What Is EMDR Therapy and Does It Really Work?

If you've experienced trauma, PTSD, or distressing memories that won't leave you alone, you may have heard of EMDR. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) sounds complex — but its effects can be profound, and the evidence behind it is substantial.

What Is EMDR?

EMDR was developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Francine Shapiro. She noticed that certain eye movements seemed to reduce the emotional charge attached to distressing memories — and began researching this phenomenon systematically.

Today, EMDR is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the World Health Organisation for the treatment of PTSD. It has also shown effectiveness for anxiety, phobias, depression, grief, and complicated bereavement.

How Does It Work?

When we experience a traumatic event, the memory can become "stuck" in the brain's threat-processing system. Instead of being stored like an ordinary memory, it remains raw and vivid — the brain continues to treat it as an active threat long after the event has passed.

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation — typically following a moving light, hand taps, or alternating sounds — while you briefly focus on the traumatic memory. This appears to mimic the natural processing that occurs during REM sleep, allowing the brain to finally integrate and file the memory as a past event rather than an ongoing threat.

Importantly, EMDR does not require you to talk through the trauma in detail. Many clients find this a significant relief.

What Does a Session Look Like?

Before any EMDR begins, Carolyn will spend time building a thorough understanding of your history and ensuring you have strong coping and grounding strategies in place. EMDR is never rushed.

In an active EMDR session, you will:

• Briefly bring a target memory or image to mind
• Follow bilateral stimulation with your eyes or through tapping
• Notice what comes up — thoughts, feelings, sensations — without trying to control it
• Process in short sets, pausing to report what you're noticing

Most people find the process less distressing than they expected. The memory does not disappear, but it loses its emotional charge — it becomes something that happened, rather than something that is still happening.

Is EMDR Right for You?

EMDR is particularly helpful for:

• Single incident trauma (accidents, assaults, medical events)
• Complex or developmental trauma (childhood abuse, neglect)
• PTSD and flashbacks
• Grief and loss
• Phobias and panic attacks
• Anxiety with specific triggers

Carolyn will discuss with you whether EMDR is the right approach during your initial consultation. Sometimes other therapeutic work needs to happen first to build sufficient stability and resources.