EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful, evidence-based therapy designed to help people heal from trauma and emotional distress. It works by stimulating both sides of the brain (usually through eye movements, tapping, or sounds) while you recall the traumatic memory. This allows your brain to "clear the blockage in the river," helping the memory flow to where it belongs.
Understanding Trauma
Trauma isn’t just what happens to you – it’s also how your mind and body respond. When you experience a distressing or overwhelming event, your nervous system may become flooded. In ideal circumstances, your brain processes and stores the event as just another memory. But sometimes, the memory of that event gets stuck – frozen in time. This "stuck" memory, along with the thoughts, emotions, and body sensations attached to it, can show up in unhelpful ways: anxiety, nightmares, low mood, anger, or difficulty trusting others.
Think of your mind like a river. Under normal conditions, experiences flow downstream, where they’re processed, integrated, and remembered without causing distress. But trauma can act like a fallen tree blocking the river, causing a buildup of unprocessed memories, leading to symptoms and emotional overwhelm.
How EMDR Works
Our brains have a natural ability to heal from emotional wounds, much like our bodies do with physical injuries. Imagine breaking a bone. If it's treated quickly and correctly, it heals and eventually it may be hard to tell it was ever broken. But the bone is not treated properly, the body can only partially heal it and you may be left with ongoing pain and difficulty doing everyday things, like walking or lifting.
Emotional injuries are much the same. When an overwhelming emotional experience isn't attended to with care and understaning it can stay stuck in your nervous system as a trauma causing distress and emotional pain that impacts daily life. Just like a broken bone needs the right support to heal, our minds sometimes need help too.
EMDR helps creates the conditions for your mind to do the healing it was always capable of—but couldn’t manage without help. It doesn’t erase what happened, but it gives your brain the structure and support it needs to process the painful memories properly. With the right conditions, your mind can heal, and those painful memories can settle—no longer causing symptoms in your daily life.
The treatment process
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History Taking – Understanding your story, symptoms, and goals for therapy.
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Preparation – Learning calming techniques and what to expect.
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Assessment – Identifying the target memory and associated thoughts and feelings.
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Desensitisation – Using bilateral stimulation to reduce emotional intensity.
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Installation – Strengthening a positive belief to replace the old, unhelpful one.
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Body Scan – Checking for any lingering tension or sensations.
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Closure – Returning to a grounded state at the end of each session.
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Re-evaluation – Reviewing progress and addressing any new targets.
What can you expect after?
Whilst EMDR is not a panacea for all difficult emotions, most people are able to experince relief from emotional symptoms. After EMDR treatment is completed, it’s normal to feel lighter, relieved, and more in control. Many people say the memories that once felt overwhelming now seem distant or less intense. They're still there, but they don’t carry the same emotional weight. It’s like looking at an old photo—something that happened, but no longer triggers the same painful response. Some people feel tired or emotional for a day or two, especially after a powerful session. You might notice dreams, insights, or emotional shifts in between sessions – this is all part of your brain continuing to process.
FAQs
Is EMDR safe? Yes, when conducted by a trained professional, EMDR is considered very safe.
Do I have to talk in detail about my trauma? No, EMDR focuses more on how the trauma is stored in the body and brain, rather than reliving it in detail.
How long does EMDR take? It varies. Some people see results in a few sessions; others may need longer, depending on the complexity of their trauma.
Is EMDR like hypnosis? No. You stay fully awake and in control throughout the session.
Can EMDR be done online? Yes, many clinicians now offer effective EMDR therapy via secure telehealth platforms.
Is EMDR evidence-based? Absolutely. It’s recommended by the World Health Organization and the Australian Psychological Society for treating PTSD.