EMDR Therapy for Trauma, Anxiety and Phobias
EMDR gets to the hard-to-reach places that other therapies often can't.
One or more of these might apply to you
You've already been to therapy, or you have enough insight to understand why you might react the way you do. Maybe you've tried CBT, but you can't quite manage your reaction; it's too fast. Understanding it hasn't shifted it, either.
The word 'trauma' doesn't resonate for you; it wasn't that bad, was it? But you're having disproportionately strong reactions to things.
You have a specific fear: flying, death, travel, or something else, that is getting in the way of your life.
You've seen EMDR in the media or someone has mentioned it to you, and although you're not sure exactly what it involves, it sounds worth exploring.
Sound familiar? Read on…
What EMDR works on
Take an obvious example of trauma. A soldier witnesses a roadside bomb overseas. Under extreme stress, their brain doesn't process the experience the way it normally would; the hippocampus, which processes memory, isn't functioning properly, and the memory becomes frozen, unprocessed, available to be reactivated in any similar situation. So when the soldier comes home, every loud noise; a firework, a slammed door, triggers the same physical sensations they experienced in that moment. The body responds as if the threat is happening right now, with flashbacks, physical reactions, and hypervigilance. That's a single-event trauma: one overwhelming experience that hasn't been properly processed, replaying on a loop. EMDR reprocesses that event and allows them to respond to the here and now.
Complex trauma works differently, but the impact is similar. Repeated experiences become imprinted in the mind over time: ; neglect, emotional unavailability, being bullied, a difficult childhood home. They don't necessarily feel like trauma, but the brain has been pattern-matching all along, and - sadly - our lizard brain has rather bad eyesight. When something in the present seems to resemble the past, it reacts as if the original threat is happening again: fast, physical, and faster than you can blink. Our brain is doing its best to protect us, but it is misfiring, drawing on inaccurate data.
That's why other types of therapy can sometimes fall short with this kind of thing. If the reaction is happening faster than conscious thought, there's no time to catch it, challenge it, or reframe it. EMDR works differently; it goes directly to the stored memory and helps the brain reprocess it, so the reaction reduces or stops altogether.
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reintegration. It is a therapy that helps people recover from the emotional impact of distressing or overwhelming experiences.
Like the body, the mind has a natural ability to heal; but sometimes that process gets stuck. EMDR helps unblock it. It works with memory to reduce the emotional charge of difficult experiences, so that the past stops interfering with the present.
It is one of the most researched therapies available, endorsed by the NHS, the World Health Organisation, NICE and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
How does EMDR work?
When something overwhelming happens, the brain doesn't always process it properly. The memory can get stuck, tangled up with emotions, beliefs and body sensations. Situations feel disproportionately triggering, even years later.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation; typically tapping, eye movements, taps or hand-held buzzers, to help the brain reprocess these stuck memories. While you focus the experience, your system does the work of filing it away properly.
You'll still remember what happened, but your reactions become more proportionate. You respond to what's happening now, not what happened back then.
What can EMDR help with?
EMDR was originally developed for trauma and PTSD, but it is now used effectively for a wide range of issues, including:
Trauma and PTSD, including complex PTSD and childhood trauma.
Anxiety, including health anxiety and social anxiety.
Phobias and specific fears: flying, driving, travel, death (thanatophobia), insects and more.
Childhood emotional neglect and difficult early experiences.
Relationship difficulties rooted in past experiences.
Low self-worth and shame.
Grief and loss.
Feeling stuck or easily triggered.
If something causes a strong emotional or physical reaction, even when it seems irrational, it could be a sign that your system is holding on to something unprocessed. That's where EMDR can help.
Is EMDR right for me?
You might come to therapy knowing you want EMDR, or we might discover it's a good fit as we work together. Either way, we'll talk it through.
Some people come having tried CBT for anxiety or trauma and found it hasn't quite shifted things. Others come knowing exactly what they want to work on. Others aren't sure at all. The introductory call is a good place to start.
Why I use EMDR
I trained in EMDR after years of noticing how traditional talking therapy sometimes left people with insight but no relief; they knew why they felt the way they did, but the intensity wouldn't shift. That's when EMDR often made the difference.
I am accredited with EMDR Europe, which means I have met the training and practice standards required for accreditation; it's not just a qualification, it's an ongoing commitment to doing this work properly. I also bring experience from the Priory and years of private practice.
EMDR is generally faster than other types of therapy, but sometimes people get a little overexcited about the word 'fast'. It is not going to clear everything in one session. For single-event trauma, like a car accident, it can work relatively quickly. For longer-term or complex trauma, childhood experiences, or deep-rooted patterns, it usually takes months rather than weeks.
What to expect
We always start with getting the lay of the land. With EMDR, you are the driver and I am your navigator, so we need to understand what has happened and why you have ended up here. Then preparation: before any processing begins, we make sure you have the resources and grounding you need to feel safe. That might take a few sessions, depending on what you're bringing.
From there, we work at your pace. Sessions are 50 minutes, online, and we check in regularly about how the work is going and what feels useful. We can also do longer sessions more frequently if you would like to work more intensively.
If you are working within a time frame, just let me know; we can talk about what is realistic and what we can usefully achieve together.