Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing
What is Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences.
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Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal. However, EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma. When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound. If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain. Once the block is removed, healing resumes.
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EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes. The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health. If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. Using the detailed protocols and procedures learned in EMDR therapy training sessions, therapist’s help individuals activate their natural healing processes.
What can EMDR help with?
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - Examples include but not limited to, Accidents: Car crashes or house fires. Violence: Being a victim of a crime or assault. Disasters: Floods, earthquakes, or war. Medical: Sudden, scary health emergencies. Relationships: A painful breakup, divorce, or betrayal. Social: Bullying, harassment, or being "shamed" in public. Loss: The death of a loved one or losing a job. Childhood: Growing up with constant criticism or neglect.
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Depression - Including feelings of hopelessness, lack of motivation and low energy, poor concentration and self-harm.
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Anxiety
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Social Anxiety
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Health Anxiety
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
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Panic Disorder
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Phobias
How EMDR Works: The Fast Track to Healing
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EMDR is a structured, eight-phase therapy that helps your brain "re-file" traumatic memories so they no longer cause pain.
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The Process: Tapping into Your Brain's Logic
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Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR focuses on bilateral stimulation—typically guided eye movements similar to what happens during REM sleep.
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The Technique: You’ll hold a specific memory in mind while your eyes follow the therapist’s hand movements.
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The Result: This process "unlocks" the memory, allowing your brain to process it rapidly. It shifts the event from a painful, "live" experience to a calm, historical one.
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No "Homework": Unlike other therapies, EMDR relies on your brain's natural healing ability during the session, meaning no between-session assignments or deep diving into every painful detail.
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Real-World Transformation
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EMDR doesn't just change how you think; it changes how you feel.
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The Shift: A person who experienced bullying moves from feeling "vulnerable and afraid" to the core belief of "I am resilient and strong."
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Self-Driven Insight: The breakthroughs come from your brain’s own accelerated processing, not just a therapist’s interpretation.
The Outcome: Resolution is reached when your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors align to show true emotional health—often much faster than traditional methods.
One of the most remarkable things about EMDR is its versatility across the human lifespan. Because it relies less on "talking it out" and more on the brain's natural processing power, it can be adapted for almost any age.
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The number of EMDR sessions you require will depend on the type of difficulty you have. It is usually short-term, with each therapy session lasting 50 minutes.