In this transformative episode, Dr. Rachelle Kammer introduces us to EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)—a powerful therapy modality that works with your nervous system to release trauma stored in your body, not just your mind.

Rachelle explains how EMDR can access unconscious memories and beliefs you didn't know you were carrying, including pre-verbal trauma from infancy or even in utero. We explore the difference between single-incident trauma and complex PTSD, the profound connection between trauma work and grief work, and how trauma gets passed down through generations.

This isn't just theory—Rachelle walks us through practical tools you can use immediately to calm your nervous system, including bilateral stimulation techniques and resourcing exercises. Whether you're stuck in old patterns, healing from childhood wounds, or trying to break generational cycles, this episode offers both understanding and actionable hope.

Key Takeaways:

• Trauma gets locked in your nervous system with the original images, emotions, and body sensations—EMDR helps unlock and process this material
• You can hold unconscious beliefs you don't know you have; EMDR can reveal what's really driving your patterns
• Healing trauma often means grieving what didn't happen or who wasn't there to protect you
• You can work with pre-verbal trauma through body sensations and imagination, even without specific memories
• Intergenerational trauma is real—and you can be the one to break the cycle
• Creating imagined support figures (like a nurturing grandmother figure) can provide the attachment security needed to process deep trauma
• Simple bilateral stimulation (tapping with alternating hands on knees or shoulders) can calm your nervous system in moments of overwhelm

About Dr. Rachelle Kammer:

Dr. Rachelle Kammer is a Clinical Professor at Fordham University, with a MSW and PhD from Columbia University. In her private practice, she uses EMDR to help clients release trauma stored in the body and nervous system, supporting them in breaking generational cycles and reclaiming their lives.

Connect with Dr. Rachelle Kammer:

https://www.fordham.edu/graduate-school-of-social-service/faculty/full-time-faculty-profiles/rachelle-e-kammer/

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: When There Are No Words by Janina Fisher
• YouTube: Search for Janina Fisher's talks on trauma and EMDR

Tools to Try at Home:

• Create your calm/peaceful place: Visualize a real or imagined place where you feel safe, notice what you see, hear, smell, and feel in your body; then do slow bilateral stimulation (tapping with alternating hands on knees or shoulders) for 4-8 taps to calm your nervous system 
• Grounding techniques: Count objects in the room, notice your feet on the ground, notice if there is anywhere in your body that feels neutral or good
• Movement: Get outside, do gentle exercise, or simply tap your feet under the table during stressful moments

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Content Warning: This episode discusses trauma, sexual abuse, substance abuse, and grief. Please listen with care and reach out for support if you need it.