What is EMDR Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapeutic approach that was originally developed to help individuals process and overcome traumatic memories. The goal of EMDR therapy is to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic experiences and facilitate the individual’s adaptive processing of those memories.
What is the process?
- Before starting EMDR, your therapist will work with you to identify specific memories or experiences that are causing distress. These may be memories related to trauma, negative beliefs about yourself, or challenging life events.
- Your therapist will help you develop coping mechanisms and relaxation techniques to ensure you feel emotionally safe and grounded during the EMDR process.
- Together with your therapist, you will choose specific memories or aspects of memories to target during the EMDR sessions. These targets may include disturbing images, negative beliefs, or associated emotions.
- The unique aspect of EMDR involves ‘bilateral stimulation’, such as rapid side-to-side eye movements, sounds, or tapping. This bilateral stimulation helps activate both sides of your brain, facilitating the processing of memories.
- During bilateral stimulation, you will focus on the targeted memory while allowing your mind to make new connections and associations. This process aims to desensitise the distressing emotions and thoughts associated with the memory.
- As the desensitisation occurs, your therapist will guide you in replacing negative beliefs and emotions with more positive and adaptive ones. This helps you reprocess the memory in a way that is less distressing and disruptive to your daily life.
- Each EMDR session concludes with a re-evaluation of your current emotional state. If there are any remaining distressing elements, they will be addressed in subsequent sessions.
How can I get access to this service?
To access this service, you’ll need to become a client with us. You can initiate the process by completing this self-referral form.
It’s important to note that EMDR therapy, like all therapies, may not be appropriate for every individual. We’re committed to working with you to determine the most suitable option based on your specific needs and circumstances.
