Childhood Trauma and Brainspotting: Healing Wounds from the Past
Childhood trauma isn’t always about dramatic, movie-worthy events. Sometimes, it’s the quiet things—the emotional absence of a caregiver, the constant pressure to be “good,” or feeling like love had to be earned. These experiences shape us more than we realize, leaving behind patterns of anxiety, self-doubt, and emotional triggers that follow us into adulthood.
The good news? You don’t have to stay stuck in those old wounds. Brainspotting is a powerful tool to process and heal childhood trauma so you can move forward with more ease, confidence, and self-compassion.
How Childhood Trauma Shows Up in Adulthood
Think your childhood is behind you? Think again. Trauma has a way of sneaking into your adult life in ways you may not immediately connect to the past. If you’ve ever wondered why certain situations feel disproportionately painful, here’s why:
Overachieving or Perfectionism – If you grew up feeling like you had to earn love through success, you might be stuck in a cycle of overworking and never feeling “good enough.”
Fear of Abandonment – Childhood emotional neglect can make you hyper-aware of any sign that someone might leave, leading to anxiety in relationships.
Emotional Numbness – If your childhood required you to suppress emotions to stay safe, you might struggle with feeling disconnected from yourself or others.
People-Pleasing – Growing up in an unpredictable or critical household can lead to putting others’ needs first—even at the cost of your own well-being.
Chronic Anxiety or Hypervigilance – When childhood feels unsafe, your nervous system stays on high alert, making it hard to relax even when things are objectively fine.
If any of these sound familiar, it’s not because you’re broken—it’s because your brain and body adapted to survive. But survival mode isn’t where you’re meant to stay.
How Brainspotting Helps Heal Childhood Trauma
Brainspotting works by targeting the deep, subconscious areas of the brain where trauma is stored. It helps your brain process old wounds so they no longer dictate how you feel and react in the present. Here’s how:
Accessing Buried Trauma Unlike talk therapy, which relies on logical processing, Brainspotting taps into the emotional brain—the part that holds onto trauma even when you don’t consciously remember it.
Releasing Emotional Triggers Ever have an intense emotional reaction that seems way bigger than the situation calls for? That’s unresolved trauma at work. Brainspotting helps process these stuck emotions so they lose their grip on you.
Rewiring Old Beliefs Childhood trauma often plants false narratives like, “I’m not lovable,” or “I have to be perfect to be accepted.” Brainspotting allows your brain to rewrite these outdated beliefs, replacing them with self-compassion and confidence.
Calming the Nervous System Trauma keeps your nervous system in fight-or-flight mode, making relaxation feel impossible. Brainspotting helps regulate your system, allowing you to feel safe in your own body.
What a Brainspotting Session for Childhood Trauma Looks Like
If you’re new to Brainspotting, here’s what you can expect:
We start by identifying a memory, emotion, or pattern you’d like to work on.
Using a fixed eye position (your “brainspot”), we access the deeper brain regions holding onto the trauma.
You focus on the spot while your brain naturally processes and releases the stuck emotions.
The session ends with grounding techniques, leaving you feeling lighter, clearer, and more present.
The Transformation: What Healing Feels Like
With Brainspotting, many people experience:
✨ Less anxiety and reactivity in situations that used to trigger them.
✨ A newfound ability to set boundaries and advocate for themselves.
✨ More ease in relationships—without fear of abandonment or over-giving.
✨ A deep sense of self-acceptance and inner peace.
Ready to Heal Your Inner Child?
Your past doesn’t have to define your future. Brainspotting can help you process childhood wounds, release emotional burdens, and step into the life you deserve.
You can schedule a session today and we can begin the journey of healing together.