If a traumatic event has “stuck” as a vivid and intense memory, then EMDR is a way to “unstick” it.

what is EMDR?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It’s a therapy that helps people recover from distressing events and the problems they have caused, like flashbacks, upsetting thoughts or images, depression or anxiety. If that emotional or psychological trauma has “stuck” as a vivid or intense memory, then EMDR is designed to “unstick” it so you can move on with your life.

EMDR reference eye movement because it follows some similar principles to Rapid Eye Movement (REM), a sleep state we enter when our eyes move from side to side, processing the day’s events.

Like CBT, It’s recognised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the World Health Organisation (WHO), which also recognises it as an effective treatment for children. 

what happens during treatment?

Our friends at the Continuum Recovery Center have this great infographic that breaks down the treatment into easy-to-understand steps.

 how do i find out more?

We’re accredited with EMDR UK & Ireland. Their website offers loads of information about EMDR, including research and people’s stories.