When the Subconscious Remembers: Holding Space in Memory
Let’s talk about what happens when a session goes there.
Not the surface stuff. Not the metaphorical journey, not the adventurous imagery.
I’m talking about the moment when a client touches the live wires of their own story—old grief, unprocessed betrayal, childhood abuse, and deep-rooted confusion—and instead of pulling away, we stay.
We breathe.
And we allow it to move through them.
In a recent session, I witnessed that sacred moment.
A body beginning to thaw.
A voice daring to speak the unspeakable.
A nervous system whispering, “Maybe—just maybe—I don’t have to hold this alone anymore.”
We began, as always, by anchoring into presence:
Be here. Be now. This is your time to connect, explore, and observe.
It’s more than poetic—it’s a permission slip. A signal that this session isn’t about performance or perfection.
It’s about presence.
We’re not doing a technique. We’re honoring truth.
And from that grounded place, something deeper began to surface.
What came up wasn’t imagery—it was memory. Raw and unexpected.
A moment of dislocation.
Feeling young and overwhelmed in a new world.
Missing the familiar arms of a caregiver.
Grieving what should have been safe.
So what do we do when the body starts to remember?
We don’t analyze. We attune.
We hold the container and invite somatic release.
I offered a simple image:
“You are the sky. Your emotions are birds. You don’t have to chase them or cage them. Just let them fly.”
That’s not metaphor for metaphor’s sake. That’s nervous system fluency.
That’s a client accessing their own regulation through visualization.
And when the deeper pain rises—betrayal, boundary violations, attachment wounds—
We don’t rush in with solutions.
We stay. We witness. We attune. We invite release.
Not to fix.
To be.
To honor.
To remind that inner child:
You were never alone.
You didn’t deserve this.
And you’ve always been stronger than anyone gave you credit for.
That’s where integration lives.
Key Practitioner Takeaways
Presence is everything.
Before any transformation happens, there must be safety. Slow the pace. Soften your voice. Use language that anchors the client in the now while gently inviting their subconscious forward. This is the threshold between surface and soul.
Honor the emotion. Don’t rush it.
When emotion rises, don’t redirect. Don’t rescue. Let it breathe. Let the nervous system speak its language. Sometimes the deepest healing comes in the moments we don’t fill.
Use imagery as a bridge, not a bypass.
The metaphor “your emotions are birds, and you are the sky” isn’t just poetic—it’s practical. It allows the body to process sensation safely. It gives form to the formless. It returns dignity to the pain. (Thanks Joe Tabanella for the beautiful metaphor!)
Ask when the time is right.
“What would that younger version of you have needed to hear?”
This kind of question isn’t about insight—it’s about reconnection. It reclaims power. It softens shame. It begins to rewire the nervous system from within.
Always end with integration.
Coming out of trance isn’t a formality—it’s a sacred return. Invite the body to wake up gently. Layer in suggestion that reinforces their strength, their worth, their aliveness. Make the re-entry a celebration of who they’ve just become.
Remember to Remember
This work isn’t about fixing people.
It’s about sitting with them in the places they once had to survive alone.
It’s about co-regulating with their nervous system until the body says:
"I can release this now. I am safe to feel. I am safe to heal."
And when that happens—they stop running.
They stop performing.
They start living.
So if you’re a hypnotherapist, coach, or healer—
Stay human.
Speak with soul.
Let the unraveling be sacred.
Let the silence be medicine.
And above all—trust the process.
Because when you meet people in the tender, untamed corners of their story, you’re not just guiding change.
You’re midwifing freedom.
Ready to Go Deeper?
If you find yourself drawn to this work and want to understand how to guide others through powerful, transformational sessions—explore our Practitioner Training Program. Whether you're just starting or looking to expand your skill set, this training is designed to support you in becoming a confident, intuitive facilitator.
Your journey starts here.