Photo of Dr. Suzan Douville, PhD, LCMHC, Licensed Professional Counselor
Dr. Suzan Douville
Licensed Professional Counselor, PhD, LCMHC
Verified Verified
Charlotte, NC 28207
I am a general psychologist (PhD) and a licensed clinical mental health counselor (LCMHC), originally from Berlin, Germany, with over 15 years of experience in individual and marriage counseling. I specialize in depression, anxiety, anger, bipolar disorder, deployment stress (for spouses), new mom, trauma (PTSD), and marital conflict (communication issues, healing from any type of infidelity, etc.). I served as the Regional Director of the Licensed Clinical Counselor's of North Carolina (LCCNC 2009-2023) and occasionally also teach psychology courses to my wonderful students.
I am a general psychologist (PhD) and a licensed clinical mental health counselor (LCMHC), originally from Berlin, Germany, with over 15 years of experience in individual and marriage counseling. I specialize in depression, anxiety, anger, bipolar disorder, deployment stress (for spouses), new mom, trauma (PTSD), and marital conflict (communication issues, healing from any type of infidelity, etc.). I served as the Regional Director of the Licensed Clinical Counselor's of North Carolina (LCCNC 2009-2023) and occasionally also teach psychology courses to my wonderful students.
(910) 218-8994 View (910) 218-8994
Somatic Therapists

How does somatic therapy work?

Somatic therapy is a form of treatment that focuses on how the body and mind are interconnected. In this approach, physical symptoms are addressed because they may in fact signal emotional distress. Somatic therapists combine mindfulness, talk therapy, breathwork, yoga, dance, and physical manipulations of the body to help patients become more attuned to what their body is telling them.

Is EMDR a somatic therapy?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a form of somatic therapy, as it incorporates mental and physical principles. EMDR involves remembering a traumatic experience while allowing one’s eyes to track a side-to-side visual stimulus from a therapist. This lateral eye movement is believed to diminish the painful power of the memory so that it can be discussed with a therapist.

Is somatic therapy evidence-based?

Somatic therapy has been researched and studied, and some forms of somatic therapy are found to be effective in treating a wide range of conditions. Because somatic therapy encompasses many techniques, some, such as EMDR and meditation, have been studied more than others.

What is somatic trauma therapy?

Somatic trauma therapy is based on the idea that when people experience trauma, they can become stuck in the “freeze” part of a “fight, flight, or freeze” response. In this state, trauma can manifest itself both mentally and physically—through tension in the muscles, anxiety, and stress. Popular forms of somatic trauma therapy include EMDR, sensorimotor therapy, and somatic experiencing.