Reflections from my EMDR Training: Understanding Trauma and Healing
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy with strong research supporting its effectiveness for PTSD and complex trauma. Learning about the neuroscience behind trauma can help remove some of the guilt or shame that often comes with PTSD or CPTSD symptoms.
How Trauma Lives in the Brain
Trauma gets stored in memory networks in ways that make it “stuck.” When a traumatic event happens, the brain can’t process it like normal experiences. Those memories can linger, triggering intense emotional or physical reactions long after the event.
Why It’s Hard to Think Your Way Through Trauma
During trauma, the thinking part of the brain shuts down and the amygdala—the emotional center—takes over. That’s your fight, flight, or freeze response kicking in. This is why trying to reason through trauma often doesn’t work; the memories are stored in your emotional brain, not your logical one.
How EMDR Helps
EMDR doesn’t require you to tell your story in full detail. Instead, it creates a process that lets your brain do the healing work naturally. It helps the brain reprocess stuck memories so that they feel less intense and triggering.
Trusting Your Brain to Heal
The truth is, your brain already knows what to do. EMDR just provides the right conditions to support that healing—helping you move toward feeling safe, regulated, and more in control of your emotional experiences.
