What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured psychotherapy developed specifically to help people process and heal from traumatic and distressing experiences. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn’t require you to talk in detail about the traumatic event. Instead, it works directly with how the memory is stored in the brain, using bilateral stimulation — typically guided eye movements, though tapping or sound can also be used — while you briefly focus on the memory.

How Does EMDR Work?

When we experience trauma, memories can become “stuck” — stored in a way that keeps the original distress, physical sensations, and negative beliefs attached to them. This is why a trauma memory can still feel overwhelming or intrusive even years later, and why it can be triggered by everyday reminders.

EMDR is thought to help the brain reprocess these stuck memories, similar to the way memories are naturally processed during REM sleep. As reprocessing occurs, the memory typically becomes less distressing and disconnects from the intense emotional and physical reactions it once triggered while the memory itself isn’t erased, its hold on you changes.

Why is EMDR Effective?

EMDR is one of the most extensively researched trauma therapies available, supported by more than 30 randomised controlled trials. It’s recognised as a first-line treatment for PTSD by major health bodies internationally, including the World Health organisation, the American Psychological Association, and the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Australian research and clinical guidelines support this evidence base. Phoenix Australia he national centre for posttraumatic mental health includes EMDR among its recommended treatments in the Australian Guidelines for the Treatment of Acute Stress Disorder and PTSD. Australian researchers have also contributed directly to the international evidence base a multicentre randomised controlled trial across sites in Australia, Germany, and the Netherlands (led in part by the University of Western Australia) found EMDR to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for PTSD arising from childhood trauma.

Research also shows EMDR is comparably effective to trauma-focused CBT for treating PTSD, and one recent cost-effectiveness analysis found EMDR to be the most cost-effective intervention when compared to ten other treatment approaches, including trauma-focused CBT.

A key advantage clients often value is that EMDR doesn’t require detailed verbal recounting of the traumatic event or extensive between-session homework, which can make it feel more manageable for people who find it difficult to talk through their trauma directly.

What EMDR Can Help With

While EMDR is best known and most extensively researched for PTSD, it is also used to support people experiencing:

• Single-incident and complex trauma
• Anxiety and phobias
• Grief and loss
• Low self-esteem linked to past experiences
• Distressing or intrusive memories

What to Expect

EMDR follows a structured, phased approach. Early sessions focus on building safety, trust, and coping strategies before any trauma processing begins you’re never asked to dive into difficult memories before you’re ready. From there, sessions focus on reprocessing targeted memories using bilateral stimulation, guided by your therapist throughout. The number of sessions needed varies depending on the complexity of what you’re working through.

Getting Started

If past experiences are still affecting your life today, EMDR may help you process them and move forward. [Contact us / Book a session link as needed]

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