What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing.
​
EMDR helps people to recover from difficulties that have been caused by painful or traumatic events in their lives. The theory is that the memories are not properly processed, and are easily triggered - causing distress. It helps the brain to reprocess, and properly store, these memories to make them less distressing and to reduce the impact of the past pain.
​
EMDR is typically known for the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but can also help with other mental health difficulties including depression and anxiety.
​
I offer EMDR in Swaffham, Norfolk, and online.
​
What are EMDR sessions like?
The first few sessions will focus on assessment - we will talk about the difficulties you are experiencing, and what memories are still continuing to distress or bother you in the here and now. We will discuss the goals that you have for therapy, and what you would like life to look like going forwards.
​
Once we have agreed on a focus for the sessions, we kickstart the brain's natural drive to process memories using side to side eye movements, or "butterfly taps" on your shoulders while thinking about the distressing memory. I will ask you to let your mind "go with" whatever some up, and just notice what happens. This sounds slightly bizarre or odd, but it has been found to enhance memory processing. We will repeat this process until the memory causes you less distress. This may happen in one session, or could take more than one session. We would then repeat this process with any other distressing memories, if there is more than one that you would like to focus on.
​
We may also focus on helping you to manage current triggers, and upcoming situations that could be causing you to feel anxious, but this is not always needed.
​
For more information on EMDR, please click here: EMDR Association UK
​