EMDR Therapy

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. The idea behind it is that overwhelming experiences can be stored differently in the brain - not filed away as past events, but held live, along with the sights, sounds, sensations and beliefs that came with them. That is why a smell or a tone of voice can bring the whole thing rushing back.

In an EMDR session, you bring a memory to mind while following a simple repeated movement or sound - often my hand moving side to side, or gentle tapping. This dual attention appears to help the brain do the processing it could not do at the time. The memory does not disappear. It becomes something you can think about without being pulled back into it.

EMDR is one of the most well-researched treatments for trauma and PTSD, and it is recommended in international clinical guidelines alongside other first-line trauma therapies. Research also shows promising results for anxiety, phobias, grief and low self-esteem where these are linked to unprocessed memories, though the strongest evidence remains for trauma.

It is not the right approach for everyone, or for every stage of therapy. We spend the early sessions preparing - building resources, making sure you can settle yourself afterwards - and we decide together whether EMDR, counselling, or a combination of the two is the best fit for you.

Approaches I may draw on