When someone experiences a distressing event, their brain may become overwhelmed, preventing the information from being processed as a normal memory. This can cause the distressing memory to become ‘frozen’ on a neurological level. Recalling the memory can lead to intense re-experiencing of the event’s sensory and emotional components.

EMDR uses alternating left-right stimulation of the brain through eye movements, sounds, or taps to help reprocess these ‘frozen’ memories. This stimulation appears to facilitate the brain’s natural processing abilities, reducing the intensity of the memories and making them seem more like ordinary memories. The process is similar to the natural rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phase, where the eyes move rapidly from side to side.

The number of EMDR sessions required varies depending on the specific problem and individual history. Research has shown that a single traumatic event can often be processed within 3 sessions for 80-90% of participants. The overall amount of therapy needed will depend on the complexity of your history and the number of distressing events to be processed.

EMDR is a comprehensive therapeutic approach that goes beyond just eye movements. It involves a set of principles, protocols, and procedures aimed at reducing distress as efficiently as possible.

In your initial session, your therapist will gather your history, discussing your current distress, past difficulties, physical health, medication use, and support system. If EMDR is deemed suitable, your therapist will explain the EMDR model and theory to you.

Your therapist will guide you through relaxation exercises, such as ‘safe or pleasant place’ visualisations, deep muscle relaxation, and breathing techniques. Once you are prepared, you will target a distressing memory using eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation. You will focus on an image representing the event, along with associated negative and positive thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations.

During the session, your therapist will conduct sets of eye movements while you hold the image in mind. After each set, your therapist will ask what came to mind or what you noticed. Initially, the memory might be intensely distressing, but this typically decreases as the memory is reprocessed. The session continues until your distress is significantly reduced, and you will end with calming techniques.

EMDR can involve various methods to create bilateral stimulation:

• Manual Eye Movements: Following the therapist’s moving fingers.
• Light Bar: Following a moving light across a bar.
• Auditory Stimulation: Alternating sounds or clicks through headphones.
• Tactile Stimulation: Alternating taps on your hands or holding small vibrating devices.

These methods help facilitate the reprocessing of distressing memories.

When someone experiences a distressing event, their brain may become overwhelmed, preventing the information from being processed as a normal memory. This can cause the distressing memory to become ‘frozen’ on a neurological level. Recalling the memory can lead to intense re-experiencing of the event’s sensory and emotional components.

EMDR uses alternating left-right stimulation of the brain through eye movements, sounds, or taps to help reprocess these ‘frozen’ memories. This stimulation appears to facilitate the brain’s natural processing abilities, reducing the intensity of the memories and making them seem more like ordinary memories. The process is similar to the natural rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phase, where the eyes move rapidly from side to side.

The number of EMDR sessions required varies depending on the specific problem and individual history. Research has shown that a single traumatic event can often be processed within 3 sessions for 80-90% of participants. The overall amount of therapy needed will depend on the complexity of your history and the number of distressing events to be processed.

EMDR is a comprehensive therapeutic approach that goes beyond just eye movements. It involves a set of principles, protocols, and procedures aimed at reducing distress as efficiently as possible.

In your initial session, your therapist will gather your history, discussing your current distress, past difficulties, physical health, medication use, and support system. If EMDR is deemed suitable, your therapist will explain the EMDR model and theory to you.

Your therapist will guide you through relaxation exercises, such as ‘safe or pleasant place’ visualisations, deep muscle relaxation, and breathing techniques. Once you are prepared, you will target a distressing memory using eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation. You will focus on an image representing the event, along with associated negative and positive thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations.

During the session, your therapist will conduct sets of eye movements while you hold the image in mind. After each set, your therapist will ask what came to mind or what you noticed. Initially, the memory might be intensely distressing, but this typically decreases as the memory is reprocessed. The session continues until your distress is significantly reduced, and you will end with calming techniques.

EMDR can involve various methods to create bilateral stimulation:

• Manual Eye Movements: Following the therapist’s moving fingers.
• Light Bar: Following a moving light across a bar.
• Auditory Stimulation: Alternating sounds or clicks through headphones.
• Tactile Stimulation: Alternating taps on your hands or holding small vibrating devices.

These methods help facilitate the reprocessing of distressing memories.