If something difficult has happened to you, knowing that it is over does not always stop it affecting you.
You may find yourself becoming anxious in situations that seem perfectly safe, avoiding certain places or people, feeling constantly on edge, or having memories that seem to carry the same emotional intensity they did when the experience first happened.
EMDR therapy is designed to help people process distressing experiences that continue to affect them in the present.
I offer EMDR therapy face-to-face in Swansea and online across the UK. If you are considering EMDR, this page gives you an overview of what it is, who it may help, and what you can expect from therapy.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing.
It is a structured form of psychotherapy originally developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro and is particularly well known for its use in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
EMDR is based on the idea that some distressing experiences are not fully processed. Although the event itself is over, memories of it can still trigger strong thoughts, emotions, and physical reactions.
You might logically know you are safe now, yet part of you still reacts as though the danger is happening.
EMDR aims to help these experiences feel less emotionally overwhelming so they feel more like memories from the past than something that continues to intrude on the present.
How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR involves bringing aspects of a distressing memory to mind while using bilateral stimulation. This commonly involves following movements from side to side with your eyes, although other forms of alternating stimulation can also be used.
You do not need to understand the neuroscience behind EMDR to have therapy, and researchers are still investigating exactly how different elements of EMDR contribute to its effects.
What matters from a client’s perspective is that EMDR is much more than eye movements.
There is an assessment and preparation process before memory processing begins. We look at what is currently troubling you, relevant experiences from your past, what you would like to change and whether EMDR is appropriate for you.
You can read What Happens in an EMDR Session if you would like a more detailed explanation of the process.
What Can EMDR Help With?
EMDR is most strongly associated with trauma and PTSD, but it may also be used when difficult experiences from the past continue to influence how someone feels or responds today.
People come to EMDR for many different reasons. These can include PTSD, childhood trauma, anxiety, distressing memories, fears and experiences that have contributed to negative beliefs about themselves.
Sometimes one obvious event lies behind the problem. For other people, it is the accumulation of experiences over many years.
You can explore this in more detail in EMDR for PTSD, EMDR for Childhood Trauma and EMDR Therapy for Anxiety.
Whether EMDR is suitable for a particular difficulty should be considered individually, rather than assuming one therapy is right for everybody.
Do I Have to Talk About Everything That Happened?
Many people worry about this before starting EMDR.
EMDR does involve identifying the experiences that are connected with what is troubling you, but you do not necessarily have to describe every detail of a traumatic experience aloud.
You remain involved in decisions about what you work on, and therapy should progress at a pace that is manageable for you.
There is also preparation before trauma processing begins. EMDR is not about walking into your first appointment and being asked to confront your most difficult memory immediately.
Does EMDR Actually Work?
EMDR has a substantial evidence base for the treatment of PTSD and is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a treatment option for adults with PTSD.
Evidence for EMDR varies when it is used for difficulties other than PTSD, so it is important not to present it as a treatment that works for everything.
If you would like to look more closely at the research rather than wade through it here, read Does EMDR Really Work?
Is EMDR Right for Me?
There isn’t a simple checklist that can determine whether EMDR is right for you.
Two people can have experienced similar events and need very different things from therapy.
Before beginning EMDR, we will talk about what is happening for you now, your history, what you would like help with and whether EMDR seems an appropriate way forward.
You do not need to arrive already knowing which memories need to be processed or exactly why you feel the way you do. We can explore that together.
For a more detailed look at suitability, read Is EMDR Right for Me?
EMDR Therapy in Swansea and Online
I am a BACP-accredited psychotherapist offering EMDR therapy to adults.
I offer face-to-face sessions in Swansea and online across the UK.
Alongside standard therapy sessions, I also offer EMDR Intensives. These are longer sessions that provide more uninterrupted time for EMDR work and may suit people who prefer a more focused format.
If you are considering EMDR but aren’t sure whether it is suitable for you, I offer a free 30-minute consultation where we can briefly discuss what you are looking for and whether I may be able to help.
Explore More About EMDR
Find out more about EMDR, what to expect from therapy and the different difficulties it may help with.
