Breaking the Cycle: The Healing Power of Releasing Trauma with Hypnosis and EMDR

Trauma is not just something that happens to us in a single moment — it can span generations, silently shaping the way we think, feel, and behave. Many people are unaware that emotional wounds, especially when unresolved, can be passed down from parent to child through what is known as ‘epigenetic memory’. This means that even if we haven’t directly experienced certain traumas ourselves, we may still carry their emotional imprint in our nervous system and subconscious mind.

 A quote I recently came across captured this idea beautifully:

 "People don't realise that 15–20 years of generational trauma is passed down from a parent to their child through epigenetic memory. Barely anyone does the actual work to release trauma from their mind, regulate the nervous system, and reprogram the subconscious. The one within a bloodline who awakens and decides to do the work is the one who will break the cycle."

 This deeply resonated with me — because healing trauma is not just personal, it’s also profoundly generational. I have many clients who come to me because they experienced childhood trauma, and they had a parent who was traumatised themselves by their parent/s. However, when one person in a family system decides to do the inner work, they become the cycle-breaker. They begin to shift not only their own life path but also the emotional inheritance of future generations.

 But how do we begin this process?

 The Mind-Body Connection

 Trauma isn’t just held in the mind. It lives in the body — in tight or tense muscles, shallow breathing, racing thoughts, unexplained aches, and persistent emotional patterns. Often, it becomes embedded in our subconscious beliefs: “I’m not safe,” “I’m not enough,” “I can’t trust,” and so on.

 To truly heal, we need to go deeper than conscious awareness. We need to address the root of the trauma at the level of the nervous system and subconscious mind.

 How EMDR And Hypnosis Can Help Release Trauma

One of the most effective tools I’ve found in my practice for releasing trauma is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing). Originally developed to treat PTSD, EMDR is now widely used to help people heal from a range of emotional wounds — including childhood trauma, anxiety, phobias, grief, and limiting beliefs.

EMDR works by helping the brain reprocess traumatic memories in a safe, guided way. Through gentle bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones), the mind is able to reprocess unresolved experiences that were previously stuck in the nervous system.

 In my sessions, I often incorporate hypnosis techniques to help relax both the mind and body before and after the EMDR process. This deepened state of calm supports clients in accessing their inner resources more easily and allowing the healing process to unfold more smoothly and naturally.

 Clients often report that painful memories lose their emotional charge, they become neutral — and more importantly, that they begin to feel lighter, calmer, and more connected to their true, confident self.

 Reclaiming Your Identity

 When trauma is released from the body and the subconscious mind is reprogrammed with healthier beliefs, something incredible happens: people reconnect with who they really are beneath the pain.

 They stop living in a fight, flight or freeze survival mode.

They feel safer in their bodies.

They start setting boundaries, expressing themselves freely, and living in alignment with their values.

This is the kind of transformation that doesn’t just change one life — it ripples outward. Children are raised by more conscious parents. Relationships become more authentic. Future generations inherit less pain and more love.

 You Can Be the One Who Breaks the Cycle

 If you’re reading this and something stirs inside you — that quiet knowing that it’s time to heal — know that you don’t have to do it alone. The work of releasing trauma and reprogramming the subconscious may feel daunting, but with the right support and tools, it becomes a path of empowerment and freedom.

 You have the power to shift not just your life, but the legacy of your family. You can be the one who breaks the cycle — and creates a new story rooted in resilience, peace, and authenticity.

 If you're curious about how EMDR and my hypnosis-based approaches could support your healing, feel free to reach out. I would be honoured to guide you safely on this journey.