EMDR for Birth Trauma: What to Expect in Therapy
For many, the reality of childbirth leaves lasting wounds. If your experience felt frightening, chaotic, or out of your control, you may be carrying the weight of birth trauma, but and it’s important to know that healing is possible.
In my Virginia based therapy practice, I use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and Art Therapy to help moms process difficult birth experiences and reclaim a sense of safety in their bodies and minds.
Here's what to expect.
What Is Birth Trauma?
Birth trauma isn’t defined by how things “looked on paper.” It’s defined by how you experienced them. You might have had:
A difficult or emergency birth
Complications you didn’t feel prepared for
A loss of control during labor or postpartum
Medical interventions that left emotional scars
Separation from your baby or NICU time
A birth that simply didn’t feel safe or supported
Birth trauma can show up as:
Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts
Panic or anxiety (especially around hospitals or your baby’s care)
Numbness, irritability, or emotional shutdown
Difficulty bonding with your baby
Trouble sleeping, concentrating, or feeling like yourself
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR is a structured trauma therapy that helps your brain and body reprocess distressing experiences, so they no longer feel overwhelming.
It uses bilateral stimulation—like tapping or guided eye movements—while you gently recall specific memories, emotions, or body sensations. This allows your nervous system to "digest" stuck experiences and file them away without the emotional intensity.
Why EMDR Works for Birth Trauma
Birth trauma lives in both the body and mind. EMDR therapy helps you:
Feel safer when remembering the birth
Release guilt, shame, or fear
Reduce physical tension tied to the trauma
Process intrusive memories and flashbacks
Begin to feel more connected to your baby and your body
What Happens in an EMDR Session?
Here’s what working together may look like:
Step 1: Foundation & Support
We start with safety and trust. We build skills to manage and regulate emotions before unpacking the trauma. These skills may include grounding exercises, breathwork, containment practices, or creative resourcing.
Step 2: Identifying Targets
We work together to identify moments that feel most stuck—emotional flashes, beliefs like “I failed,” or even physical reactions that return when you recall your birth.
Step 3: EMDR Processing
Using bilateral stimulation, we revisit memories while staying grounded in the present. The brain begins to link those moments with new, more adaptive beliefs (e.g“I’m safe now” or “I did what I could.”)
Step 4: Integration & Growth
As the memory loses its emotional charge, we focus on integrating the adaptive belief into your daily life and continuing your healing journey.
Why Choose EMDR Therapy in Virginia?
I specialize in trauma, perinatal mental health, birth trauma, and eating disorders, offering a compassionate, trauma-informed space for moms navigating difficult postpartum experiences.
Whether you're weeks or years postpartum, you deserve care that acknowledges the complexity of your story. I offer:
In-person sessions in Reston, VA
Secure virtual EMDR therapy across Virginia
You don’t have to this alone.
🗓️ Schedule a free 15-minute consultation
📍 Serving clients in Reston, Herndon, Fairfax, and throughout Virginia via telehealth
