Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing
Trauma therapy
Feeling stuck in the past?
Have you ever felt stuck in the past? Like a difficult memory keeps replaying in your mind, causing anxiety, sadness, or even nightmares? Or like you cant break free of old patterns. You're not alone. Many people experience these lingering effects of past traumas, big or small.
That's where EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) therapy comes in. It's a powerful approach that can help you heal from distressing memories and past hurts to move forward with your life.
How does it work?
Imagine your mind as a computer. Sometimes, after a difficult experience, our minds can get "stuck" processing that memory. It's like the computer's got a glitch! This is why this thing that happened in the past keeps coming up in the present as our mind is trying to make sense of what happened. EMDR therapy helps your brain "reboot" and process those tough memories in a healthy way.
Here’s the gist.
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1. Resourcing.
Before we do anything, we first build your confidence and ability to manage difficult emotions as they’re a big part of memories. This ensures that when we get to processing the difficult experiences we keep you safe.
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2. Identifying the issue.
We work together to pinpoint the specific memory or situation that's causing you distress.
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3. Gentle eye movements.
You'll follow our finger as it moves back and forth, watch a light bounce back and forth or maybe even hold some alternating buzzing pebbles. This creates whats called bilateral stimulation that helps your brain start processing the memory. Think of it like your mind is "rebooting" – the memory becomes less intense and upsetting.
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4. Rebooting your mind.
This "overloading" effect helps your brain process and store the memory in a different way. It's like your mind is "re-wiring" itself or re-organising how it stores the memory.
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5. Feeling better.
As the memory is processed, you might notice a shift in how you feel about it. It might become less vivid or upsetting. You might experience a decrease in negative emotions like anxiety, fear, or sadness. You might develop more positive beliefs about yourself and the world.
The benefits?
Less intense memories: Those upsetting thoughts and images won't feel as overwhelming.
Reduced distress: You'll experience less anxiety, fear, and sadness related to the memory.
A sense of peace: You'll feel more calm and in control.
Beyond symptom reduction: EMDR can also help you develop greater self-awareness, resilience, and emotional regulation skills.
Is EMDR right for you?
EMDR can be helpful for a wide range of issues, including:
Trauma
PTSD and CPTSD
Anxiety
Depression
Panic attacks
Phobias
Eating disorders and body image issues
