EMDR Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy is a psychological method for treating traumatic events such as assaults, bullying, domestic violence, medical trauma and childhood physical and psychological abuse. EMDR Therapy aims to help resolve memories of earlier life experiences, and to desensitize triggers that bring on painful memories and anxiety. It also helps people move from unhelpful and negative beliefs about themselves to adaptive beliefs which greatly improve overall health and functioning. 

EMDR Therapy was developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro when she discovered that voluntary eye movements reduced the intensity of negative, disturbing thoughts. In 1989 she initiated a study on traumatized Vietnam combat veterans and victims of sexual assault, and found that EMDR Therapy significantly reduced clients' trauma symptoms. 

Originally, therapists used eye movement when doing EMDR Therapy. I use small tappers that clients hold - usually in their hands - which alternately vibrate to create the bilateral stimulation that is a key feature of EMDR Therapy.  EMDR is unlike traditional talk therapy, and when you process a memory it is closer to free association.   As an experiential therapy, I find EMDR really helps people access memories, to reprocess the feelings and beliefs that become entrenched with the trauma.  It also relieves the somatic aspect of trauma ie any memories or symptoms expressed through the tension and pain in the body.    

I am a Certified EMDR therapist, which means I have completed a 3-part training, plus I have completed over 10 years of group consultation and practice.  I am also trained in attachment focussed EMDR (by Laurel Parnell).

For further information on EMDR therapy go to www.emdria.org.