What is EMDR ?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) uses a combination of integrative psychotherapy and bilateral stimulation (getting the two sides of the brain to work together with eye-movement, tapping or the 'butterfly hug') to support the integration and processing of events and experiences and ultimately allow a person to move forward with their goals and intentions with less distress, triggering or procrastination. 

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In a therapy journey, it can happen that just talking about an issue doesn't always help resolve it, and sometimes can make it worse. This typically means that there's an experience in the nervous system which might be 'stuck' or 'stalling', and which hasn't integrated fully for the person to be able to move on from that original moment of distress or experience. 

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With EMDR and the use of bilateral stimulation, we (therapist and client) work together to identify the trigger moments, and explore what the brain-body connection is trying to communicate, using the regular and rhythmic bilateral approach. This generally means a person can access and explore the past with what's called 'dual attention' so that the original trigger experiences can be observed, understood and 'made sense of' without overwhelm.

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Through processing these moments with bilateral stimulation, dual attention and the compassionate witness of relational togetherness, clients can better integrate the experience and feel freer in how they choose to navigate the world moving forward - no longer being triggered in the same overwhelming way. 

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EMDR is most commonly known for PTSD and trauma, but is increasingly recognised as supportive for many other areas of therapy and life, including some elements which help nervous system regulation in-the-moment (clients are taught these as part of their sessions to help navigate distress between sessions), and can also support shifting one's thinking if stuck, overthinking, procrastinating or to connect with a deeper sense of inner knowing around decisions, therefore helping in many areas in life such as self-knowledge, greater clarity of purpose, confidence at work or in relationships and a resolution to long-standing patterns which may no longer serve the adult client, but were helpful as a survival strategy (to feel safe or be accepted) at some point earlier in life.

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EMDR has helped a lot of my clients find resolution and inner peace or understanding of past and present contexts, enabling them to move forward with decisions or projects in their lives, or feel more fulfilled in their relationships and lifestyle choices. Some clients have also been to resolve long-standing fears or anxieties which had been affecting not just them, but their loved ones and their sense of freedom or spontaneity, and throughout, the focus is on what is helpful to support clients' current day-to-day life, resolving issues from the past or fears for the future, to allow the present to become easier to navigate and feel like they're more in control, not necessarily of outer events, but of their response and emotional life in relation to what happens day-to-day. 

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If this sounds like it could help, use the form below to get in touch for a 30 minute free call (phone or zoom) to see whether EMDR could be a good fit for you.

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