Let’s begin that reconnection together.

Children raised in emotionally neglectful environments often hear phrases like “you’re fine,” “don’t cry,” or “it’s not a big deal” when what they really needed was curiosity and care, someone to ask, “What’s going on?” or “How are you feeling?” Over time, their emotions likely become background noise, unnoticed, minimized, or dismissed. This doesn’t happen because their parents were cruel, but because those parents were never taught emotional connection themselves. It’s a cycle of unspoken feelings passed down through generations.

CEN isn’t defined by what happened; it’s defined by what didn’t. It’s the absence of warmth, empathy, and consistent emotional response. There may have been love, laughter, and stability, but without acknowledgment of feelings, a quiet emptiness took root. That absence often leaves children questioning their own worth, learning early on that their emotions are inconvenient or unimportant.

As adults, those affected by Childhood Emotional Neglect often struggle to identify, trust, and express their emotions. They might sense a persistent void or disconnection, even in otherwise fulfilling lives or relationships. This emotional gap develops after years of survival through suppression, replacing vulnerability with self-reliance and needs or desires with composure. They may appear strong, capable, and calm, all while while feeling walled off emotionally, an invisible ache for understanding.

Healing begins when you start listening inward—when you gently reconnect with the feelings that live in your body. As you open to them, you restore the bridge to intimacy—with yourself, and with others. This reconnection leads you home to your authentic self—the part of you that has always deserved to be seen, heard, and loved exactly as you are.

You may have grown up in a home where your basic needs were met—but your emotions weren’t. Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN), describes when caregivers fail to consistently provide emotional support, validation, or responsiveness.

YOU’RE CAPABLE, CARING, AND RESILIENT.

  • Emotional detachment – Difficulty feeling, accessing, or sharing emotions; often staying “shut down” to protect from hurt.
  • Persistent sense that something is wrong or missing – A nagging inner feeling of inadequacy or incompleteness, even when life looks fine on the outside.
  • Feelings of emptiness – A hollow or numb state inside
  • Over-independence and fear of relying on others – A belief that depending on anyone is unsafe, leading to self-reliance at the cost of closeness.
  • Struggles with self-care and self-discipline – Difficulty committing to routines or practices that nurture health, rest, and personal growth.
  • When our feelings were dismissed growing up, we learned to silence them. As adults, expressing our needs can feel unsafe or exposing.
  • Difficulty setting boundaries and fear of abandonment – Trouble saying no or protecting your limits because you fear losing connection or being left.
  • Perfectionism and overachievement – The drive to constantly perform, achieve, or appear flawless as a way to earn acceptance, validation or avoid criticism.
  • Frequent withdrawal or isolation – Pulling away from others to avoid conflict, vulnerability, or feelings of inadequacy.

Here are some of the signs of Childhood Emotional Neglect:

Molli Burkett

When we’re taught to turn away from our emotions, we begin to live in our heads—analyzing, planning, surviving. Over time, we lose touch with the body’s quiet wisdom, leaving us feeling ungrounded and disconnected from ourselves and with others.

Healing begins with restoring that connection between the mind and body—our Soma. True healing invites us to listen inward, rediscovering the sensations, emotions, and intuitive guidance that have always been there. When we nurture this connection, we find the path back to wholeness, self-trust, and a grounded sense of belonging within ourselves and the world around us.

I’ve witnessed lives transform through Somatic work, as individuals courageously reconnect with their bodies through mindful, embodied practice. By processing emotions and attuning to the body’s wisdom, they uncover clarity, compassion, and healing in ways they never thought possible.

It would be my privilege to walk beside you as you reclaim the wholeness of your Soma—your body, mind, and authentic self.

Because our feelings are natural, biological responses that live within the body, children who grow up without enough emotional support often learn early on to disconnect from themselves.

YOU’RE READY TO RECONNECT.

Here’s how to work with me

this way to learn more

Our 1:1 Somatic Coaching experience includes personalized sessions, ongoing chat and email support, and access to 15-minute spot coaching between sessions. You’ll also receive customized exercises and practices to support you at home, all held within an intensive six-month container designed to gently shed the layers that have been hiding your true self and to create lasting transformation in your relationship with yourself and others

1:1 Coaching:
 the mastery


This program includes 1:1 Somatic Coaching sessions with ongoing chat and email support. You will receive suggested exercises for home, all within an intensive, three-month container designed to Ignite the journey back home to yourself. 

1:1 Coaching: 
The Intensive


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