EMDR therapy: what it is and who it helps

The method in brief

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. The method was developed by the American psychologist Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. Today the World Health Organization recommends EMDR for post-traumatic stress.

How it works

A difficult event sometimes gets “stuck” in memory. When a person recalls it, they feel the same fear again, as if it were all happening now.

During EMDR you hold the memory in mind while the therapist guides bilateral stimulation: eye movements from side to side, light tapping or sounds. This helps the brain process the experience, and the memory gradually becomes just a memory, without its former sharpness.

How the work goes

• Getting to know each other, taking a history and making a therapy plan.
• Preparation: we learn stabilisation techniques so that you feel safe.
• Processing memories with bilateral stimulation.
• Checking the result and consolidating it.

What EMDR helps with

• The aftermath of trauma and PTSD
• Phobias and fears
• Anxiety linked to past experiences
• Painful losses

EMDR is not hypnosis. You are aware the whole time, in control of the process, and can stop at any moment.

How many sessions are needed

Sometimes one specific event can be worked through in a few sessions. With complex or long-lasting trauma the work takes longer, and the preparation stage becomes especially important.