing support online or in-person in Vancouver, these approaches can be adapted to meet you where you’re at. Yes, even through a screen, we can maintain connection with our bodies and cultural wisdom!

Online sessions might look like:

• Guided somatic exercises
• Modified EMDR techniques
• Virtual embodiment practices
• Digital tools for bilateral stimulation
  

In-person sessions might include:

• Traditional bilateral stimulation
• Direct somatic work
• Nature-based elements
• Movement practices
  

Learn more about online therapy options and in-person sessions.

Your Healing Journey

Remember, reconnecting with our bodies and cultural wisdom is a journey, not a destination. Sometimes it’s graceful, sometimes it’s messy, and that’s perfectly okay (we contain multitudes, after all!).

As you explore these approaches, remember that your body’s wisdom is valid, your cultural practices matter, and healing happens in many ways. Whether you’re drawn to EMDR’s structured approach or somatic therapy’s fluid nature, there’s space for your unique path to healing.

Further Resources & Learning

Because we believe in making anti-oppressive therapy resources accessible (knowledge is power, and shouldn’t come with a price tag!), we’ve created a free database of resources for folx interested in decolonial and culturally responsive approaches to healing.

Think of it as your personal library of justice-oriented healing resources – minus the late fees and with way more relevance to SDQTBIPOC+ experiences! Access our free resource database to continue learning about these approaches.

Trauma and stress often manifest in the body, making it essential to incorporate physical awareness into the healing process. Our Somatic Therapy in Vancouver CA focuses on reconnecting the mind and body, helping individuals release stored tension and build resilience through guided therapeutic techniques.

Healing from past trauma requires a compassionate and holistic approach. EMDR Therapy in Vancouver offers a structured method to process and release distressing memories, helping individuals regain balance and resilience.

Culturally responsive counselling ensures that therapeutic approaches honor diverse identities, lived experiences, and community wisdom, fostering meaningful healing.

Reflection Questions:

• What aspects of EMDR and somatic therapy would you like to learn more about?
• How might additional resources support your healing journey?
• What questions do you have about connecting these approaches with your cultural practices?