EMDR is often associated with treating trauma and PTSD, but research show it can help with a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties, particularly those linked to distressing or overwhelming life experiences.
What is EMDR therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR is a specialised therapeutic approach designed to help individuals process and heal from traumatic memories. This method uses bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, to reduce the emotional impact of trauma and promote healing.
- Recognised by WHO and NICE
- Effective for PTSD, anxiety, and other trauma-related symptoms
- Often delivers significant improvements in fewer sessions
EMDR can be used as a stand-alone therapy and is immensely powerful in many instances and sometimes I use it as a complementary therapeutic tool. It's simple and safe and you can find out more about it here:
Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) – PTSD UK
Whether or not you choose to incorporate EMDR as part of your therapy is up to you. All my work is tailored to the unique needs of each individual and designed to make you feel safe and relaxed.
What EMDR can help with
EMDR is best known for its effectiveness in treating trauma and PTSD, but research and clinical practice show it can help with a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties, particularly those rooted in distressing or overwhelming life experiences.
Rather than focusing on diagnoses alone, EMDR works by helping the brain process experiences that have become “stuck”, allowing them to be integrated in a healthier, less distressing way.
EMDR may help with:
Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress
- PTSD and complex PTSD
- Childhood trauma and neglect
- Single incident trauma (e.g. accidents, assaults, medical trauma)
- Developmental and attachment trauma
Anxiety related difficulties
- Generalised anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Phobias
- Social anxiety
- Health anxiety
- OCD (when appropriately adapted and sometimes alongside other evidence based approaches)
Depression and low mood
- Depression linked to past experiences
- Persistent feelings of shame, guilt or worthlessness
- Negative core beliefs such as “I’m not good enough” or “I’m unsafe”
Self-esteem and identity
- Low self-confidence
- Imposter syndrome
- Fear of failure or fear of success
- Inner critic and perfectionism
Grief and loss
- Complicated or traumatic grief
- Loss that feels unresolved or overwhelming
Stress and emotional regulation
- Chronic stress
- Emotional overwhelm
- Difficulty regulating emotions
- Feeling “stuck” in survival mode
Performance and situational anxiety
- Exam or work related anxiety
- Public speaking or performance anxiety
- Sports or creative performance blocks
Relationship and attachment difficulties
- Repeating unhelpful relationship patterns
- Fear of abandonment or rejection
- Difficulties with trust or intimacy
How EMDR is used
EMDR can be used as a stand alone therapy or as part of an integrative approach, alongside other therapeutic models when appropriate.
The way EMDR is used will always depend on your individual needs, history and goals. Some people benefit from focused trauma processing, while others benefit from careful, slower work that prioritises safety, stabilisation and emotional regulation.
How I work with EMDR
I practice EMDR therapy in its full, evidence based form, following a structured psychotheraputic approach rather than just using the technique. Many clients worry EMDR is mechanical, rushed, intense or “eyes moving or tapping therapy”. My EMDR approach is relationally attuned, paced carefully and tailored to your specific needs, not simply following a procedure or applying a technique in isolation.
I am trained by an EMDR approved trainer and use the 8 phase EMDR method as outlined by the EMDR Association guidelines.
EMDR works best when safety, trust and preparation are prioritised. The amount of time spent in each phase can vary depending on your specific needs.
The 8 phases of EMDR:
- Phase 1: History and treatment planning - We start by talking about your history current challenges, and goals for therapy. This helps us plan the work carefully and safely.
- Phase 2: Preparation and stabilisation - This is about building safety and trust because healing happens in a safe and trusting relationship. You’ll learn techniques to manage strong emotions, develop suitable coping skills, explore emotional regulation tools, and grounding strategies to help you manage any strong emotions that might come up during reprocessing. This ensures you feel safe and in control throughout therapy.
- Phase 3: Assessment - We will identify the specific memories or experiences to be processed in this phase. This includes exploring images, negative thoughts, emotions, and body sensations associated with the event.
- Phase 4: Desensitisation - This is the reprocessing phase. While using bilateral stimulation like eye movements or taps, we focus on the target memory. This helps your brain reprocess the experience, so it feels less overwhelming. Strong feelings may arise initially, but your brain's processing system will naturally begin to reduce the emotional charge of the memory.
- Phase 5: Installation - Once the disturbance from the memory has subsided, we strengthen the positive belief you identified in phase 3. This helps you integrate a new healthier and positive perspective about yourself and the event.
- Phase 6: Body Scan - We check how your body feels when thinking about the original memory, noticing any lingering physical tension or discomfort in your body. We will use more bilateral stimulation to clear any remaining residual discomfort. The goal is to release physical as well as emotional stress so your body and mind feel calmer.
- Phase 7: Closure - Each session ends with claming and grounding techniques so you leave feeling stable, safe, and supported, before leaving.
- Phase 8: Reevaluation - At the start of each new session, we assess your progress, notice changes, and plan the next steps. This ensures therapy moves at the right pace for you.
EMDR is a careful, step-by-step trauma informed therapy. We only move forward when you are ready. Safety and support are always the priority. My role is to make sure you’re supported, that you have the tools to stay regulated so you feel safe throughout the process and and facilitating effective therapy, rather than rushing to the “technique” stage. This approach ensures EMDR is effective, safe, and helps you process difficult experiences without retraumatisation.
A Gentle Note
EMDR is not about erasing memories or forcing you to relive painful experiences. It is designed to transform those memories so they no longer cause you pain and distress. It is a careful, structured, and client led process, where we only move at a pace that feels safe and manageable for you.
