Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy was developed by psychologist, Dr Francine Shapiro, and is designed to help people recover from the effects of previous traumatic experiences. The approach is based on the Adaptive Information Processing model, also developed by Dr Shapiro, which states that just like our bodies, our minds are built to move towards health, but that sometimes they require some help to complete their natural healing process. EMDR therapy works with the beliefs, thoughts, emotions and body sensations associated with a traumatic event, resulting in neurological shifts that change the way the person feels about the event, their self-concept and their sense of safety in the world. Unlike more cognitive-based treatments, EMDR therapy can be conducted without the need for a detailed description of the traumatic event, which can make it easier for people to work with difficult experiences.

In addition to experiences that are traditionally defined as ‘trauma’, research has demonstrated that EMDR can also be an effective treatment for:

• Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias
• Chronic illness and medical issues
• Depression and bipolar disorders
• Dissociative disorders
• Eating disorders
• Grief and loss
• Pain
• Performance anxiety
• Personality disorders
• Sleep disturbance
• Substance abuse and addiction

Many of the psychologists on our team have completed EMDR training and incorporate this model of therapy into their work.

Further information about EMDR can be found at:
https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/