EMDR, Mindfulness, and the Wisdom of the Body
The Brain as a Self-Healing System
Our brains are not just thinking machines; they are also designed to heal. At every moment, our minds are making connections, integrating experiences, and updating our internal narrative in ways that help us survive and even thrive. When we experience distressing or traumatic events, our brains attempt to process them, linking them to past experiences, resources, and lessons learned.
But sometimes, when an experience is too overwhelming, our brain’s processing system gets disrupted. Instead of integrating the memory in a way that helps us move forward, it remains “stuck” in its original, raw form—full of fear, pain, or self-doubt. As Thich Nhat Hanh said, “The past is not in the past. It is in you, in your way of breathing, walking, and perceiving life.” Trauma doesn’t just disappear with time; it lingers in our nervous system, shaping our thoughts, emotions, and bodily responses until it is fully processed. This is where healing modalities like EMDR come in, helping the brain do what it was always meant to do: process, integrate, and restore balance.
EMDR and the Natural Healing Process
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) isn’t about inserting something new into the brain; it’s about unlocking the brain’s own ability to heal itself. Much like how our bodies work to heal a wound, our minds strive to resolve distressing experiences and return to a state of equilibrium. EMDR activates this natural process by engaging the brain’s adaptive information processing (AIP) system, allowing it to connect previously unprocessed memories with more adaptive, healing insights.
This means that, deep down, our minds want to heal. As Francine Shapiro, the creator of EMDR, put it, “People aren’t broken. Their past experiences are unprocessed.” EMDR doesn’t force healing—it simply clears the path for it.
The Body’s Wisdom: Mindfulness, Somatic Healing, and Self-Repair
Thich Nhat Hanh often taught that mindfulness, especially mindful breathing, connects us to the body’s innate wisdom. When we take a deep breath, we are doing more than just filling our lungs— we are grounding ourselves, calming our nervous system, and creating space for healing.
In the same way that EMDR helps the brain integrate and resolve old wounds, mindfulness helps regulate our emotional and physiological state. Every breath we take is an opportunity for self-repair. Every moment of awareness is an act of self-compassion.
But healing doesn’t only happen in the mind—it happens in the body. Trauma is stored not just as memories but as physical sensations, tensions, and patterns of movement. Approaches like yoga, somatic experiencing (SE), and movement therapy help release trauma that words alone cannot reach. Engaging in expressive therapies—such as art, music, and dance—can also facilitate healing by allowing emotions to be processed through creativity and movement rather than only cognition.
This is why mindfulness, somatic therapies, and trauma-healing approaches like EMDR complement each other so beautifully. Both recognize that healing is not something we have to chase— it’s something that naturally unfolds when we create the right conditions. But healing is not always comfortable. As Pema Chödrön reminds us, “Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.” Facing our past can feel unsettling, but it is also the pathway to freedom.
The Power of Trusting Your Own Mind
When we understand that healing is an intrinsic function of the mind and body, it changes how we approach growth, recovery, and well-being. It shifts us from a mindset of “fixing what is broken” to one of supporting what is already working.
The next time you feel stuck in an old emotional loop, take a moment to consider this: your mind and body are already working toward resolution. Whether through mindful breathing, EMDR, movement-based therapies, or simply allowing yourself the space to process, you are engaging in one of the most remarkable aspects of being human—the ability to heal, adapt, and thrive.
THE CONTENT OF THIS BLOG IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP.
Therapist, Lauren Kelley draws upon her wealth of expertise in diverse modalities like EMDR, attachment-based therapy, and CBT to provide personalized, transformative care.