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EMDR Therapy

EMDR Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing
Sometimes the mind gets stuck. EMDR helps it move again.
What Is EMDR?
What Is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing — EMDR — is a structured, evidence-based therapy developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Francine Shapiro. It’s now one of the most widely recognised and rigorously researched treatments for trauma and PTSD and is recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE).

EMDR works by helping your brain safely process memories that have become “stuck” — experiences that still feel raw, present, or overwhelming, even if they happened years ago. Rather than simply talking about what happened, EMDR helps the brain reprocess those memories, so they lose their intensity and start to feel like the past.

It mimics the brain’s own natural healing mechanism – like what happens during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep – allowing traumatic or distressing experiences to be integrated rather than replayed.

How Could EMDR Help You?
How Could EMDR Benefit You?

EMDR may be a good fit if any of the following resonate with you:

  • You’ve experienced something distressing that has stayed with you — such as an accident, assault, medical procedure, sudden loss, or another traumatic event (single-event trauma or PTSD)
  • You’ve been through repeated or prolonged difficult experiences, including childhood adversity, neglect, abuse, or ongoing instability (complex or developmental trauma)
  • You experience anxiety, panic, hypervigilance, or fears that feel out of proportion to what’s happening now (anxiety disorders, panic or phobias)
  • You have intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, distressing memories, or upsetting images that appear unexpectedly (post-traumatic symptoms)
  • You’ve believed for years that you’re not good enough, not safe, or somehow to blame, despite knowing logically it isn’t true (negative core beliefs such as “I’m worthless”, “I’m not safe”, or “It was my fault”)
  • You carry shame, guilt, or self-blame about experiences that happened to you or around you (trauma-related shame and attachment wounds)
  • You feel disconnected from yourself, your emotions, your body, or life around you (dissociation or emotional disconnection)
  • You struggle with sleep, concentration, or managing your emotions since difficult experiences (trauma-related emotional dysregulation)
  • Your low mood or depression feels connected to painful life experiences rather than “coming out of nowhere” (trauma-related depression)
  • You feel held back by anxiety in work, sport, public speaking, or other important situations (performance anxiety)
  • You’re neurodivergent and have experienced trauma, chronic overwhelm, or sensory stress that other therapies haven’t fully addressed (trauma experienced by neurodivergent individuals)
You don’t have to keep reliving the past. With the right support, healing is possible.

What Does an EMDR Session Actually Look Like?

What Does an EMDR Session Actually Look Like?

EMDR is a structured, collaborative therapy that works at a pace that feels comfortable and manageable for you. Marc will guide you through each stage of the process, explaining what to expect and working alongside you to ensure you feel safe, informed, and in control throughout.

1.

Assessment & History taking
In the first session, I take time to understand your story — what’s brought you here, what you’ve experienced, and what you’d like to change.

2.

Stabilisation phase
Before any memory work begins, I work with you on emotional regulation — understanding your feelings, exploring coping strategies, and building a foundation of stability. This phase is never rushed. A key exercise at this stage is establishing a “calm safe place” — a resource you can draw on at any time.

3.

Reprocessing
When you’re ready, I guide you gently into the memory work — one memory at a time. You’ll identify the image, the feeling, the physical sensation, and the belief connected to a specific memory. Holding small handheld buzzers or doing a Butterfly Hug (which create gentle bilateral sensation), you move through the memory from start to finish — like watching scenes in a film. The bilateral stimulation is what activates the brain’s reprocessing, reducing the emotional intensity and shifting the negative beliefs connected to the experience.

4.

Integration
After reprocessing, I check in on how you’re feeling and ensures you leave each session feeling grounded and settled.

Important: EMDR may not be suitable for everyone, particularly those with complex dissociative disorders or significant current instability. Marc will assess carefully and honestly with you before beginning this work.

A Few Things People Often Ask
A Few Things People Often As
Q: How many EMDR sessions will I need?
A: There isn’t a set number of sessions, as this depends on your goals, your history, and the experiences you’re bringing to therapy. As a very general guide, people working through a single traumatic event may benefit from around 6–12 sessions, whereas those processing complex or developmental trauma often require 20 sessions or more, depending on the nature and duration of their experiences. Following your assessment, I’ll explain my recommendations and we’ll agree on a treatment plan together, reviewing your progress regularly as therapy continues.
Q: Is EMDR evidence-based?
A: Yes. EMDR is recommended by NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) and is recognised as a gold-standard treatment for PTSD and trauma internationally.
Q: Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?
A: No — one of the unique benefits of EMDR is that you don’t need to retell every detail of what happened. The process works differently to traditional talk therapy.
Q: Can EMDR be done online?
A: Yes, with some adaptations. I can discuss what this would look like for you.
Q: Is EMDR suitable for children?
A: Yes — EMDR can be adapted for children and young people. I have extensive experience working therapeutically with children and uses a range of child-friendly approaches alongside EMDR.
Ready to Start?
Ready to Start?

Book a free 20-minute consultation and find out if EMDR could be right for you.

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