EMDR

I use EMDR because, in many cases, it works faster than other therapies I was trained in – though it’s not magic (people sometimes get a bit overexcited about the word fast). It can get to the hard-to-reach places that talking therapy doesn’t always access. We don’t necessarily need to know the exact reason for what you’re feeling – we start with what’s showing up in your body and emotions, and work from there.

You don’t have to describe the trauma or experience in depth for us to work on it. I will need to sketch out a ‘map’ of your life to help you navigate, but I don’t need a blow-by-blow account.

Done ethically by a trained therapist, EMDR is unlikely to re-traumatise you. My clients often report feeling lighter, freer, or like something unhelpful – a reaction, a pain, a persistent thought – has finally lifted.

About EMDR

What is EMDR?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It’s a therapy that helps people recover from the emotional impact of distressing or overwhelming experiences. Like the body, the mind has a natural ability to heal - but sometimes that process gets stuck. EMDR helps unblock it.

It’s well-researched and widely recognised by the World Health Organization and other leading health bodies. Studies show that for many people, EMDR can bring lasting relief - sometimes in just a few sessions. But it’s not only for trauma with a capital T. It’s just as powerful for the kinds of life experiences that leave you feeling small, not good enough, or stuck in old patterns.

What can EMDR help with?

EMDR was developed for trauma and PTSD, but it’s now used for a wide range of issues, including:

  • Anxiety and panic

  • Low self-worth or shame

  • Relationship challenges

  • Phobias or specific fears (e.g. flying, driving, dogs)

  • Grief and loss

  • Childhood emotional neglect

  • Feeling stuck or easily triggered

If there’s something that causes a strong emotional or physical reaction - even when it seems irrational - it could be a sign your system is holding on to something unprocessed. That’s where EMDR can help.

How does it work?

When something overwhelming happens, the brain doesn’t always process it properly. Instead, the memory can get stuck - tangled up with emotions, beliefs and body sensations. That’s why certain situations can feel disproportionately intense or triggering, even years later.

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation - typically eye movements, taps or hand-held buzzers - to help the brain reprocess these stuck memories. While you focus on a snapshot of the experience, your system does the work of filing it away properly.

You’ll still remember what happened - but it won’t feel as charged. Your reactions become more proportionate. You respond to what’s happening now, not what happened back then.

Is EMDR right for me?

You might come to therapy knowing you want EMDR, or we might discover it’s a good fit as we work together. I trained in EMDR after years of noticing how traditional therapy sometimes left people with insight but no relief - they knew why they felt the way they did, but the intensity wouldn’t shift. That’s when EMDR often made the difference.

We’ll go at your pace, with good preparation and grounding. Some issues - like a one-off incident - may resolve quickly. More complex or developmental trauma may take longer. If you’re working within a time frame, just let me know - we can talk about what’s realistic and useful.

If you’d like to explore whether EMDR is right for you, get in touch to book a free intro call.