EMDR With Children: How Healing Happens Through Play
When a child has experienced something overwhelming—whether it’s a single traumatic event or ongoing stress that felt scary, confusing, or unsafe—it often shows up in everyday life. Parents across the Denver metro area frequently reach out with concerns about anxiety, emotional outbursts, sleep difficulties, behavioral changes, or regression.
For children, healing doesn’t happen through talking alone. This is why EMDR therapy integrated into play therapy has become an effective and gentle approach for children receiving trauma therapy in Denver, Colorado.
What Is EMDR Therapy for Children?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a trauma-informed therapy that helps the brain process experiences that feel “stuck.” When something overwhelming happens, a child’s nervous system may not fully process it in the moment. Instead, the memory can remain stored with the same emotional intensity, body sensations, and fear responses as when it first occurred.
EMDR helps the brain do what it naturally wants to do—process experiences, reduce emotional distress, and restore a sense of safety.
When EMDR is used with children, especially in play therapy settings in Denver, the approach is carefully adapted to be developmentally appropriate, relational, and supportive of nervous system regulation.
Why EMDR Is Integrated Into Play Therapy
Children communicate through play, movement, imagination, and creativity. Play therapy offers a familiar and safe environment where children can express experiences they may not yet have words for.
In a play therapy office, children are not expected to sit still or talk through difficult memories. Instead, they may:
Use toys, art, or storytelling to express experiences
Move their bodies or engage in imaginative play
Participate in rhythmic or bilateral activities that support regulation
When EMDR is integrated into play therapy, it becomes a natural extension of how children heal—especially for children navigating trauma, attachment disruptions, anxiety, or big emotional reactions.
What the EMDR Process Looks Like for Children in Denver
Each child’s therapy journey is unique, but EMDR with children typically unfolds in intentional stages.
1. Building Safety and Trust
Before trauma processing begins, therapy focuses on creating emotional and physical safety. In a child-centered Denver therapy practice, this includes:
Helping your child feel comfortable in the playroom
Establishing predictable routines
Supporting emotional regulation and choice
This phase is essential and never rushed.
2. Strengthening Regulation and Coping Skills
Children are supported in developing tools to help their bodies and emotions feel more manageable. These play-based strategies may include:
Breathing and movement games
Sensory tools
Creative expression through art or storytelling
Imagery and “safe place” activities
These skills are especially helpful for children experiencing anxiety, trauma responses, or emotional overwhelm.
3. Gentle Trauma Processing Through Play
When a child is ready, EMDR is introduced in developmentally appropriate ways. Instead of traditional eye movements, children may engage in:
Tapping
Drumming
Bilateral movement games
Drawing or storytelling paired with rhythmic input
Your child is never asked to relive trauma in detail. EMDR sessions are paced carefully, always guided by your child’s nervous system and readiness.
4. Integration and Ongoing Support
As the brain processes experiences, parents often notice meaningful changes, such as:
Reduced emotional intensity
Improved emotional regulation
Decreased trauma-related behaviors
Greater confidence and sense of safety
Ongoing therapy helps children integrate these changes into daily life at home and school.
Common Questions Parents in Denver Ask About EMDR for Kids
Will my child have to talk about the trauma?
No. Children share through play, movement, and creativity. Talking may happen naturally, but it is never forced.
Is EMDR safe for children?
Yes—when provided by a therapist trained in child-centered EMDR and play therapy. The process is gentle, relational, and always grounded in safety.
How long does EMDR therapy take?
There is no set timeline. Some children in Denver child therapy experience noticeable changes within a few months, while others benefit from longer-term support. Healing follows the child’s pace.
The Role of Parents in Child Trauma Therapy
Parents play a vital role in a child’s healing process. While EMDR work happens in the playroom, parents are often supported through:
Parent consultations
Education about trauma and the nervous system
Guidance on supporting regulation and emotional safety at home
You don’t need to have all the answers—your willingness to stay curious and supportive matters deeply.
Child EMDR and Play Therapy in Denver, Colorado
EMDR integrated into play therapy offers children a developmentally respectful way to heal from trauma, anxiety, and overwhelming experiences. It allows children to process what they’ve been through without pressure, forcing memories, or adult-level explanations.
If you’re looking for EMDR therapy for children in Denver or wondering whether play therapy with EMDR might be a good fit for your child, a consultation can help you explore next steps and ask questions specific to your family.
Healing is possible—and for children, it often begins through play.