EMDR

Both face to face and online sessions are currently possible. Usually sessions take place weekly. However, bespoke EMDR intensives can be arranged on request.

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy used to treat the symptoms of trauma.


When we experience traumatic events the thoughts, feelings and memories we have about those events can get stuck. It can be hard to move on from them.

The aim of EMDR is to help the brain to process distressing memories. This reduces their influence and allows clients to develop ways to more effectively get on with their lives.

  Who it’s for:
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is suitable for children and adults. The traumatic events that eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) can help with include:
  • Childhood sexual and/or physical abuse or neglect;
  • Emotional abuse;
  • Natural disaster;
  • Assault;
  • War related experiences;
  • Surgical trauma;
  • Road traffic accidents;
  • Workplace accidents.
EMDR is recommended by The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as the first treatment for people with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Length of treatment:
Sessions are held weekly and last up to 90 minutes. For most clients with a single incident trauma the therapy is usually short term (12 sessions or less). For clients who have experienced very severe trauma, or more than one trauma, the therapy can last for a year or more. 

Assessment:
Assessment starts with a full evaluation of your psychological wellbeing and we talk about the most appropriate treatment for you. 

Therapy sessions:
You are seen individually for eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR).
During therapy sessions you are supported to recall a traumatic event and at the same time receive bilateral stimulation. This means receiving stimuli in a rhythmic left-right pattern. The stimuli can be something you hear, see or feel. 

For example, bilateral stimulation could involve:
  • moving your eyes from side to side
  • tapping movements on different sides of your body
  • tones you hear through one ear then the other wearing headphones 
Effectiveness:
Research shows that eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) is at least as effective as other talking therapies in the treatment of symptoms of trauma. Talking therapy covers all the psychological therapies that involve a person talking to a therapist about their problems. Studies have found that EMDR can help people more quickly than other therapies. 

Risks and side effects
Talking and thinking about emotional problems can be difficult. For this reason some people can feel worse before they feel better. I will work with you to manage strong emotional reactions.

Alternatives 
Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing is not for everyone. There are a range of alternative therapies that I can provide and I will talk to you about them during assessment. 

 
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