Bessel van der Kolk, a renowned expert on trauma, does not assert that all traumas are preverbal. However, he emphasizes that many early life traumas are, by nature, preverbal because they occur during infancy or early childhood, a developmental stage before language is fully developed. These early experiences are encoded in the body and the brain's nonverbal systems, often as sensations, emotions, or implicit memories rather than explicit narratives. Key Points from Bessel van der Kolk's Work: Preverbal Trauma: Van der Kolk highlights that trauma experienced in infancy or early childhood is stored in the brain's limbic system (particularly the amygdala), which operates outside the realm of language. As a result, these memories are expressed through physical symptoms, emotional dysregulation, or behavioral patterns rather than conscious recollections. Body as a Repository: In his book The Body Keeps the Score, van der Kolk explains that trauma, especially preverbal trauma, manifests in the body through physiological patterns like chronic tension, pain, or a heightened stress response.
Bessel van der Kolk, a renowned expert on trauma, does not assert that all traumas are preverbal. However, he emphasizes that many early life traumas are, by nature, preverbal because they occur during infancy or early childhood, a developmental stage before language is fully developed. These early experiences are encoded in the body and the brain's nonverbal systems, often as sensations, emotions, or implicit memories rather than explicit narratives.
Key Points from Bessel van der Kolk's Work:
Preverbal Trauma:
Van der Kolk highlights that trauma experienced in infancy or early childhood is stored in the brain's limbic system (particularly the amygdala), which operates outside the realm of language. As a result, these memories are expressed through physical symptoms, emotional dysregulation, or behavioral patterns rather than conscious recollections.
Body as a Repository:
In his book The Body Keeps the Score, van der Kolk explains that trauma, especially preverbal trauma, manifests in the body through physiological patterns like chronic tension, pain, or a heightened stress response.
How do I find a preverbal EMDR therapist who can work with my 10 year old adopted daughter?
@KristinePound - reach out to Deb at www.centerforneuropotential.com/bio/ - she trained many therapists in this modality
Thank you so much. I will.
Just be careful that the very person who claims to heal trauma doesn’t also cause it. Not all practitioners are the same.😅