A structured, trauma informed approach to trauma

EMDR therapy

EMDR — short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — is a well-researched, trauma-informed therapy that supports the brain and nervous system to process experiences that feel stuck, overwhelming, or unresolved.

Many people come to EMDR after doing a lot of talking, insight, and coping — yet certain memories, triggers, or body reactions still linger. EMDR offers a way of working with these experiences without having to relive them in detail.

How EMDR works 🧠

EMDR is based on the understanding that our minds and bodies have a natural capacity to heal, much like they do after a physical injury.

Think about a cut on your hand.
If it’s left alone and cared for, the body knows what to do — bleeding slows, a scab forms, and healing happens.

But if the wound keeps getting knocked or reopened, it struggles to heal properly.

Emotional wounds can work in a similar way.

When something overwhelming happens — especially if it’s sudden, repeated, or happens when we’re young — the brain may not be able to fully process it at the time. Instead, the memory can remain “stuck”, along with the emotions, body sensations, and beliefs that formed around it.

EMDR works with the brain’s natural information-processing system, helping it complete what was interrupted so the experience can be stored as something that happened in the past — rather than something that keeps intruding into the present.

What EMDR focuses on

In EMDR, we work with specific experiences or triggers — for example:

• a memory that still feels charged

• a situation that creates a strong reaction

• a pattern that keeps repeating despite insight

We gently bring attention to:

• the memory or issue

• what you notice in your body

• the thoughts or beliefs that formed (e.g. “I’m not good enough”, “I’m not safe”)

While holding this in mind, we use bilateral stimulation (most commonly eye movements, but sometimes tapping or sounds). This helps the brain reprocess the experience in a way that reduces its emotional and physical impact.

You’re not asked to relive the trauma or tell the story in detail. The process is carefully paced, contained, and guided.

What EMDR can help with ✨

EMDR is commonly used to support healing from:

• trauma and PTSD

• childhood and developmental trauma

• anxiety and panic

• grief and loss

• phobias

• patterns such as emotional eating, shutdown, or overwhelm

One client shared that EMDR helped her notice a shift in long-standing binge-eating habits connected to childhood trauma. As the emotional charge reduced, new choices became possible — without forcing or willpower.

What EMDR feels like in sessions 

People often describe EMDR as:

• focused but contained

• sometimes unusual at first

• surprisingly effective

• “weird, but in a good way”

It’s not uncommon for people to feel unsure initially — and also to notice meaningful shifts once the process unfolds.

As one client shared:

“I didn’t love EMDR at first, but I stuck with it. Something really shifted — a deep grief and sense of aloneness I’d carried for years. After that session, I felt more connected, and my relationships changed.”

What to expect

Before beginning EMDR, we usually spend one or two sessions:

• getting to know each other

• understanding your history and goals

• building safety and resources

• ensuring EMDR is the right fit for you

Some people notice shifts in just a few processing sessions; others benefit from a longer arc of work, particularly when trauma is complex or early.

EMDR is often described as a eight-phase model, but the number of sessions varies depending on:

• the nature of the trauma

• how many experiences are involved

• how your nervous system responds

We go at your pace — always.

EMDR and other approaches

EMDR can be used on its own or alongside other trauma-informed therapies, such as Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), Brainspotting, and parts-based work.

Some days the nervous system benefits from movement and reprocessing. Other days it needs slowing down and settling. We listen carefully and choose together.

Learn more about EMDR 🎥

Visit EMDR Association of Australia to find out more about EMDR. 

Their website includes short videos and clear information to help you better understand how EMDR works, what it’s used for, and whether it might be the right approach for you.

Is EMDR right for me?

EMDR may be a good fit if:

• certain memories or triggers still feel “alive”

• your body reacts even when your mind understands

• you want a structured, evidence-based approach

• you’re open to working gently with the nervous system

You don’t need to be certain before starting. Curiosity is enough.

Next steps 

If you have questions, want to explore whether EMDR is right for you, or are ready to begin, you’re very welcome to get in touch.

Curious whether EMDR could support you?
Book an initial session or reach out to begin the conversation.

You don’t need to be sure — curiosity is enough.

TL;DR 📝

• EMDR is a trauma-informed, evidence-based therapy

• It helps the brain process experiences that feel stuck

• You don’t need to relive or retell everything

• Sessions are structured, paced, and collaborative

• EMDR can be used alongside DBR and other approaches