Healing from Childhood Trauma with EMDR Therapy -

Childhood trauma can have lasting effects on emotional well-being, relationships, and self-esteem. If you’re struggling with unresolved pain from your early years, you might be searching for effective treatment options. Healing from childhood trauma with EMDR therapy is gaining recognition as a powerful and research-supported approach for healing childhood trauma. In this post, we’ll explore how EMDR therapy works and why it can be especially effective for dealing with the impact of adverse childhood experiences.

What Is Childhood Trauma?

Childhood trauma refers to distressing experiences in childhood—such as abuse, neglect, loss of a parent, medical trauma, bullying, or witnessing domestic violence—that overwhelm a child’s ability to cope. These experiences often remain stored in the nervous system and can lead to issues like anxiety, depression, dissociation, or difficulty in relationships later in life (van der Kolk, 2014).

High-functioning adults may still be carrying the emotional scars of childhood trauma while juggling demanding careers, parenting, or caregiving roles. That’s where EMDR therapy can help.

How EMDR Therapy Helps Heal Childhood Trauma

EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) works by targeting and reprocessing traumatic memories stored in the brain. The goal is to reduce emotional distress and allow more adaptive beliefs and feelings to emerge.

In the context of childhood trauma, EMDR therapy can:

Reduce the emotional intensity of traumatic memories
Shift negative core beliefs like “I’m not lovable” or “I’m not safe”
Improve emotional regulation and self-worth
Foster resilience and reduce reactivity in present-day situations

A 2020 study confirmed that EMDR therapy is highly effective for complex trauma, including trauma from childhood abuse and neglect (Valiente-Gómez et al., 2020). Jordan Nodelman, LCSW, LICSW, BCD often uses a trauma-informed, attachment-based approach to support clients through this deep work through an EMDR-framework.

What to Expect from EMDR Therapy for Childhood Trauma

If you’re starting EMDR therapy to address childhood trauma, here’s what the process might look like (keep in mind that each client’s situation is unique and EMDR can be (and often is) modified:

1. Safety and Stabilization

EMDR therapists prioritize emotional safety. This phase may involve grounding exercises, learning self-soothing skills, and building trust with your therapist.

2. Identifying Target Memories

You’ll work with your EMDR therapist to identify early memories that are linked to current emotional patterns or distress. Even vague memories or body sensations can serve as starting points.

3. Reprocessing

Using bilateral stimulation (such as guided eye movements or tapping), you’ll be supported in reprocessing traumatic memories so they lose their emotional charge. Clients often report feeling calmer, lighter, and more self-compassionate after EMDR sessions.

4. Integration

You’ll explore new, empowering beliefs and work with your therapist to integrate these shifts into your daily life.

Why Choose Jordan Nodelman, LICSW, LCSW, EMDR-Certified Therapy?

In a fast-paced, achievement-driven environment, many high-functioning adults have learned to “manage” their childhood trauma by staying busy or emotionally disconnected. But unresolved trauma often resurfaces in the form of burnout, relationship struggles, or anxiety.

EMDR therapy offers a trauma-focused, efficient, and empowering approach to long-standing pain. Because EMDR does not rely on extensive verbal processing, many clients find it easier to engage with compared to traditional talk therapy.

Virtual Options for Busy FL, VA and DC Residents

Many EMDR therapists in Washington DC offer virtual sessions, which research shows can be equally effective for trauma processing (Lenferink et al., 2020). This flexibility allows clients to fit therapy into demanding schedules without compromising the depth of the work. Jordan is versed at virtual EMDR, having conducted thousands of hours, an EMDRIA, EMDR-Certified and EMDR Approved Consultant.

Conclusion

Healing from childhood trauma with EMDR therapy is not only possible—it’s deeply transformative. If you’re ready to break free from the past and reclaim a sense of safety, wholeness, and connection, working with an experienced EMDR therapist could be the first step on your path to healing.

References

Lenferink, L. I., Meyerbröker, K., Boelen, P. A., & van den Bout, J. (2020). Online EMDR Therapy for PTSD During COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 74, 102263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102263

Valiente-Gómez, A., Moreno-Alcázar, A., Treen, D., Cedrón, C., Colom, F., Pérez, V., & Amann, B. L. (2020). EMDR Beyond PTSD: A Systematic Literature Review. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2466. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02466

van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.

Jordan Nodelman

Jordan Nodelman, MSW, LICSW, LCSW is a Licensed Independent Psychotherapist and Clinical Social Worker in Florida, Vermont (TELE), Virginia and Washington, DC. He is also a Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work, by the American Board of Clinical Social Workers. He is an EMDR Certified Psychotherapist and offers EMDRIA Consulting to EMDR clinicians. He provides both in-person & virtual therapy and EMDR in Fort Lauderdale, FL and Statewide in Florida, the Commonwealth of Virginia and Washington DC. He is a Tele-LICSW for the State of Vermont.