EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)

Sometimes a memory stays stuck. It may be an event from years ago, or a feeling you can’t explain, but your body reacts as if it’s still happening. EMDR is a therapy designed to help the brain process these experiences so they feel less distressing and more like part of the past.

Our minds have a natural healing system. Each night, during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, the brain sorts through the day’s experiences. Some researchers believe EMDR works in a similar way, helping the brain to process memories and emotions that got stuck. EMDR is a well-researched, recommended treatment for trauma and PTSD, and it’s also used for anxiety, difficult life experiences and many other struggles.

During EMDR, you bring a memory or feeling to mind while paying attention to something that moves from side to side. This is called bilateral stimulation. It might be gentle tapping on your hands or knees, sounds moving from ear to ear, or following a moving light or target across the screen with your eyes. As the memory is processed, it often loses its emotional charge, and more helpful beliefs about yourself (such as “I’m safe now” or “it wasn’t my fault”) can take root.

EMDR doesn’t mean reliving everything. We spend time first building safety and resources, you don’t need to tell me every detail, and you can pause at any time. I often combine EMDR with Internal Family Systems (IFS), so that the protective parts of you feel heard and ready before we approach painful memories.

My hope is that, by healing the past, we can help you feel more fully alive in the present. If you’d like to find out whether EMDR could help, please do book in for a discovery call.