EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is one of the best treatments we have available to address trauma related mental health challenges. It is a fascinating, extensively researched approach to therapy that helps someone move trauma that has been fragmented around the brain and move it to long term storage and processing.
When a person experiences a traumatic event, what studies have shown is that it no longer travels through the brain the way memories do normally. Instead, it fractures, and ends up “stuck” in other areas of the brain. It never reaches the long term processing center, which in turn causes events to feel like they’re still happening emotionally and psychologically.
Childhood trauma can be treated the same way. Even though not all childhood trauma is event-driven (some people experience more ongoing traumas, like neglect), EMDR is one of the tools that we can use to help you address this trauma and ultimately move forward.
How EMDR Can Help with Childhood Trauma
EMDR does not erase memories, nor does it require a person to re-live them in detail. Instead, it creates the conditions for the brain to finish what it was unable to do during the traumatic experience: process and integrate the memory.
By pairing recall of the event with bilateral stimulation (which is usually eye movements, alternating tones, or tapping) the human brain is able to reprocess the memory in a way that reduces its emotional intensity and allows it to process as any other normal memory. That doesn’t mean it won’t be painful, or sad, or emotional. But it does mean that it should no longer trigger the intense emotional responses that are often similar to what occurs after an event just happens.
For someone who experienced trauma in childhood, EMDR can take memories that once felt overwhelming, frightening, or defining and shift them into the category of “past events.” They are still remembered, but they no longer have the same power to trigger distress in daily life.
Why EMDR Is Well-Suited for Childhood Trauma
Childhood trauma can sometimes be a little different than adult trauma. Childhood memories themselves are not often intact, so what’s left are memories that are encoded in fractions because the child did not develop the narrative memory. The person has sensations, images, or beliefs that are fragmented.
That makes EMDR a good choice, but not always the right choice. It depends on the situation. Luckily, EMDR for these experiences is often adapted to address these developmental needs.
Therapists use extended preparation and resource installation to build regulation first, then target “touchstone” memories and present-day triggers that carry the same somatic and cognitive signatures. For preverbal or hard-to-verbalize material, EMDR incorporates body sensations, drawings, or play-based methods to anchor processing.
Adaptations for childhood trauma include:
- Phased stabilization before processing
- Early Trauma Protocol or floatback to reach earliest templates
- Caregiver involvement for co-regulation and aftercare
- Titrated bilateral stimulation (shorter sets, frequent check-ins)
- Parts-informed language when dissociation or self-states are present
As processing unfolds, the aim is not only symptom reduction but also remodeling of maladaptive beliefs (for example, “I am unsafe,” “It was my fault”) into developmentally healthier appraisals (“I am safe now,” “I was a child and not to blame”). The result is improved affect regulation, fewer trauma-linked behaviors, and greater freedom to form secure relationships in the present.
What the Experience Is Like
Healing childhood trauma through EMDR can feel very different from other types of therapy. At first, bringing up painful memories may feel challenging, but EMDR is carefully structured to ensure that the process remains safe and contained.
The therapist, who should always be EMDR trained, is not asking you to recount every detail of what happened. Instead, you are asked to focus on a snapshot of the memory – an image, a thought, or a physical sensation – while engaging in the bilateral stimulation. Typically, these are very similar to the thoughts that a person already experiences and tries to push away fairly regularly, but in different ways. The therapist is also there to keep you calmer.
As sessions continue, many people describe the memory as becoming less “charged.” What once triggered intense fear, shame, or sadness becomes something the mind can observe without being overwhelmed. Some clients say it feels like the memory finally becomes part of their history rather than something they are still living through.
Physically, people may notice changes in body tension, breathing, or energy levels during processing. Emotionally, the shifts are gradual but noticeable – memories lose their intrusiveness, and day-to-day stressors feel easier to manage.
What Happens in a Typical EMDR Session
Although every individual’s treatment plan is different, EMDR generally follows a structured eight-phase protocol. In the context of childhood trauma, this process is carefully paced to match what a person can tolerate at each stage.
- History and Treatment Planning – The therapist gathers a detailed history to identify the traumatic memories or ongoing experiences that may be driving current symptoms. For childhood trauma, this often involves looking at both single events and long-term patterns.
- Preparation – Before processing begins, the therapist teaches coping strategies such as grounding, relaxation, or visualization. This ensures that you have tools to manage any distress that may arise during treatment.
- Assessment – A specific memory or aspect of a memory is chosen to focus on. The therapist helps identify the related image, negative belief (such as “I am powerless”), and physical sensations associated with the memory.
- Desensitization – This is the phase where bilateral stimulation is paired with memory recall. You bring the memory to mind while following the therapist’s cues (eye movements, tapping, or tones). Processing continues in sets until the distress tied to the memory decreases.
- Installation – Once distress is reduced, a positive belief (such as “I am safe now”) is introduced and paired with the memory, helping the brain integrate a healthier way of understanding the event.
- Body Scan – The therapist guides you to notice whether the body still holds tension or distress linked to the memory. If so, additional processing may continue.
- Closure – Each session ends with stabilization. If the memory is not fully processed, strategies are used to ensure you leave the session grounded and safe.
- Re-evaluation – At the beginning of the next session, the therapist checks in to see how the memory feels now and whether further processing is needed.
For childhood trauma, the process often requires multiple sessions, and progress may be slower when there are many memories or when trauma was ongoing. Still, the structure ensures that treatment moves forward at a safe and manageable pace.
Long-Term Benefits of EMDR for Childhood Trauma
Research shows that EMDR is effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression, and many clients also report improvements in self-esteem and emotional regulation.
For those healing from childhood trauma, EMDR provides a way to build a more stable foundation. Relationships often become easier, feelings of safety increase, and the past no longer feels like it dictates the present.
Importantly, EMDR does not just reduce symptoms – it can help people regain a sense of control over their own narrative. Traumatic memories stop being defining experiences and instead become integrated as part of a larger story, one that includes resilience and recovery.
Is EMDR Right for All Childhood Trauma?
Every situation is different. As therapists, part of our role is making sure that we’re electing for an approach that makes the most sense for you. Consider the following:
When EMDR May or May Not Be the Right Fit
EMDR can be very effective for adults healing from childhood trauma, but timing and readiness matter. This chart offers a general guide. A trained therapist will always make the final decision about whether to begin processing.
| Situation | Appropriate | Sometimes Appropriate | Not the Right Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Safety | Safe environment, no ongoing abuse. | Occasional instability, but basic safety in place. | Still in unsafe or abusive situation. |
| Emotional Readiness | Able to talk about difficult topics with support. | Gets overwhelmed at times – may need more preparation first. | Cannot tolerate thinking about trauma without shutting down or panicking. |
| Support System | Has friends, family, or community support. | Some support but limited – therapist may move more slowly. | Completely isolated and no support available. |
| Mental Health Stability | Mood and anxiety symptoms mostly managed. | Some instability – therapist may start with coping skills first. | Severe untreated depression, panic, or active suicidal thoughts. |
| Substance Use | In recovery or stable with a plan in place. | Early recovery – may need more stability before processing. | Active substance use that interferes with therapy. |
| Ability to Cope During Sessions | Can use grounding, breathing, or relaxation skills. | Still learning coping skills – may need more practice first. | No coping skills available – processing could feel unsafe. |
Moving Forward After Trauma
Healing childhood trauma takes time, and there is typically no one size fits all approach – including EMDR. But EMDR offers a research-supported path forward. By reprocessing unresolved memories, the brain can finally finish the work it could not do at the time of the trauma.
If you or someone you love has been struggling with childhood trauma, reach out to South Shore Counseling today. We’re here to help you move forward after trauma and feel more comfortable and confident in yourself.