EMDR
What is EMDR?
Sometimes, even when we tell ourselves “it’s over” or “I should be fine by now,” our body tells a different story. You might feel on edge, stuck in loops of fear or shame, or react in ways that don’t make sense to your present day self. That’s because unprocessed experiences don’t just live in our minds, they live in our bodies too. That self-awareness that you have has helped you understand your experiences at one level and EMDR helps you understand it and heal at the core level.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a powerful trauma therapy that helps both the mind and body release what has been held for too long. It supports you to those stuck moments, where your body is stressed. Think of things like your reactions, feelings over overwhelm or panic, shutting down and avoiding things. What that might look like for you, is your body’s way of showing you it is stressed and feeling unsafe.
Rather than retelling your trauma or reliving it in detail, EMDR works with your brain and body’s natural ability to process and heal. Through bilateral stimulation such as guided eye movements, tapping, or sound, we create a rhythm that helps your brain reorganise painful memories in your body release the tension or emotional charge that was left behind.
You don’t have to force yourself to move on. EMDR helps you gently integrate your past so it no longer controls your present.
How does EMDR support healing?
EMDR is a therapy that helps your mind and body process what got stuck, so you don’t have to keep reliving it, through panic, shutdown, people-pleasing, emotional outbursts, or that deep shame you can’t explain. You might notice patterns that keep repeating in your relationships, despite all your insight, hard work, and self-awareness. That is because you have lived through things that were scary, confusing or painful. Your body holds onto it, even though your mind is trying to move on.
EMDR can help with:
- Old experiences from childhood or past relationships
- PTSD and complex trauma (C-PTSD)
- Panic, fear or anxiety that comes out of nowhere
- Flashbacks which can be emotional or sensory, like images, smells, sounds
- Feeling constantly on edge or completely numb
- Struggling to feel good about yourself no matter what you do
- That inner voice that tells you that you are not safe or that it is your fault
- Grief, loss or pain that never got seen or heard
EMDR helps you safely reconnect with the parts of you that have been hurting, hiding, or frozen for a long time. So you can begin to feel like you again in way that fits for you.
What to expect in an EMDR session
We always start by helping you feel safe. That means getting to know each other slowly, building trust, and finding ways to help your body feel a little more settled, especially if it usually feels tense, numb, or on edge. You’ll never be pushed to go faster than you’re ready for and you’re in control. You will get to know the sensations in your body in a way that works for you.
When the time feels right, we begin EMDR with the intention that we have made. I’ll guide you to notice a memory, feeling, or body sensation, whatever feels ok to start with, while using light movements (like tapping, sounds, or eye movements) to help your brain and body process it in a new way.
You might feel emotions come up. Or you might feel nothing at all. You might get a memory, or maybe just a shift in sensation or a sudden breath of relief. However, it shows up is welcome and there’s no right or wrong. We sit with it together. No fixing, no forcing. Just allowing whatever comes, with support and care.
Many people say they feel lighter afterward
Like something that’s been stuck for years has quietly started to move. It can feel strange and a little bit magical. Many clients describe a feeling of lightness or relief after EMDR sessions, like something has changed and it can feel a little weird and magical at the same time.
And every step of the way, we honour your body, your pace, and your truth.
