EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing is an evidence-based intervention, used to work with memories and traumatic material that are causing distress. EMDR seeks to promote the optimum conditions for a person to move through 'stuckness' and into a state of flow in life.

EMDR is endorsed by the NHS, the World Health Organisation, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

A wide variety of challenges, including:

Trauma
PTSD
Anxiety & Depression
Phobias

Stress Reduction
Addiction and Substance misuse
Relationship issues
Grief

There are a few theories about why BLS works, and it’s likely to be a combination of all of them. It enables the brain to process information deeply by mimicking REM sleep. BLS alone has been shown to reduce bio-markers associated with stress, so it has a physiological calming effect. It taxes working memory, thereby giving more free access to divergent modes of thinking. BLS creates a sort of mental noise that makes it smoother and easier to do deeper processing. I take all of this to mean that EMDR enables someone to do what they are already naturally capable of doing, it just facilitates and accelerates it.

A Typical EMDR processing session involves

Identifying and targeting mental blocks, memories, and imagined scenarios in your future, present, or past.

Apply BLS to instigate processing

Notice what happens and see what emerges

Towards the end of each processing session, hopefully there will be new insights and novel perspectives. In an ideal world, successful EMDR processing with mean being able to recall difficult or traumatic memories, but no longer having the emotional weight attached to them.

It’s my job to attune to you, hold the structure, and then get out of the way of the brain and body's natural processing!

Sessions are weekly or fortnightly.

Once you feel this is complete, usually you can return for sessions on a drop in basis, subject to my availability.

Sessions are usually the same time each week. For those with an irregular schedule I also run an online booking calendar.

EMDR can be a short term intervention, or be a part of a longer psychotherapy process.

EMDR requires preparation before processing. Factors such as resilience, coping strategies, support networks, ability to tolerate strong emotion all impact how long preparation takes. Some people it's one session, for others it can be months. Everyone's case is unique and different. Slow is safer.

Not every session has to be EMDR re-processing. I often disperse EMDR with talking therapy to integrate the processing, and explore current life challenges.

I offer a free 15 minute call to explore what you're wanting to work on, and any questions you have. If you don't like talking on the phone we can start with an initial paid session.

I will then email you my Working Agreement so you can see what to expect, that we will sign together in the first session.

EMDR is not a one size fits all, sometimes it is more appropriate for a person to engage in less intensive forms of therapy first. This will be discussed together as we being the process.

Contact Ben