--- title: Somatic Trauma Therapy & EMDR | TX & WA | Heiser Counseling description: Somatic trauma therapy and EMDR for PTSD, complex trauma & nervous system healing. Telehealth in Texas & Washington State. Private pay. Free consult. url: https://heisercounseling.com/services/trauma-emotional-relief canonical: https://heisercounseling.com/services/trauma-emotional-relief author: Destany Schadder, LPC, R-DMT, MA credentials: Destany Schadder, LPC, R-DMT, MA — Licensed Professional Counselor (Texas) · Licensed Mental Health Counselor (Washington) · Registered Dance/Movement Therapist location: Texas (telehealth) · Washington State (telehealth) practice: Heiser Counseling — 800 S. FM 1626, Suite 102, Buda, TX 78610 contact: destany@heisercounseling.com | 512-937-3991 --- # Somatic Trauma Therapy & EMDR | TX & WA | Heiser Counseling > Trauma isn't just a memory — it's a pattern your nervous system learned to survive. Somatic trauma therapy and EMDR don't erase what happened — they help your body stop reliving it. **Provider:** Destany Schadder, LPC, R-DMT, MA — Licensed Professional Counselor (Texas) · Licensed Mental Health Counselor (Washington) · Registered Dance/Movement Therapist **Location:** Texas (telehealth) · Washington State (telehealth) **Contact:** [destany@heisercounseling.com](mailto:destany@heisercounseling.com) | [512-937-3991](tel:5129373991) **Book:** [Request a free consult](https://heisercounseling.com/connect) --- ## Trauma that thinking alone can't touch Trauma isn't about weakness, sensitivity, or being stuck in the past. It's about a nervous system that did exactly what it was designed to do — and then didn't get the signal that it was safe to stop. When something overwhelming happens, the brain prioritizes survival over processing. Memories get stored incomplete — fragmented, sensory, charged. Later, a smell, a tone of voice, a shadow can retrieve them before your thinking brain even registers what's happening. This is why trauma responds so well to somatic therapy and EMDR. We're not just telling a different story — we're helping the body complete what it couldn't then. > "Your reactions make sense. The goal isn't to override them — it's to update them." — Destany Schadder, LPC, R-DMT, MA --- ## Signs & Symptoms of Trauma & Emotional Relief - Hypervigilance & scanning for danger - Emotional numbness or shutdown - Triggers that seem to come from nowhere - Difficulty trusting people - Chronic physical tension or pain - Feeling disconnected from your body **This work is for you if:** You've tried talking about it but still feel stuck, reactive, or disconnected. Or if you've never talked about it at all — and you're not sure you can. Both are welcome here. --- ## Therapeutic Approaches for Trauma & Emotional Relief ### EMDR Therapy Reprocess traumatic memories so they lose their emotional charge and stop driving current behavior. ### Somatic Therapy Work with the body's stored responses directly — not just the story, but the sensation, posture, and breath. ### Parts Work Understand the internal protective strategies that developed around your trauma, and build a different relationship with them. --- ## What to Expect from Trauma & Emotional Relief Therapy **01 — Free 20-Min Consult** We get a sense of what you're carrying and whether this approach fits. There's no obligation. **02 — Stabilisation First** Before processing any difficult material, we build internal resources and safety. This is not skippable. **03 — Processing** Using EMDR and somatic techniques, we work through the memories and patterns that are keeping you stuck. **04 — Integration** The final phase grounds new ways of being into everyday life. Healing happens between sessions too. --- ## Session Details - **Session length:** 50 minutes - **Format:** Telehealth (video) - **States served:** Washington & Texas - **Fee:** Private pay — superbill provided - **Frequency:** Weekly recommended for trauma work --- ## Common Questions About Trauma & Emotional Relief Therapy ### Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail? No. EMDR and somatic approaches can work without you narrating the experience in full. We follow your pace and your window of tolerance at all times. ### What if I don't think my experience 'counts' as trauma? Trauma is defined by its impact, not by a checklist of events. If something has shaped how you feel safe in the world, it's worth addressing. ### Is telehealth safe for trauma work? Yes, with appropriate care. We spend time at the start ensuring your space is private and that you have what you need. Many clients prefer the control of being in their own environment. ### How long does trauma therapy take? Single-incident trauma with EMDR can shift in 8–12 sessions. Complex or developmental trauma is longer — typically 6–18 months of consistent work. ### Do you work with PTSD? Yes. Both EMDR and somatic therapy are evidence-based approaches for PTSD, recommended by major clinical bodies including the WHO and VA. ### What is somatic trauma therapy? Somatic trauma therapy works with how trauma is stored in the body — the bracing, the shutdown, the hypervigilance — rather than just the narrative of what happened. As a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist and EMDR-trained LPC, Destany uses body-centered techniques that reach what talk therapy alone often cannot. --- ## About the Therapist **Destany Schadder, LPC, R-DMT, MA** is a Licensed Professional Counselor (Texas) and Licensed Mental Health Counselor (Washington State), and a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist. She specializes in trauma, anxiety, somatic therapy, and EMDR, bringing a body-first approach to mental health treatment. Heiser Counseling is based in Austin, TX and offers telehealth services across Texas and Washington State. - [Learn more about Destany](https://heisercounseling.com/about) - [View all services](https://heisercounseling.com/services) - [Request an appointment](https://heisercounseling.com/connect)