EMDR Therapy

Updated: Sep 19

Learn how EMDR works in the brain and body, and why it may be suited to your needs.

If you’ve been through something overwhelming or painful, it’s common for those experiences to linger—showing up in your body, thoughts, or emotions long after the moment has passed.

"Exploring Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): The focus on eye movements in therapeutic healing."

What Is EMDR?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based therapy recognised by the World Health Organization and other leading mental health bodies. It helps the brain process and file away painful memories, overwhelming experiences, or difficult beliefs so they no longer feel raw or intrusive.

Trauma can sometimes stay “stuck” when the brain’s alarm system (amygdala) goes into high alert, memory filing (hippocampus) is disrupted, and regulation (prefrontal cortex) goes offline. As a result, memories may feel like they’re still happening—triggering flashbacks, panic, or physical reactions such as nausea, tightness, or a racing heart. EMDR supports the brain in resolving these responses so that past events can feel more settled in the present.

How EMDR Supports Healing

During EMDR sessions, you bring to mind a memory, emotion, image, or belief while your therapist guides you through brief sets of bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or alternating tones). This activates the brain’s natural healing system and can:

Calm the amygdala, reducing the sense of ongoing threat
Support memory integration, so events feel filed away
Strengthen emotional regulation, helping you feel steadier

You don’t need to go into detail or retell your story. EMDR works with how memories are stored in the nervous system rather than through extensive talking. It may feel right if talking about the past feels overwhelming, if other therapies haven’t shifted what feels stuck, or if your body remembers experiences you can’t easily put into words.

Research and Evidence

EMDR is one of the most widely researched therapies for trauma and PTSD. Studies show lasting symptom relief, often in fewer sessions than CBT. Brain imaging also demonstrates changes during EMDR—such as decreased activation in the amygdala and greater regulation from the prefrontal cortex. Evidence supports its use not only for trauma but also for anxiety, phobias, grief, chronic pain, and other difficulties.

Who EMDR Can Help

EMDR can be adapted for children, adolescents, and adults. It may be particularly helpful for:

Single-incident trauma (e.g. accidents, assaults, medical events)
Complex trauma or childhood experiences
Anxiety, panic, or phobias
Grief, loss, or life transitions
Persistent shame or low self-worth
Burnout or compassion fatigue
Chronic pain or body-based distress
Neurodivergent stress responses (including autism and ADHD)

It can also be used to strengthen internal resources—such as safety, confidence, or calm—before working with more distressing material.

A Trauma-Informed Approach

EMDR is paced with safety and choice in mind. Sessions begin with preparation—learning grounding skills, creating a calm place, and practising strategies for regulation and containment. This foundation allows memory work to unfold at a pace that feels manageable.

The aim isn’t to erase memories, but to reduce their emotional intensity and physical charge so the past no longer feels like it’s running the present. Some memories may shift quickly, others more gradually. Either way, the process is guided by your readiness, with support to build steadiness and connection along the way.