What Is EMDR?
Your brain is remarkable at processing everyday experiences — but sometimes, something happens that is simply too much. Too overwhelming, too sudden, too painful. When that happens, the memory can become stuck — stored in a raw, unprocessed state that keeps the distress alive long after the event has passed.
EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — was developed specifically to help the brain do what it couldn't do at the time: process, integrate, and move on.
It is recommended by NICE and the World Health Organization as an effective treatment for PTSD — and recognised for a wide range of trauma-related difficulties, in both adults and children.
What happens in a session?
EMDR is unlike most talking therapies. Your therapist guides you to hold a memory gently in mind while following a series of side-to-side movements — a moving finger, sounds, or alternating taps. This bilateral stimulation mirrors what the brain does naturally during REM sleep, helping the two sides of the brain communicate and process what was previously stuck. The distress attached to the memory gradually reduces — until it no longer feels raw or overwhelming.
Think of it as the brain finally getting to finish what it started.
How long does it take?
Every person's journey is different. Some notice significant shifts in just a few sessions — others with more complex trauma may benefit from a longer course of work. We discuss this together from the outset, and the pace is always led by you.