EMDR Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing therapy is a structured, evidence-based psychological treatment originally developed for post-traumatic stress disorder.
EMDR can help people process traumatic memories and other distressing experiences that continue to influence how they feel, think, relate and respond in the present.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
When an experience is overwhelming, aspects of it may remain insufficiently processed and integrated. The memory may continue to be associated with intense emotion, physical sensations, negative beliefs or a sense that the event is still happening.
This can contribute to intrusive memories, anxiety, avoidance, emotional shutdown, shame, hypervigilance and automatic reactions to present-day situations that resemble the original experience.
EMDR therapy aims to help these experiences become more adaptively processed. Distressing memories may become less emotionally and physically disturbing and feel more clearly located in the past.
How EMDR Works
During EMDR processing, you briefly attend to aspects of a distressing memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as alternating left-to-right eye movements, tapping or auditory tones.
The precise mechanisms underlying EMDR continue to be researched. Proposed explanations include effects on working memory, attention, emotional arousal and the integration of autobiographical memory.
What EMDR May Help With
EMDR has a substantial evidence base for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. It is also used clinically with a broader range of difficulties where distressing experiences, memories or learned threat responses contribute to current symptoms.
Depending on the individual formulation, EMDR may be relevant to:
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Single-incident trauma
• Distressing or intrusive memories
• Anxiety, panic and phobic responses
• Persistent shame or negative beliefs about yourself
• Grief or loss associated with distressing experiences
• Medical or birth-related trauma
• Relationship experiences that continue to trigger intense emotional reactions
• Anticipatory anxiety about future situations
EMDR is not suitable for every concern, and alternative treatments may be recommended.
Before trauma processing begins, we consider your current stability, life circumstances, available support and capacity to remain present during emotionally demanding work. Some people are ready to begin focused processing relatively quickly, while others benefit from a period of preparation.
A fixed number of processing sessions cannot be predicted in advance. Treatment length depends on your history, current symptoms, goals, available resources and response to therapy.
EMDR for Complex Trauma and Dissociation
EMDR treatment for a discrete traumatic event can be different from treatment for longstanding, repeated or early trauma.
Complex trauma may involve multiple interconnected experiences, attachment disruptions, dissociation, conflicting protective responses and deeply established beliefs about yourself or relationships.
For people with early childhood or pre-verbal trauma, chronic traumatic stress or significant dissociative symptoms, EMDR may need to be adapted and integrated with preparatory or parts-oriented work. In some cases, Deep Brain Reorienting may be considered as an alternative or complementary trauma-processing approach.
Learn More About Deep Brain Reorienting
Standard EMDR Appointments and EMDR Intensives
EMDR can be provided within standard 55-minute therapy appointments. For some suitable clients, longer or more concentrated sessions may allow focused work on a clearly identified treatment goal.
EMDR intensives involve extended treatment of focused treatment usually targeting a specific area of concern. Suitability is assessed beforehand, and preparation and follow-up are included in the treatment plan.
Learn More About EMDR Intensives
Taking the Next Step
If you are considering EMDR therapy, you can book a complimentary 15-minute matching call to briefly discuss what you are looking for and whether my practice may be a suitable fit.
