Pre-verbal Trauma: Recognizing Old Patterns

Our wounds often run deeper than words can express. Many of our early experiences were physical, sensory, and emotional, not cognitive. Because a child's brain is still in the developmental phase, we often cannot comprehend these early experiences through language. The use of metaphorical language and body awareness offers a holistic approach to reaching the unconscious parts of ourselves, where verbal communication falls short. This helps us understand and process the pain of these early traumas.

The healing process is a journey toward self-recognition. We learn not only to understand our wounds but also to embrace and treat them with compassion. This provides space for growth, healing, and more control over our lives. It is a process in which we learn to recognize old patterns and discover what they need. Instead of condemning feelings like insecurity, perfectionism, or guilt, we learn to understand the underlying need or pain behind them. This creates room for self-love and the confidence that we can experience new, positive events. By connecting with this pain and the underlying need, it no longer has to work so hard to get our attention.

What is Pre-verbal Trauma?

Pre-verbal trauma refers to the unconscious emotional damage that arises before we are able to process events with language. In the early years of our lives, everything revolves around sensory and emotional experiences. A child's brain is not yet capable of understanding what is happening through words; it mainly responds to what is felt—such as the warmth of the mother, the smell, the touch, or the absence of the other. This means that many of our emotional experiences in the early years remain unconscious, yet they still profoundly influence how we relate to ourselves and others later in life.

This is a crucial point in understanding trauma. The child's brain is still in development and primarily focused on survival. The responses to stress, both physically and emotionally, are shaped by unconscious processes. As a result, as adults, we may carry unresolved pain and unconscious beliefs that have their origins in these early, unconscious experiences.

Body-focused Work with Hypnotherapy

Although trauma is often associated with conscious memories and words, it is possible to address old patterns through body-focused hypnotherapy. This helps us reconnect with the childlike parts of ourselves that have been shielded by pain or unconscious coping mechanisms.

Hypnotherapy provides the opportunity to access the subconscious through deep relaxation and the protective mechanisms we developed in our youth. Metaphorical language and visualizations play an important role in this process. In a trance state, old pain points can be approached in a less threatening way, creating space for healing.

Body-focused hypnotherapy utilizes the power of the body as a gateway to our subconscious. Many traumas are stored in our bodies, for example, in the form of muscle tension or breathing patterns. Through techniques like breathing exercises or sensory processing, we can gain access to these unconscious layers. This can help uncover the old patterns that formed at a time when we were unable to understand or verbalize the events.

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to adapt and reorganize in response to experiences, learning processes, or damage. This means the brain can form new connections and strengthen or weaken existing ones, depending on the circumstances. Neuroplasticity plays a key role in trauma recovery. Through techniques like hypnotherapy, we can encourage the brain to form new, healthy connections. This process allows you to experience positive events, even if they were difficult to reach before. In this way, your brain can develop new, healthy responses that help alleviate the issues you experience in everyday life.

The integration of body, mind, and emotion is essential in the recovery process. When we safely and lovingly return to those early experiences, we can reconnect with the parts of ourselves that were once hurt. This process not only helps break old patterns but also enables us to approach ourselves with self-compassion.

Recognizing Old Patterns

The process of relieving pre-verbal trauma requires patient presence, trust, and safety. The old pain we often carry unconsciously is deeply rooted in the foundations of who we are. It is important to understand that relief does not come simply from "uncovering" what happened but, more importantly, from learning to embrace the pain and reintegrate it into our adult selves. This embrace/acceptance becomes "easier" because you can be more in touch with the need the pain carries within it, the positive intention it has for you. For example, the need to be held, seen, and heard. Through hypnotherapy, you can also begin to feel these needs so that it becomes easier to fulfill them in your daily life. Your adult self can, for example, have imaginary positive experiences together with the inner child. This can be compared to physiotherapy for your brain—experiencing new things allows the neuroplastic brain to form new connections.

So, instead of condemning your insecurity, guilt, or chronic pain, you can discover the need that lies beneath. By connecting with the pain and the need beneath it, it no longer has to work so hard to get your attention. This creates more space for self-love and helps build confidence so that you can more easily experience new positive things. Step by step, you can begin to experience more relief. Feel free to explore which old patterns are no longer helpful for you and discover what you can give to yourself.