By Sasha Tanoushka
Understanding the Root of Emptiness
Many people struggle with a persistent sense of emptiness—an internal void that feels unexplainable yet impacts every aspect of their lives. This sensation is often tied to early childhood trauma, attachment wounds, and developmental disruptions. When trauma interferes with key stages of sensorimotor development, it can alter the brain’s ability to regulate emotions, process experiences, and maintain a sense of connection. As someone who experienced several childhood traumas, I can personally attest to needing to work through my own attachment and feelings of emptiness.
If you feel disconnected, numb, or isolated, it may not be a personal flaw—it may be the result of your nervous system adapting to survival. The good news? Neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to change and rewire) means that healing is always possible. Through Neurofeedback, Sensorimotor Therapy, and Hypnotherapy, we can help the brain relearn safety, connection, and emotional regulation.
Let’s explore how trauma disrupts early development, how it manifests in adulthood, and what steps you can take to regain balance.
The Sensorimotor Stage and Its Connection to Trauma
Jean Piaget’s Sensorimotor Stage of Development (Birth – 2 years) is a critical period where infants learn to interact with the world through movement and sensory experiences. This stage is divided into several substages, including:
1. Reflexive Responses (0-1 month) – Newborns react to stimuli instinctively.
2. Primary Circular Reactions (1-4 months) – Infants begin to repeat actions that feel pleasurable.
3. Secondary Circular Reactions (4-8 months) – Babies interact with their environment more intentionally.
4. Coordination of Reactions (8-12 months) – They start developing object permanence and intentional behaviors.
5. Tertiary Circular Reactions (12-18 months) – Problem-solving and exploration emerge.
6. Early Representational Thought (18-24 months) – Infants begin using symbols to represent objects.
How Childhood Trauma Disrupts This Process
When a child experiences neglect, abuse, or inconsistent caregiving, their brain learns that the world is unsafe. This disrupts sensorimotor development by:
Impairing body awareness (leading to dissociation, chronic tension, or hypervigilance).
Preventing the development of self-regulation (making emotions feel overwhelming or distant).
Weakening object permanence and relational security (causing fear of abandonment or attachment difficulties).
Without a solid foundation, these developmental gaps can persist into adulthood, manifesting as emotional emptiness, disconnection, and struggles with self-worth.
Trauma rewires the brain by altering activity in key regions
The Amygdala (fear center) becomes hyperactive, leading to constant anxiety or numbness.
The Hippocampus (memory processing) struggles to differentiate past trauma from the present. The Prefrontal Cortex (rational thinking) weakens, making emotional regulation difficult.
These changes create patterns of emotional disconnection—but with targeted therapy, these neural pathways can be retrained.
What is SMR Training?
Sensorimotor Rhythm (SMR) neurofeedback trains the brain to regulate sensory and motor processing. SMR (12-15 Hz) is associated with calm focus, emotional stability, and body awareness. Many trauma survivors exhibit dysregulated brainwave activity, either in:
Excessive slow-wave activity (theta/delta) – leading to dissociation and emotional numbness.
Excessive fast-wave activity (high beta) – causing chronic anxiety and hypervigilance.
By using Neurofeedback training, such as disentrainment with the Budzinski protocols via the Focus unit, we can help the brain stabilize. Ongoing SMR training with the Vital Neuro headset reinforces this progress, allowing the brain to find a natural rhythm of calm and connection.
The 6 Principles of Sensorimotor Therapy
Sensorimotor therapy integrates mind-body awareness to heal trauma by following these guiding principles:
1. Organicity – The body has an innate capacity to heal; therapy supports this natural process.
2. Non-Violence – Healing is a gentle unfolding rather than forced change.
3. Unity – Mind and body are interconnected; working with one influences the other.
4. Mindfulness – Awareness of present-moment sensations promotes healing.
5. Relational Alchemy – Healing happens through safe, attuned relationships.
6. Transformation – New experiences rewire old patterns, creating lasting change.
By combining Sensorimotor Therapy with Neurofeedback, I help clients reconnect to their bodies, emotions, and sense of self in a way that trauma may have prevented.
Reframing Trauma Through Hypnotherapy
While Neurofeedback rewires brain patterns, Hypnotherapy works with the subconscious mind to reframe past experiences. Many traumatic memories are stored in implicit memory, meaning they shape our emotions without us realizing it.
Through Hypnotherapy, we can....
Access & reprocess early memories in a safe, controlled manner.
Change subconscious beliefs from “I am alone” to “I am safe.”
Rebuild a sense of self-worth and security that trauma may have damaged. By reframing childhood experiences, hypnotherapy allows both the brain and body to move forward from deep feelings of isolation and emptiness.
Self-Help Strategies for Healing Emptiness & Depression
If you’re struggling with depression, numbness, or feelings of aloneness, here are some steps to help retrain your nervous system:
1. Engage in Body Awareness Practices
Try yoga, tai chi, or somatic movement to reconnect with your body.
Use progressive muscle relaxation to release stored tension.
2. Train Your Brain with Neurofeedback
SMR training can regulate emotional states and improve focus.
The Vital Neuro headset is an accessible way to practice brain training at home.
3. Reframe Negative Thought Patterns
Journaling can help identify limiting beliefs.
Hypnotherapy or guided meditation can reshape how you view past experiences.
4. Practice Safe Connection
Surround yourself with supportive people who encourage healing.
Seek out therapy groups or trauma-informed therapists for guidance.
5. Learn to Regulate Your Nervous System
Deep breathing and vagus nerve stimulation (such as the "voo sound" technique) can calm your system.
Cold exposure (like splashing cold water on your face) can reset your fight-or-flight response.
You Don’t Have to Heal Alone
The journey from trauma-induced emptiness to emotional wholeness is possible, but it requires support and the right tools. Through Neurofeedback, Sensorimotor Therapy, and Hypnotherapy, I help clients rebuild the neurological and emotional foundations that may have been disrupted in childhood.
If you’re ready to release trauma, reconnect with yourself, and regain a sense of meaning, I invite you to reach out.
Let’s work together to rewire your brain, restore your emotional balance, and help you move forward.
📩 Contact me today to learn how personalized neurotherapy can support your healing journey.
You deserve to feel whole. Let’s start that journey together.
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