How Can EMDR Help Me?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a powerful and transformative therapeutic approach designed to help individuals heal from the effects of trauma. Whether the trauma stems from a single event, such as a car accident, violent attack, a traumatic birth, or from repeated or ongoing experiences, such as childhood adversity or complex trauma, EMDR can help process these painful memories and reduce their emotional charge in the here-and-now.

When we experience trauma, the memories associated with it can become "stuck" in the brain. Typically, the brain processes and integrates these memories over time, especially during sleep or through reflection and conversation. However, when trauma overwhelms our coping mechanisms, these memories remain unprocessed and continue to affect us. This can lead to distressing symptoms like nightmares, flashbacks, or emotional reactions triggered by things that remind us of the event. These unresolved memories can also distort our view of ourselves, the world, and others, leaving us feeling stuck, fearful, or disconnected.

The Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, which underpins EMDR, provides an insightful framework for understanding why some traumatic memories become stuck. According to the AIP model, the brain has a natural ability to process and adaptively integrate distressing experiences. However, when something overwhelms our ability to cope (especially in the context of trauma), this process is interrupted. EMDR works to "unlock" these stuck memories, allowing them to be processed in a healthier, more adaptive way. The result is that the memories lose their emotional intensity, allowing you to move forward with greater peace and resilience.

In EMDR therapy, we begin by working together to understand the unique impact of your trauma on your present-day life. We will explore how these past experiences continue to shape your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Together, we will create a timeline of your life, identifying key events and memories that may still be affecting you. This process helps us uncover recurring themes or patterns that have emerged as a result of the trauma.

Based on this information, we will then craft a personalised treatment plan that fits your specific needs. During EMDR, bilateral stimulation (typically guided eye movements) will help facilitate the processing of traumatic memories. The goal is to allow your brain to reprocess and integrate these memories, so they no longer elicit overwhelming emotional responses. The healing process can vary for each individual, and EMDR can be tailored to work alongside other therapeutic approaches I am trained in, if needed. We will collaboratively decide what works best for you during the assessment session, ensuring that the treatment plan aligns with your healing journey.

EMDR isn't just about relieving symptoms—it's about restoring the brain's natural healing ability and helping you regain a sense of control, empowerment, and wholeness. With each session, you'll move closer to emotional freedom, reclaiming your life from the grip of past trauma.

Here is a video explanation of how EMDR works: