Eye Motion Desensitisation and Reprocessing
EMDR is an evidence based treatment for trauma used in lots of organisations including the NHS.
EMDR can help work through difficult memories and experiences which feel impossible to move on from, or which talking therapy is not able to shift.
EMDR is a good choice if you experience anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, nightmares, or overwhelming emotions. It is also good if you struggle in close relationships or get distressed by conflict at home or at work. It is understandable that difficult moments in our lives can affect us deeply, but EMDR can bring enormous relief to upsetting events.
I use attachment focused EMDR in my work, which builds on the trust in our relationship to support your in working on your difficulties.
We have an open dialogue about how the therapy is going for you, and what resources you may need to support you between sessions.
We begin by discussing the EMDR model, and any fears or concerns you may have about the work. Usually people have a lot of anxiety entering into EMDR, and therefore it is important to take the time to be as informed as possible.
We process by you tapping your hands left and right over your chest in a very gentle way. The processing can take only a few minutes, but it may also involve working on a memory or problem over several sessions.
Vision
The sections of tapping are quite short and there are breaks in between to rest and to check in with how you are doing. Once you get going, the processing is very quick.
Trauma is often not only about what has happened, but also about how we see the world as a result of our negative experiences. Therefore it is important to work with this in a compassionate way as we process together.
The aim is always to end the session in a calm state, using the tools from earlier sessions to come back into the here and now. This sometimes involves mindfulness techniques, or other supports you find helpful.
At the start of each session we discuss how you are doing with the distress around your experiences to see if our work is giving you what you need. I am always happy to respond to your feedback and make adjustments wherever you need them.
