The Neuroscience of Storytelling

Why It Works in Trauma Therapy for Children

Stories have a profound effect on the human brain. For children recovering from trauma, listening to stories is more than entertainment;it is a powerful therapeutic tool that helps rewire neural pathways, regulate emotions, and foster healing. Neuroscience shows that when a child hears a story, multiple brain regions, including those involved in memory, emotional processing, and cognitive organization, become engaged.

Children who have experienced trauma often struggle with overwhelming emotions and fragmented memories. Listening to a structured, familiar narrative helps them process their own experiences in a safe and contained way. The brain’s limbic system, especially the amygdala, plays a key role in emotional responses. When a child hears their story, it engages their curiosity, even though they know the story. Their brain shifts from a state of hypervigilance to one of safety and emotional regulation.

EMDR therapy enhances the power of storytelling by helping children access and reprocess traumatic memories.  Hearing their story guides children toward understanding and resilience—adding EMDR helps the child reduce the disturbance and integrate adaptive beliefs into their neurophysiology. Hearing stories in which the child develops new narratives about their own experiences – reinforcing neural connections related to self-compassion and emotional growth – changes the story the child tells themselves about who they are and what they can do

If story writing through EMDR could help someone in your life, reach out to me for more information.

If you’re an EMDR therapist eager to explore how storytelling and EMDR therapy can help children heal, consider signing up for my EMDR & Storywriting Training. In this workshop, you'll learn how to harness the power of stories to support trauma recovery. Join me today and help children rediscover hope—one story at a time.