EMDR & Matrescence: Centering the Mother’s Story

Motherhood is a profound rite of passage, one that changes a woman at every level—physically, emotionally, and psychologically. This transition, known as matrescence, is as monumental as adolescence, yet it often goes unrecognized, leaving mothers to navigate its complexities alone. If you’ve been along this wild ride with me, you know that my mission is to change that! Want to learn more about matrescence? Check out my past blog post,

I recently completed Part 1 of the Foundational EMDR Training with Touchstone Institute, gaining deeper insight into how EMDR fosters healing in perinatal mental health. This training reinforced how EMDR helps mothers process trauma and reshape their matrescence journey with greater healing and growth.

The process of becoming a mother can unearth deep-seated wounds, societal pressures, and self-doubt, but it also holds immense potential for healing, realignment, and joy.

Matrescence as an Opportunity for Growth

Motherhood awakens a deeper awareness of past experiences. I hear this a lot in my work with clients (and I’ve felt it myself). Parenting forces us to come face to face with parts of ourselves we may have tried to ignore, file away, or push down. Old wounds—perhaps from childhood, previous relationships, or cultural conditioning—often resurface. The demands of modern motherhood and intensive parenting certainly don’t help either. The pressures to be a ‘good mom,’ to instinctively know what to do, and to carry the mental and emotional load of parenting can feel crushing.

Yet, within this challenge lies a profound opportunity—matrescence is a powerful opening, making space for a new, more aligned self to emerge. By acknowledging and working through these resurfacing emotions, mothers can heal, integrate past experiences, and redefine their identity with intention. As a matrescence-focused therapist, I see healing and growth through a mother-centered lens. EMDR helps mothers navigate this transformation, process past emotions, and step into motherhood with greater confidence, connection, and self-compassion.

What is EMDR, and How Can It Help Mothers?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy that helps people reprocess distressing experiences so they no longer hold the same emotional weight. It uses bilateral stimulation—eye movements, tapping, or auditory cues—to help the brain reorganize painful memories and negative beliefs. This means that instead of feeling stuck in past trauma or unresolved emotions, mothers can move forward with a renewed sense of strength and confidence.

In the context of matrescence, EMDR is particularly effective in addressing:

Birth trauma: Whether a birth was medically complex or simply didn’t go as planned, EMDR can help mothers process and find peace.

A 2021 systematic review published in the Archives of Women's Mental Health found that EMDR significantly reduced PTSD symptoms related to childbirth trauma, with some studies reporting lasting improvements in anxiety and depression as well (Bailey & Cordell, 2021).
The Postpartum Early EMDR Intervention (PERCEIVE) study, a randomized controlled trial, is currently exploring whether early EMDR treatment can serve as a preventative measure for PTSD following traumatic births.

Pregnancy loss and fertility struggles: Grieving these experiences is deeply personal, and EMDR provides a space for healing.
Postpartum anxiety and depression: When intrusive thoughts or guilt overshadow the joy of motherhood, EMDR can help reframe these emotions.
Attachment and bonding challenges: If early life experiences or past traumas make it difficult to connect with a baby, EMDR can foster a sense of safety and presence.
Identity shifts and self-worth struggles: Many mothers feel they’ve “lost themselves” in motherhood; EMDR can help them reconnect with who they are beyond their role as a parent.

It is important to acknowledge the limitations in research on EMDR for perinatal mental health—a challenge that extends across much of reproductive health research. Studies on pregnancy and postpartum interventions are often underfunded, limited by small sample sizes, and constrained by ethical concerns around conducting clinical trials with pregnant participants. As a result, while early data suggests EMDR is an effective and safe intervention, more large-scale, long-term studies are needed to fully understand its impact on perinatal PTSD, anxiety, and mood disorders.

Matrescence - Growing in Every Way

Rather than seeing matrescence solely as a time of struggle, what if we reframed it as a profound opportunity for growth and self-discovery? EMDR allows mothers to:

Reprocess limiting beliefs: The stories we tell ourselves—such as “I’m not enough” or “I should be doing more”—can be rewritten into more empowering narratives.
Release guilt and anxiety: The emotional weight of motherhood doesn’t have to be carried alone.
Reclaim joy and connection: Motherhood should not be just about survival; it should also be about thriving, finding moments of joy, and embracing community.
Break intergenerational cycles: Healing personal trauma means passing down resilience, not pain, to the next generation.

You DeServe Support on This Journey

Too often, mothers are expected to navigate these transitions alone. But healing and growth in matrescence should be supported, honored, and guided. EMDR offers a pathway for mothers to step into their roles with a sense of wholeness, clarity, and connection—not just to their children, but to themselves.

If this resonates with you, know that you are not alone. Motherhood is a journey of transformation, and with the right support, it can be a path to deeper healing, joy, and empowerment. Let’s connect and explore how EMDR might support you in reclaiming the motherhood experience you deserve.