The effects of trauma can cause Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that can last a life time. You may have a clear memory of your trauma or almost none but the overwhelming feelings of terror, loneliness and panic that you experienced at the time, can still regularly swamp you. The constant presence of these powerful emotions can leave you struggling to survive, stealing your ability for calm reflection. They may prevent you from leading a healthy life, reducing your ability to solve problems and develop relationships now; they can also be a significant underlying cause of addiction.
Difference comes in many guises, including race, gender, sexuality and class, and any of them can trigger aggression and hostility from others. These and the uncertainty of the reception you’ll receive as you live your life, may well be experienced as traumas whose impact is felt for many years. EMDR can bring calm, and understanding to these upsetting memories, allowing you to move on and focus on the present.
EMDR is a non-invasive therapy that can work directly on the brain and body where these old memories may have been stuck and been unaffected by counselling or psychotherapy. It connects different parts of the brain, allowing the processing of historic emotions. After successful EMDR, events may be recalled but without the painful feelings. When working with clients, my work is based on the EMDR standard protocol which has been proven to reduce the distress of historic trauma.
I also use the Flash Technique, an EMDR related technique. It can be particularly effective on traumas where the feelings seem unbearable in the moment. This is a fairly new therapy which does not require you to focus on the pain from the past whilst processing it.
I start EMDR with some preparation sessions where we get to know each other, explore your history and the events you want to work on. We will also do some resourcing to provide you with different ways of managing your feelings. Only when we are both confident that it is safe to do so, will we work directly on the trauma.
There is a significant body of evidence that proves EMDR’s effectiveness. In 2023 NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) gave it equal weight with TF-CBT (Trauma Focussed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) in its CKS (Clinical Knowledge Summaries) for the treatment of PTSD used by the NHS.
I am an EMDR UK Accredited practitioner.