EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing

A computer-generated image of a human brain with bright white light streaks emanating from it, creating a visual effect of explosion or energy radiating outward. EMDR.

EMDR is a powerful, evidence-based treatment that helps people recover from distressing or traumatic experiences.

Originally developed for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), EMDR is now used successfully with a wide range of difficulties, including:

·       Complex PTSD

·       Depression

·       Anxiety and OCD

·       Addiction

·       Grief and loss

EMDR helps the brain heal naturally, allowing painful experiences to lose their emotional intensity while the memory remains.

EMDR is endorsed by leading organisations, including the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the UK Department of Health.

What happens when we experience a traumatic event?

When we experience something painful or frightening, the brain usually knows how to heal.
During REM sleep, for example, it replays and reorganises experiences — moving them from the emotional part of the brain (the limbic system) into the thinking part (the prefrontal cortex).
We still remember what happened, but the emotional charge fades over time.

When an experience is overwhelming or traumatic, this process becomes disrupted. The memory stays “stuck” in its raw emotional form, as though the event is still happening.
This can lead to:

·       Flashbacks or nightmares

·       Intrusive thoughts or images

·       Heightened anxiety or panic

·       Feeling emotionally numb or constantly on edge

Traumatic memories are not just remembered — they are re-experienced. EMDR helps the brain finish what it couldn’t complete at the time.

Broken and cracked mirror with shattered glass pieces and reflections. Symbolises how individuals who have experienced trauma often feel fragmented.
Close-up of a human eye with a blue-green iris, black pupil, and surrounding blood vessels. EMDR

How does EMDR work?

EMDR helps the brain resume its natural healing process through bilateral stimulation — gentle, rhythmic activity that engages both sides of the brain.

In therapy, this might involve:

·       Following the therapist’s hand with your eyes

·       Light taps on the shoulders (“butterfly taps”)

·       Holding small buzzers that alternate vibrations in each hand

These movements mirror the brain’s processes during REM sleep and help unlock memories that have become stuck.

Think of it as walking into a room where papers are scattered everywhere — EMDR helps you read each one, make sense of it, and file it away.

As memories are processed, their emotional intensity lessens. You can still recall what happened, but it no longer feels overwhelming or defining.

  • EMDR can be a brief focused treatment, with one study showing that up to 90% of single trauma victims no longer had PTSD after three 90-minute sessions. For those with more complex trauma memories, focused treatment can be longer, or included within longer therapeutic work. This will include preparatory work which includes stabilisation and resources to help build coping skills and manage emotional distress.

  • Neurological research shows that bilateral stimulation calms the brain’s fear circuits and supports new, healthy neural connections.
    Within EMDR’s structured framework, traumatic memories are reprocessed and integrated, leading to:

    ·       Reduced emotional distress

    ·       Greater sense of safety and control

    ·       Increased emotional balance and resilience

  • EMDR may help if you experience:

    ·       Intrusive memories or flashbacks

    ·       Avoidance of trauma reminders

    ·       Anxiety, panic, or low mood linked to past events

    ·       Self-blame, guilt, or shame

    ·       Ongoing distress that hasn’t improved with other therapies

    EMDR offers a gentle but powerful way to heal — helping your mind and body complete the natural recovery that trauma interrupted.

View of a modern living room with a black sofa, a small round wooden side table with a white mug, a rectangular wooden coffee table, a vase with dried plants, and a beige rug.

I’m Here When You’re Ready.

If you’d like to know more about EMDR or explore whether it might be a good fit for you, please get in touch.


I offer an initial consultation to discuss your needs and answer any questions you may have..

Enquire about EMDR