Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy

What is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)?

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a treatment helpful for people who need to overcome trauma; whether that be a major life event, a series of life events or who have one or two issues they need to work through.

It is proposed that PTSD/trauma symptoms result from:

• blocked information processing – the disturbing material can’t be properly filed away in your brain.
• every time that particular trauma memory is triggered, your brain thinks it’s still happening and therefore reacts accordingly.

It makes sense why your brain still feels the need to be on “red alert” to try to protect you.

EMDR helps to process the disturbing memories so that they can be filed away as something that happened in the past but not now.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is potentially powerful.

Who is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) for?

EMDR is for anyone wanting to:

• process to overcome your trauma reactions, (to reduce your distress and emotions linked to painful events)
• change their problems in living linked to past, present or future life traumas or stressors
• work with, a compassionate and respectful therapist, who can help you take the path of processing Trauma or strong emotion related issues
• aim for living life better in the moment & to be able to feel joy in your life.

What does EMDR help with?

Research evidence shows that Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy can help many people with different difficulties as outlined above.

What happens in one to one EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) therapy sessions?

Our Clinical Psychologists offering EMDR aim to help build a good safe working relationship with you so that you can process your experiences, feelings and belief with your therapist’s help.

Your therapist will help you get ready to process difficult experiences either from:

• the past,
• present or
• in anticipation of a future difficulty (such as anxiety before a major presentation).

Your therapist will work with you, taking into account how much emotions can be tolerated at any one time. The aim is to work safely with you.

Some emotional preparation work is likely to be needed first. We would only start process the trauma/s when it is timely to do so. The idea is to make the process as manageable as possible. We do not want to re-traumatise you. Seeing a skilled, experienced therapist can help gauge when to start and where.

Your therapist aims to help you process and resolve this past trauma experience to be psychologically “healthy” again (- a “psychologically healthy integration”, Shapiro, 2001).

Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) is the main theoretical model associated with EMDR.

As Clinical Psychologists are trained in other therapies too, the therapy offered can be agreed with you after the getting-to-know-you stage.

For example, you may agree on a course of EMDR first/with another therapy approach to help you reach your life goals (when you are ready for that).

Do you need a diagnosis to have EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)?

No, you don’t need to have any diagnosis. Many people have found having EMDR life-changing.

Find the right EMDR therapy near you

Our Clinical Psychologists are trained in and experienced in offering EMDR, offering EMDR in the UK.

Your Clinical Psychologist will help you look at different aspects of yourself that you want to change and to work out the best, individually tailored, route of how to get there.

This may involve using EMDR, either alone or in combination with other therapies.

Our clinical psychologists are trained and experienced in offering EMDR

Our Clinical Psychologists provide that specialist EMDR.

Clinical Psychologists offering EMDR

A number of Clinical Psychologists in our network are trained and experienced in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). Some have additional practitioner/accreditation-level EMDR training. As Clinical Psychologists are trained in several psychological approaches, they can also consider whether EMDR on its own, or EMDR integrated with another evidence-based therapy, is most appropriate for you following assessment.

• Dr Alan Hebben-Wadey — offers EMDR alongside CBT, ACT, Compassion Focused Therapy and Emotion-Focused Therapy, with particular experience in trauma and PTSD. Face-to-face appointments in Eastbourne, East Sussex, and online.
• Dr Sharon Harvey — trained in EMDR and experienced in trauma and PTSD; also specifically trained in using EMDR with people affected by Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). Face-to-face appointments in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, and online.
• Dr Zounish Rafique — trained in EMDR alongside CAT, DBT and other approaches; her work is strongly informed by an understanding of traumatic experiences. Online appointments, including some weekend availability.
• Dr Lisa Tomlinson — offers EMDR alongside CBT, CFT, CAT-informed work and DBT. Her live profile includes client feedback describing EMDR used in work relating to childhood trauma. Face-to-face appointments in Stockton-on-Tees and online.
• Dr Claire Cartwright — EMDR accredited and offers EMDR within an integrative, trauma-informed approach. Face-to-face appointments in Liverpool and online.
• Dr Natalie Southall — EMDR trained and lists EMDR as one of her main therapeutic approaches alongside Cognitive Analytic Therapy. Face-to-face appointments in Stone, Staffordshire, and online.
• Dr Laura Draycott — offers EMDR alongside CBT, ACT and Compassionate Mind Therapy. Online appointments and some outdoor/walking therapy appointments in Lichfield, Staffordshire.
• Dr Jeff Arnold — an accredited EMDR practitioner with particular experience in single-event and complex/chronic trauma. West Midlands and online.
• Dr Adele Stevens — Trauma & PTSD specialist trained in EMDR, CBT, ACT, CFT and Narrative Exposure Therapy. Remote appointments.
• Dr Leah Wallach — over 30 years’ psychology experience and trained in EMDR alongside CBT, ACT, CFT and Emotion-Focused Therapy. online appointments.
• Dr Andrew Adams — offers EMDR among a range of approaches including CBT, CFT, Schema Therapy, IFS and DBT, and works with both adults and children. online appointments
• Dr Nina Shergill — experienced in EMDR alongside CBT, DBT, ISTDP and MBT. Online appointments on specified weekday evenings.
• Dr Estelle McDougall — offers EMDR alongside CBT, ACT, interpersonal psychotherapy and trauma-informed work. Works with children, young people and adults. Face-to-face appointments in Shrewsbury and online.
• Dr Ellen Khan — an EMDR practitioner who also offers CAT, CBT and compassion-focused approaches, with experience in PTSD and childhood/attachment trauma. Remote appointments.
• Dr Ann-Marie Munday — offers EMDR alongside CBT, Structured Clinical Management and other approaches. Face-to-face appointments in Coventry and online.
• Dr Ann Kilanska — European Accredited EMDR Practitioner, with extensive adult mental-health and trauma experience. Online appointments.
• Dr Amy Elliott — offers EMDR alongside CBT, Experiential Dynamic Therapy and other approaches. Online appointments, currently Monday mornings.
• Dr Kate Littler — has undertaken EMDR training and has particular experience with people from trauma backgrounds as well as people with complex physical-health difficulties. Online appointments.

How do I make an appointment for EMDR?

We currently have appointment slots available, either online or some face to face same-room appointments in certain parts of the country.

To see one of our Clinical Psychologists, do make contact using the green button or call to help us fix a good day and time for you.

Please keep an eye out for our email reply, in case it goes into your spam/junk box.

Please click here to see our Clinical Psychologists you could work with.

Do please use EMDR for short, for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing!