Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of therapy that helps people heal from traumatic or distressing life experiences by encouraging them to focus on a trauma memory while also engaging in bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, sounds). This process is associated with a reduction in the intensity of emotional disturbance of trauma memories. EMDR therapy is one of the most extensively researched treatments for trauma and has demonstrated strong effectiveness across diverse populations and trauma types. It is recognised as an evidence-based treatment by major health organisations worldwide, including the World Health Organization and the New Zealand Ministry of Health.
How does it work?
Our brains have a natural way to recover from traumatic or distressing experiences. However, some experiences are so overwhelming that they become "stuck" and cannot be processed normally. When this happens, distress remains unresolved and can result in upsetting symptoms such as intrusive images, unwanted thoughts, nightmares, flashbacks, persistent feelings of being unsafe, and other psychological difficulties.
EMDR therapy helps your brain work through these stuck memories in a way it couldn't manage on its own. During sessions, you'll focus on the traumatic memory whilst following your therapist's hand movements with your eyes, or experiencing gentle taps or sounds. This bilateral stimulation activates your brain's natural healing process, allowing it to properly process and store the traumatic memory.
As treatment progresses, the emotional intensity of the memories gradually reduces. You'll still remember what happened, but it won't feel as overwhelming or distressing. Many clients describe the shift as the memory feeling more like "something that happened in the past" rather than something that feels like it's happening right now. The disturbing emotions are resolved, and you're able to draw new meaning from your experiences. Along with this, most people notice practical improvements in their day-to-day life, better sleep, fewer intrusive reminders, less anxiety, and feeling more like themselves again.
EMDR in my practice
EMDR has become an invaluable tool in my daily clinical practice for treating clients who have experienced trauma or distressing events. While the process can be challenging, it produces meaningful change. Clients who complete EMDR treatment regularly describe the experience as worthwhile, reporting significant reductions in their distressing symptoms and improvements in their overall functioning.
How is it different from other forms of therapy?
EMDR therapy works quite differently from other therapeutic approaches. Whilst many therapies focus on changing your thoughts, emotions and behavioural responses to trauma memories, EMDR takes a more direct route, it allows the brain to process the trauma memory naturally. Rather than teaching you new ways to think about or cope with your trauma, EMDR works with your brain's natural healing abilities to process memories that have become "stuck."
The key difference lies in the approach. Traditional talk therapies often involve discussing the trauma in detail, analysing your reactions, directly challenging thoughts, and learning coping strategies. EMDR, on the other hand, doesn't require you to talk extensively about what happened. Instead, it uses bilateral stimulation, (eye movements, taps, or sounds) to help your brain reprocess traumatic memories.
Think of it as helping your brain complete the healing process it started but couldn't finish on its own. This means EMDR can often work more quickly than traditional therapies, and many clients find it less emotionally exhausting because you're not repeatedly talking through every detail of your trauma. You're simply allowing your brain to do what it does naturally, heal and move forward.