Introduction to Pre-Verbal Trauma
Overview
Pre‑verbal trauma refers to experiences that occur before a child develops language—specifically in utero, during birth, and throughout the first two years of life. These early experiences shape the developing nervous system, influence attachment patterns, and leave implicit imprints that can later surface as emotional, relational, or physiological symptoms. Because these memories form before language, they often appear without a clear narrative, making them challenging to identify and address through traditional talk therapy.
This training offers EMDR clinicians a foundational understanding of how early trauma develops, how it presents in adulthood, and how to approach healing through evidence‑supported, developmentally informed interventions.
Why Pre‑Verbal Trauma Matters
Many adult clients show signs of deeply rooted distress—attachment disruptions, nervous system activation, or nonverbal expressions of fear or disconnection—yet cannot recall an explicit memory tied to their symptoms. These presentations often reflect trauma that occurred before language, stored implicitly in the body and nervous system.
Understanding these early imprints allows clinicians to:
- Recognize trauma that lacks narrative memory
- Conceptualize symptoms through a developmental and neurobiological lens
- Integrate EMDR interventions that support healing at the earliest layers of experience
What This Training Covers
Introduction to Pre‑Verbal Trauma is the first course in a multi‑part training series designed to deepen clinicians’ understanding of early trauma and its lasting effects. This live virtual training will explore:
Foundations of Early Trauma
- How experiences in utero, birth, and early infancy shape attachment and regulation
- The role of implicit memory and how it differs from explicit, narrative memory
- How pre-verbal trauma presents in clinical settings
Evidence-Supported Approaches
Participants will learn at least three therapeutic approaches supported by leading researchers and clinicians, including:
- Jaak Panksepp’s Affective Neuroscience
- Stanislav Grof’s natal and perinatal research
- Sandra Paulsen & Katie O’Shea’s EMDR Early Trauma Protocol
- Maureen Kitchur’s Strategic Developmental Model for EMDR
Resourcing Strategies for Pre-Verbal Trauma
Clinicians will identify three resourcing strategies tailored to early trauma work, including an introduction to April Steels’s Imaginal Nurturing.
Who This Training Is For
This introductory course is ideal for EMDR clinicians who:
- Work with attachment wounds or developmental trauma
- Support clients with symptoms that lack clear narrative memories
- Want to deepen their understanding of early nervous system development
- Are seeking practical, neurobiologically informed interventions for pre-verbal trauma
About the Trainer
Mallorie Smolen, MSW, LCSW is a clinician specializing in developmental trauma, attachment, and EMDR. Her work focuses on helping clients and clinicians understand how early experiences shape emotional and relational patterns throughout life. Mallorie brings a warm, grounded, and accessible teaching style to this training, making complex concepts easy to integrate into clinical practice.
Join Us
Understanding where trauma begins can transform how we support healing. This training invites clinicians to explore the earliest layers of experience and learn interventions that honor the body, the nervous system, and the profound impact of pre‑verbal development.
We look forward to learning with you.
Introduction to Pre-Verbal Trauma
Virtual Live
Receive 2 CE credits (ASWB/ACE, APA, NBCC, EMDRIA)
Friday, November 13th, 2026
10 AM – 12 PM MT
Cost: $60
Course Instructor: Mallorie Smolen, MSW, LCSW
Deadline: TBD
Prerequisite: EMDRIA-Approved EMDR Basic Training