Somatic EMDR Therapy in Addlestone, Surrey
A Calm, Body-Based Approach to Emotional Healing
When life becomes overwhelming, it can feel like your body and mind are pulling in different directions. You might know logically that you “should be fine,” yet your body feels tense, wired, or permanently fatigued. Perhaps old patterns keep resurfacing—anxiety, worry, emotional shutdown, or a sense of being on high alert. These responses are often signs that past experiences are still stored in your nervous system, waiting to be processed.
For clients in Addlestone, Somatic EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) offers a gentle yet powerful way to release these stuck patterns. It works with your body’s natural healing systems while also helping your brain reprocess the emotional imprints of earlier events. Rather than focusing only on talking about experiences, Somatic EMDR supports healing on a deeper physical and neurological level.
Appointments are available in-person in Weybridge or online via Zoom, giving you flexibility while ensuring a safe, grounded therapeutic environment.
How Somatic EMDR Supports Recovery
When something distressing occurs, your mind and body try to protect you by going into survival mode. If the experience is overwhelming, the brain may not fully process the event. Instead, the emotions, sensations, and beliefs connected to it remain stored as fragments — activated whenever something reminds your system of the original threat.
Somatic EMDR helps complete the processing that was interrupted. Using bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or alternating audio), your brain restarts communication between the hemispheres. At the same time, somatic techniques help calm the body, bringing attention to breath, posture, and sensation in a safe and controlled way.
Clients frequently notice that as the body relaxes, the emotional intensity decreases too. Memories lose their charge, fears soften, and the nervous system learns that it no longer needs to stay in survival mode. This creates a natural state of balance and clarity that carries over into daily life.
Why Addlestone Residents Choose Somatic EMDR
Life in Addlestone and the wider Surrey area often involves juggling work pressures, family responsibilities, and personal expectations. Many clients come to therapy when they reach a point where coping is no longer enough — when their body begins signalling that something deeper needs attention.
Somatic EMDR can help if you are experiencing:
Anxiety, panic, or emotional overwhelm
Trauma from past events or ongoing stress
Difficulty relaxing or feeling present
Patterns of self-doubt or negative self-beliefs
Chronic tension, exhaustion, or restlessness
Emotional numbness or disconnection
You don’t need to retell your story in detail — Somatic EMDR works even with minimal verbal content. The focus is on how your system responds today, not on reliving the past.
Working with Cherie
I’m Cherie James, a trauma-informed therapist offering Somatic EMDR for clients in Addlestone, Weybridge, and across Surrey. My approach blends the research-backed structure of EMDR with body-based awareness, ensuring the healing process is safe, stable, and empowering.
My work is shaped by real, personal experience — my own healing journey through loss, burnout, and emotional overwhelm taught me the value of therapy that integrates mind and body. I bring warmth, steadiness, and curiosity to every session, creating a space where you can feel understood without judgment.
Together, we work gradually and intentionally. There is no force, no pressure, and no expectation to move faster than your body’s natural pace.
Session Options for Addlestone Clients
You can choose the format that best supports your well-being:
In-person sessions in Weybridge, just a short distance from Addlestone
Online sessions via Zoom, ideal for comfort and flexible scheduling
Both formats offer the same depth of therapeutic support.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What makes Somatic EMDR different from standard EMDR?
Somatic EMDR includes awareness of physical sensations, helping release trauma stored in the body as well as the mind. This leads to more integrated and long-lasting healing.
2. Do I need to prepare anything before starting therapy?
No preparation is required. During our initial session, we’ll explore your goals, learn regulation techniques, and establish safety before beginning any deeper work.
3. How long does Somatic EMDR take to work?
Some people feel lighter or calmer within a few sessions. For longer-term patterns, deeper work over time provides the most lasting results. The pace is always personalised.