What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a gentle but powerful therapy that helps people work through difficult or painful experiences that continue to affect them in the present. Sometimes past events don’t get properly “filed away” by the brain, leaving you feeling stuck, on edge, or as though the past keeps intruding on everyday life.

EMDR helps your brain do what it naturally wants to do, which is to process and make sense of those experiences so they no longer carry the same emotional weight. Many people find that memories become less intense, less intrusive, and easier to think about, allowing them to move forward feeling lighter and more in control.

During EMDR, we use simple left-right stimulation, such as guided eye movements, tapping, or sounds. This helps the brain process difficult memories in a safe, supported way. You remain fully aware and in control throughout, and EMDR is not hypnosis.

EMDR is well known for helping people who’ve experienced trauma, but it can also be helpful for anxiety, low mood, distressing memories, phobias, or any experiences that have a left a lasting impact.