Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy approach that helps people process and recover from distressing or traumatic experiences. It is widely used to treat trauma and has been shown to be effective for difficulties such as anxiety, panic, phobias, and low self-esteem.
Sometimes when we experience something overwhelming, the brain doesn’t fully process the memory. Instead of being stored as a past event, it can remain “stuck,” causing distress in the present through intrusive memories, strong emotions, or physical reactions.
EMDR helps the brain reprocess these memories so they feel less overwhelming and more like something that happened in the past.
How does EMDR work?
During EMDR therapy, you briefly focus on a distressing memory while engaging in gentle 'bilateral stimulation', such as guided eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones. This process helps the brain naturally reprocess the memory and reduce its emotional intensity.
Over time, many people find that the memory becomes less upsetting, negative beliefs about themselves begin to shift, and they feel more able to move forward.
What to expect from EMDR therapy
EMDR therapy follows a structured process that includes understanding your history, developing coping skills, and carefully processing memories at a pace that feels safe. You remain in control throughout the therapy, and your therapist will support you to ensure the process feels manageable.
Many clients find EMDR empowering because it allows the brain’s natural healing processes to take place without needing to go into extensive detail about difficult experiences.