EMDR
EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITISATION REPROCESSING THERAPY
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a specialised form of psychotherapy that helps people process and heal from distressing memories and experiences. It is particularly effective for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression and difficulties linked to overwhelming or unresolved events.
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EMDR recognises that memories are stored in networks across the brain and body. Sometimes, highly charged memories become “stuck,” so current triggers set off old reactions. By engaging bilateral stimulation (for example, guided side-to-side eye movements, gentle hand tapping or alternating tones), EMDR activates the brain’s natural information-processing system. The result is that distressing memories can be reprocessed and integrated, so their emotional intensity reduces and they lose their disruptive impact in everyday life.
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How EMDR helps
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Reduces intensity of intrusive memories, images and sensations
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Softens emotional reactivity (e.g., fear, shame, anger) and increases a sense of safety
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Builds new, adaptive beliefs about self and the world
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Generalises improvements into day-to-day situations, relationships and work
What sessions look like
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Assessment and planning. We map your history, goals, current symptoms and strengths, then agree a clear treatment plan suited to single-incident trauma or more complex, repeated experiences.
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Preparation and stabilisation. We build skills for safe processing — calm-state access, nervous-system regulation and grounding — so you feel resourced before we touch anything difficult.
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Processing. Using EMDR’s standard protocol, we target key memories and linked material. Sets of bilateral stimulation help the system “unstick” and move naturally again. Where needed, I may use brief cognitive, emotional or somatic interweaves to keep processing flowing.
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Integration and future templates. We consolidate change, rehearse future situations and agree simple practices to maintain gains between sessions.
My approach
Clients describe my style as warm, clear and structured, with a steady focus on real-world change. We go at your pace, prioritising safety, collaboration and transparent review of progress. This includes careful pacing for complex trauma and attachment-related patterns, and practical tools you can use between sessions.
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Key features of EMDR
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Structured protocol. EMDR follows a specific, evidence-based, eight-phase protocol that is then tailored to your goals and context.
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Trained practitioners. EMDR should be delivered by a therapist who has completed extensive, approved training and receives EMDR-specific supervision. I have completed full EMDR Europe-accredited training and ongoing CPD.
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Short-term treatment. Many people experience meaningful change in a focused block once preparation is complete; more complex histories typically require a longer, phased plan with stabilisation and staged processing.
Who I work with
Adults seeking to process single events (e.g., accidents, incidents at work), complex or repeated experiences (including developmental and attachment-related trauma), medical or perinatal trauma, and residual patterns showing up as anxiety, low mood, shame, hypervigilance or avoidance. I also support professionals and leaders who want to reduce reactivity, recover from burnout patterns and build steadier nervous-system regulation.
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What you can expect
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Clarity. Clear goals, regular reviews and simple measures of change
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Safety. Strong preparation and stabilisation before we process difficult material
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Pace. Step-by-step work, using interweaves only when needed
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Integration. Practical tools for life, not just insight in the room
EMDR-informed coaching
I am one of the first cohort to train in EMDR-informed coaching. This extends EMDR-consistent principles into non-clinical coaching for performance, leadership and wellbeing, with clear boundaries around safety and scope. It offers structured ways to improve focus, confidence and resilience.
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Frequently asked questions
What does EMDR feel like?
During processing, you notice images, thoughts, feelings and body sensations linked to a memory while I guide sets of bilateral stimulation. People often describe a sense of moving through material rather than reliving it. We include breaks, grounding and agreed pacing so you stay within a tolerable range. You do not have to describe memories in graphic detail for EMDR to work.
How many sessions will I need?
Single-incident trauma can respond within a focused block once preparation is complete. Complex or repeated experiences take longer because we stabilise first, sequence targets and process in stages. We will agree a plan, review progress regularly and adjust as needed.
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Is EMDR right for me?
EMDR suits many people, particularly when present-day triggers still set off strong reactions. In assessment we consider goals, current stability, sleep, medication, substance use and any risks. If EMDR is not the best fit right now, we will discuss alternatives or preparatory steps.
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Are you qualified to practice EMDR.
EMDR is a regulated therapy and only practitioners who complete level 4 training are allowed to call themselves EMDR therapists. Please always check with your therapist. In addition, therapists should continue advanced training and development in EMDR. I have completed my core level 4 training and continue to develop as shown here. I am also a member of EMDR UK association.
My training and professional development
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EMDR Europe-Accredited Training (Parts 1–4), trainer Matthew Wesson
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Working with Personality Disorder & Emotional Dysregulation: Practical EMDR Applications
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Refresher Day: Revising the 8 Phases of the Standard Protocol.
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Refresher Day: Core Unblocking Strategies
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The Practical Integration of Flash Technique within the EMDR Standard Protocol
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Advanced Tools and Techniques Workshop
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Power Hour: Two-handed interweave
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EMDR-informed coaching certification
Next steps
If you are noticing that past experiences are still driving present reactions in your body, mood, relationships or work then EMDR offers a structured, compassionate way forward. Get in touch to discuss your goals, ask questions and decide together whether EMDR, EMDR-informed coaching or another approach would suit you best.
