What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It’s a powerful therapy that helps people process distressing experiences, shift negative self-beliefs, and feel more at peace with their past. While it’s often used for trauma, EMDR can also help with anxiety, low self-esteem, and other emotional blocks.
At the heart of EMDR is something called bilateral stimulation (BLS), which simply means using movement or sensation on both sides of the body. This can be done in different ways: with gentle pulsators which you can hold in your hands, tapping or with specially designed sounds in headphones (online has an option of using a light-bar). You’ll be able to choose what feels most comfortable for you, and we can try them together.
How EMDR Works... Think of Your Brain Like a Filing System
Imagine your brain is like a room full of filing cabinets. Every day, your brain is working hard to sort and store your experiences across three different channels:
Most of the time, your brain is really good at filing things away, especially during REM sleep (that’s the part of sleep where your eyes move quickly, and yes, that’s where the 'eye movement' in EMDR comes in!).
But when something overwhelming or traumatic happens, your brain might not be able to process it properly. Instead of filing it away, it leaves it ‘out on the desk’, so it can keep a close eye on it, just in case it needs to protect you again.
The problem is, when those unfiled memories stay ‘out in the open,’ they can interfere with your daily life. They can colour how you see yourself, how you react to new situations, and how you relate to others, even if the original experience isn’t happening anymore.
Helping the Brain Do What It Naturally Wants to Do
Your brain actually wants to heal – it wants to make sense of things and move forward. EMDR helps support this natural process.
We’ll begin by building a sense of safety and control. We’ll strengthen your Window of Tolerance, that’s your ability to stay grounded and present even when big emotions come up. You’ll learn skills to calm your body, soothe your emotions, and feel secure while we work.
We’ll also introduce the idea of becoming an Observer, learning how to notice your thoughts, emotions, and body sensations with curiosity rather than judgment. This helps create a little distance, so you’re not overwhelmed by what you’re feeling, and you can respond instead of react.
The Processing Phase
Once you feel ready and equipped, we’ll gently explore the memories that need attention. Using bilateral stimulation, we’ll guide your brain through its natural process of making sense of those experiences, so they can finally be ‘filed away’ in a way that no longer gets in the way of your life.
You won’t forget what happened, but it will feel different. Instead of those memories feeling raw or triggering, they’ll just become part of your story, no longer taking up space at the front of your mind or affecting your day-to-day life.
Moving Forward
EMDR doesn’t erase memories, it helps you relate to them in a new, more peaceful way. You gain clarity, emotional freedom, and a greater sense of inner calm. And most importantly, you get to reclaim your present and your future.
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It’s a powerful therapy that helps people process distressing experiences, shift negative self-beliefs, and feel more at peace with their past. While it’s often used for trauma, EMDR can also help with anxiety, low self-esteem, and other emotional blocks.
At the heart of EMDR is something called bilateral stimulation (BLS), which simply means using movement or sensation on both sides of the body. This can be done in different ways: with gentle pulsators which you can hold in your hands, tapping or with specially designed sounds in headphones (online has an option of using a light-bar). You’ll be able to choose what feels most comfortable for you, and we can try them together.
How EMDR Works... Think of Your Brain Like a Filing System
Imagine your brain is like a room full of filing cabinets. Every day, your brain is working hard to sort and store your experiences across three different channels:
- Thinking Channel – your thoughts, images, and memories
- Emotional Channel – the feelings that come with those experiences
- Body Channel – how your body reacts (like a racing heart, tension, or sensations), as well as your senses and gut instincts
Most of the time, your brain is really good at filing things away, especially during REM sleep (that’s the part of sleep where your eyes move quickly, and yes, that’s where the 'eye movement' in EMDR comes in!).
But when something overwhelming or traumatic happens, your brain might not be able to process it properly. Instead of filing it away, it leaves it ‘out on the desk’, so it can keep a close eye on it, just in case it needs to protect you again.
The problem is, when those unfiled memories stay ‘out in the open,’ they can interfere with your daily life. They can colour how you see yourself, how you react to new situations, and how you relate to others, even if the original experience isn’t happening anymore.
Helping the Brain Do What It Naturally Wants to Do
Your brain actually wants to heal – it wants to make sense of things and move forward. EMDR helps support this natural process.
We’ll begin by building a sense of safety and control. We’ll strengthen your Window of Tolerance, that’s your ability to stay grounded and present even when big emotions come up. You’ll learn skills to calm your body, soothe your emotions, and feel secure while we work.
We’ll also introduce the idea of becoming an Observer, learning how to notice your thoughts, emotions, and body sensations with curiosity rather than judgment. This helps create a little distance, so you’re not overwhelmed by what you’re feeling, and you can respond instead of react.
The Processing Phase
Once you feel ready and equipped, we’ll gently explore the memories that need attention. Using bilateral stimulation, we’ll guide your brain through its natural process of making sense of those experiences, so they can finally be ‘filed away’ in a way that no longer gets in the way of your life.
You won’t forget what happened, but it will feel different. Instead of those memories feeling raw or triggering, they’ll just become part of your story, no longer taking up space at the front of your mind or affecting your day-to-day life.
Moving Forward
EMDR doesn’t erase memories, it helps you relate to them in a new, more peaceful way. You gain clarity, emotional freedom, and a greater sense of inner calm. And most importantly, you get to reclaim your present and your future.
- EMDR £90 for 90 minutes