What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It’s a type of therapy that helps your brain process difficult or upsetting experiences and memories so they stop feeling overwhelming, especially those that the brain hasn't been able to full process, or 'put away'. It can be really helpful for trauma, anxiety, low self-esteem, and other emotional blocks.
How Does It Work?
Think of your brain like a filing system. Every day, your brain files away experiences, your thoughts, feelings, and body reactions, like putting papers into the right folders. Usually this happens smoothly, especially during sleep (REM).
But when something really upsetting or scary happens, your brain might struggle to file it properly. Instead, it leaves it 'out on the desk', always in sight, just in case it needs to protect you. The trouble is, those un-filed memories can keep showing up in unhelpful ways in your daily life: in your thoughts, emotions, and even in your body, long after the event is over.
EMDR Helps Your Brain File Things Away
EMDR helps your brain go back to the unfiled memory and process it properly. We use something called bilateral stimulation (BLS), which is gentle back-and-forth movements or sounds using both sides of your brain. This helps your brain unblock the stuck memory and process it, doing what it naturally wants to do: making sense of what happened, so it is no longer front and centre, it's just another memory and no longer impacts your emotions, thoughts and behaviours.
What does a session look like? Before We Begin Processing
After EMDR
EMDR doesn’t erase the memory, it just changes the way it feels. You won’t forget what happened, but it will feel less intense. Like it’s in the past, not running your life anymore.
You might feel:
Is It Just for Trauma?
Not at all. EMDR can help with:
In short, it helps you move forward, with more calm, confidence, and freedom.
Clients often say they feel lighter, calmer, and more in control after EMDR, like they’re no longer stuck in the past.
If this feels like something that could be helpful, or you'd like some more details, please use the contact form or bottom below.
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It’s a type of therapy that helps your brain process difficult or upsetting experiences and memories so they stop feeling overwhelming, especially those that the brain hasn't been able to full process, or 'put away'. It can be really helpful for trauma, anxiety, low self-esteem, and other emotional blocks.
How Does It Work?
Think of your brain like a filing system. Every day, your brain files away experiences, your thoughts, feelings, and body reactions, like putting papers into the right folders. Usually this happens smoothly, especially during sleep (REM).
But when something really upsetting or scary happens, your brain might struggle to file it properly. Instead, it leaves it 'out on the desk', always in sight, just in case it needs to protect you. The trouble is, those un-filed memories can keep showing up in unhelpful ways in your daily life: in your thoughts, emotions, and even in your body, long after the event is over.
EMDR Helps Your Brain File Things Away
EMDR helps your brain go back to the unfiled memory and process it properly. We use something called bilateral stimulation (BLS), which is gentle back-and-forth movements or sounds using both sides of your brain. This helps your brain unblock the stuck memory and process it, doing what it naturally wants to do: making sense of what happened, so it is no longer front and centre, it's just another memory and no longer impacts your emotions, thoughts and behaviours.
What does a session look like? Before We Begin Processing
- We start by getting to know you. We talk about what’s been hard and how it’s affecting you. We don’t jump into the tough stuff straight away.
- You’ll learn skills to feel safe and calm, even when thinking about upsetting stuff.
- When you’re ready, we choose one memory to work on.
- You’ll be asked to focus on that memory while doing some BLS (like following
a light with your eyes, gentle alternate tapping or using hand buzzers). - After each short round of BLS, you’ll just say what came up. It might be a feeling, a
thought, a memory, or even a body sensation. There are no right or wrong answers. - We keep going until that memory feels less intense, and we help your brain connect it
with positive, healthier thoughts. - You always stay in control. You can pause or stop at any time.
After EMDR
EMDR doesn’t erase the memory, it just changes the way it feels. You won’t forget what happened, but it will feel less intense. Like it’s in the past, not running your life anymore.
You might feel:
- More peaceful
- Clearer in your thinking
- Less triggered
- More in control of how you respond
Is It Just for Trauma?
Not at all. EMDR can help with:
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Depression
- Grief and loss
- Low self-esteem
- Phobias
- Chronic pain
- And more...
In short, it helps you move forward, with more calm, confidence, and freedom.
Clients often say they feel lighter, calmer, and more in control after EMDR, like they’re no longer stuck in the past.
If this feels like something that could be helpful, or you'd like some more details, please use the contact form or bottom below.
- EMDR: £75 for 1 hour, or £90 for 1.5 hours