EMDR

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy method developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987. It was originally created to help people process traumatic experiences, but over the years, its applications have expanded significantly. Today, EMDR is widely used to support people dealing with anxiety, low self-worth, performance blocks, and lingering emotional patterns that feel stuck or overwhelming.

Rather than relying only on talking, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (such as guided eye movements or tapping) to help the brain and nervous system process difficult memories, emotional triggers, or limiting beliefs in a safe and contained way.

How EMDR Helps

Our brains are naturally wired to process and make sense of our experiences. But when something overwhelms us — whether a major life event or a series of subtle, repeated stressors — those experiences can remain “unprocessed” and continue to affect how we think, feel, and react in the present.

EMDR helps the brain reconnect and integrate emotional material that may be stuck in a loop without needing to talk through every detail. Through structured and supportive sessions, EMDR can ease the emotional charge of old memories, reduce reactivity, and create space for new insights, responses, and self-perception to emerge.

EMDR is a deeply adaptable method, and in my work I often use EMDR to help clients:

Let go of old emotional patterns that no longer serve them
Reduce anxiety and self-doubt
Rebuild confidence after difficult life events
Shift persistent inner beliefs that get in the way of growth or change
Move forward with more clarity and emotional calm

What EMDR Can Support

Stress and overwhelm
Low self-esteem
Burnout and emotional exhaustion
Anxiety or panic
Grief and loss
Body image concerns
Relationship patterns

Perfectionism or self-criticism
Life transitions
Performance blocks or creative blocks
Lingering emotional responses from past events
Difficulty moving on from something you “should be over”

EMDR is one of several tools I may use as part of an integrative approach. It can be helpful for a wide range of issues, including:

How I Use EMDR

Not everyone who works with me will use EMDR, and we’ll always decide together if and when it’s the right approach. It can be used as a stand-alone phase of therapy, or integrated into a wider process that includes relational work, nervous system support, and exploration of deeper patterns.

You do not need to recall every detail of a past experience for EMDR to work. The process is paced gently and respectfully, and always guided by your readiness and goals.

"The speed with which change occurs during EMDR contradicts the traditional notion of time as essential for psychological healing."

Dr. Francine Shapiro, the developer of EMDR

What Happens in an EMDR Session?

EMDR therapy harnesses your body's innate ability to heal itself. After a thorough assessment, I will guide you to focus on a specific memory. I will then recreate the eye movements that naturally occur during REM sleep by having you watch a light bar, hold flashing hand pulsators or listen to headphones that produce bilateral tones. Alternatively, sometimes I may use my finger or hand to move horizontally across your field of vision.

These side-to-side eye movements last for a brief period before stopping. After each set, you'll describe any changes in thoughts, images, emotions or physical sensations you experienced during that time. The memory you're targeting often transforms through this process, losing its intense painful charge.

With repeated sets of eye movements, the original memory tends to become neutralised - simply an impartial recollection of a past event. Remarkably, other associated memories may also start to heal simultaneously. This linking and reprocessing of related memories can catalyse rapid, profound improvements across many aspects of your life.

The eye movements in EMDR seem to facilitate your brain's inherent information processing abilities. This allows your mind to naturally integrate and resolve stuck, unprocessed memories in an organic, healing manner.

Duration of Treatment

EMDR can be a short-term focused therapy or part of a longer therapeutic process. Weekly EMDR sessions typically last 60 to 90 minutes. For longer-standing or more complex issues, it can take several months or longer of regular EMDR sessions to fully reprocess and resolve the original memories and associated disturbances.

There are two types of therapy: Individual EMDR Therapy and EMDR Intensive Therapy.

Will I Remain in Control During EMDR?

During EMDR, you remain in control, fully alert, and awake — it's not a form of hypnosis, and you can stop at any time. As your therapist I support and facilitate your self-healing, with minimal intervention. Reprocessing often feels spontaneous, with new insights and connections arising naturally. Many find EMDR to be a very empowering form of therapy.

Who Can Benefit from EMDR?

EMDR can accelerate therapy by resolving the impact of your past experiences, allowing you to live more fully in the present. While EMDR can accelerate recovery and enhance present living, it may not be suitable for everyone. It's important to be prepared for the possibility of experiencing strong emotions, physical sensations and disturbing thoughts or memories during treatment. However, the process is generally rapid, and any disturbing experiences during sessions are typically short-lived.

Evidence of EMDR's Effectiveness

EMDR has been validated through extensive research, with many controlled studies establishing its reliability and effectiveness. It is endorsed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) as an effective PTSD treatment.

For more information, visit EMDR Association UK