EMDR is a structured form of psychotherapy that can help you work through traumatic or emotionally difficult experiences in a supportive and carefully paced way. It involves bringing aspects of a distressing memory, experience or belief to mind while using bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, tapping or alternating sounds.

 

The aim is not to erase difficult memories or make you forget what happened. Instead, EMDR can help reduce the emotional and physical intensity associated with experiences that still feel upsetting, overwhelming or unresolved. Over time, memories may feel less emotionally charged and you may find that you have a greater sense of perspective and choice in how you respond.

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EMDR is commonly used when people have experienced trauma or PTSD, but it can also be helpful where earlier experiences continue to affect your emotions, relationships, self-esteem or sense of safety.

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As a qualified EMDR therapist, I integrate EMDR into my wider relational and integrative approach to psychotherapy. I don't see EMDR as something that needs to be used in isolation. We will consider together whether it is appropriate for you, and when it feels right to introduce it into our work.

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Attachment-focused EMDR

Our early relationships can shape how we experience ourselves, other people and the world around us. When those relationships have involved inconsistency, neglect, rejection, emotional unavailability or other difficult experiences, their effects can sometimes continue into adulthood.

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These experiences may influence our sense of safety, self-worth and relationships, or contribute to patterns such as people-pleasing, difficulty trusting others, fear of rejection, feeling responsible for other people's emotions, or struggling to feel secure in close relationships.

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I have undertaken additional training in Attachment-Focused EMDR, which builds on EMDR by paying particular attention to the impact of early relational experiences and attachment patterns.

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This approach places an emphasis on the therapeutic relationship, developing a sense of safety and working at a pace that feels manageable. It can be particularly relevant when difficulties are rooted in longer-term or relational experiences rather than one clearly defined traumatic event.

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Attachment-Focused EMDR may therefore be helpful when you feel that you understand what is happening in your life now, but find it difficult to change patterns that seem to have deeper roots.

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My approach is always tailored to the individual. We won't assume that difficult experiences need to be revisited simply because they happened in the past. Together, we can consider what is relevant to your current difficulties and what would feel safe and useful to explore.

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Flash technique

In addition to EMDR, I am trained in the Flash Technique, an evidence-informed approach that can be used alongside EMDR.

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Flash can help reduce the emotional intensity associated with distressing memories without requiring you to focus directly on or describe the traumatic event in detail. For some people, this can be a useful stepping stone when a memory feels particularly overwhelming, or alongside other therapeutic work.

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Whether Flash, EMDR, integrative therapy, or a combination of approaches is appropriate will depend on your individual circumstances.

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EMDR within a relational approach

Although EMDR provides a structured therapeutic framework, I believe that the relationship between therapist and client remains the most important part of the work.

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Before beginning trauma processing, we will spend time establishing a sense of safety, understanding what you would like to work on and developing resources to help you manage difficult emotions. EMDR is introduced when there is sufficient grounding and stability, and we will work at a pace that feels manageable for you.

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You do not need to have everything worked out before starting therapy, and you don't have to tell me everything about a difficult experience in your first session.

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Exploring whether EMDR is right for you

You may already know that you'd like to try EMDR, or you might be unsure whether it is the right approach for you.

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Our initial work can focus on understanding what has brought you to therapy, what you would like to change or understand, and whether EMDR might be appropriate. We can then decide together how you would like to proceed.

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I offer EMDR therapy in central Norwich and online across the UK.​ I am also a UKCP Registered Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counsellor. You can read more about counselling and what this means here or in my FAQs.

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If you'd like to explore whether EMDR, Flash or integrative therapy might be helpful for you, you're welcome to get in touch.