Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR (short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing – yes, a mouthful) is a powerful therapy that helps your brain heal from trauma and painful memories… kind of like slowly clearing out an old attic. Dusty, cluttered, and a bit overwhelming, but as you sort through what’s been stored away, you get to decide what still belongs and what you’re ready to let go of.

Here’s the idea:

Sometimes, when something really upsetting happens, whether it’s a big, obvious trauma or something more subtle your brain doesn’t fully process it. It gets stuck. So even years later, something small (a smell, a comment, a weird Tuesday) can suddenly bring back the same overwhelming feelings from the original experience.

EMDR helps your brain unstick the memory, process it properly, and file it away where it belongs, in the past.

What does it actually involve?

Surprisingly, less talking than you’d expect. Instead of retelling every detail of what happened (which, let’s be honest, sounds exhausting), EMDR gently guides you to revisit those memories while doing something called bilateral stimulation, usually eye movements, tapping, or sounds that alternate back and forth.

It sounds odd, but it works. It’s like your brain’s own version of REM sleep where emotional processing happens naturally. You’re awake, aware, and in control the whole time, but your brain is doing a bit of emotional spring cleaning in the background.

EMDR is great for people who:

• Have experienced trauma, whether it’s “big T” trauma (like abuse or accidents) or “little t” trauma (like rejection, bullying, or chronic stress).

• Feel stuck in old emotional loops or flashbacks.

• Struggle with anxiety, panic, phobias, or low self-worth that just won’t shift.

• Want deep healing, without having to talk through every painful detail again and again.

In a nutshell?

EMDR helps you feel less hijacked by the past so you can respond to the present with more peace and clarity. It’s gentle, effective, and often surprisingly fast, even for stuff you’ve been carrying for years.

It’s like finally closing all the 47 emotional tabs your brain’s had open since 2009.