Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR Therapy for Anxiety, Panic, PTSD and Trauma
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured form of psychological therapy that can help people process distressing or traumatic experiences.
When something overwhelming happens, the memories of that experience can sometimes remain associated with powerful emotions, physical sensations, images and negative beliefs about ourselves. Even when the original experience happened many years ago, certain situations, thoughts or reminders can trigger these responses and make it feel as though the past is still affecting the present.
EMDR aims to help the brain process these memories so that they become less emotionally distressing and disruptive. The memory itself is not erased or forgotten; instead, the way it affects you can change.
An important part of EMDR is ensuring that the work takes place at a pace that feels manageable. Preparation and establishing a sense of safety are important parts of the process before working directly with difficult or traumatic memories.
How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR follows a structured process. Together, we identify the experiences or memories that may be contributing to your current difficulties, along with the thoughts, emotions, physical sensations and beliefs associated with them.
During the processing stages of EMDR, you may be asked to bring aspects of a troubling memory to mind while also focusing on bilateral stimulation. This commonly involves guided eye movements, although other forms of bilateral stimulation may sometimes be used.
As processing takes place, the emotions, sensations and beliefs connected with a memory may begin to change. Something that previously felt immediate and overwhelming can gradually become less distressing and feel more firmly rooted in the past.
EMDR can also help you explore negative beliefs that may have developed following difficult experiences. For example, someone who has experienced trauma may have developed beliefs such as “I am powerless”, “I am not safe” or “It was my fault.” Therapy can help these beliefs shift towards perspectives that are more helpful and appropriate to your life now.
What Can EMDR Help With?
EMDR is particularly well known for its use in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma. It may also be used, where appropriate, when working with difficulties including anxiety, panic, distressing memories and experiences from the past that continue to have an impact in the present.
You do not necessarily need to talk about every detail of a traumatic experience for EMDR to be helpful. We can discuss what feels comfortable for you and whether EMDR is an appropriate approach for the difficulties you are experiencing.
Moving Forward
The aim of EMDR is not to make you forget what happened. Rather, it is to help reduce the emotional intensity attached to difficult memories so that they have less influence over your thoughts, feelings and everyday life.
For some people, this can bring a greater sense of perspective and help them begin to see themselves, their experiences and their future differently.
If you are wondering whether EMDR might be suitable for you, please feel free to contact me. We can talk about what you are experiencing and consider together whether EMDR could form part of your therapy.
