EMDR Therapy
When the Past Still Feels Present
Sometimes we understand exactly why we feel the way we do, yet part of us continues to react as though the past is still happening.
We may know we are safe, yet still feel anxious. We may understand the origins of our self-doubt, yet continue to be shaped by it. We may have spent years understanding ourselves, only to find that part of us has not yet caught up.
What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapeutic approach that helps people process experiences that continue to shape how they feel, relate, and respond in the present. It is recognised by the World Health Organisation and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as an effective treatment for trauma.
When overwhelming experiences remain unresolved, they can continue to influence how we see ourselves, relate to others, and move through the world. EMDR helps the brain and body process these experiences so they no longer hold the same power in the present.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements or tapping, to support the brain’s natural ability to process and integrate difficult experiences.
What EMDR Can Help With
EMDR can be helpful for:
Trauma and post-traumatic stress
Childhood trauma and attachment wounds
Abuse, neglect, or emotionally overwhelming experiences
Anxiety, panic, and persistent feelings of overwhelm
Distressing memories that continue to intrude on daily life
Low self-worth, shame, and self-critical beliefs
Feeling stuck despite years of therapy, insight, or personal development work
Many of the people I work with have built capable, meaningful lives and understand themselves well. Yet they continue to find themselves affected by experiences that live beyond conscious understanding.
Insight can be profoundly important, but insight alone is not always enough to shift what is held in the body and nervous system.
How I Work
I am trained in EMDR and integrate it into my wider work as an Integrative Psychotherapist. Some clients come to me specifically for EMDR, while others begin in psychotherapy and we introduce EMDR when it feels clinically appropriate.
For me, EMDR is not simply a technique. Effective trauma work requires a strong therapeutic relationship, careful preparation, and an understanding of the wider emotional and relational context in which a person’s experiences have unfolded.
Before any reprocessing begins, we spend time understanding your history, building emotional resources, and ensuring you feel sufficiently grounded and supported. The pace is always guided by what feels manageable for you.
My integrative approach means that EMDR sits alongside psychodynamic, attachment-based, relational, and body-oriented ways of working, allowing us to attend to the whole person rather than focusing solely on symptoms.
What to Expect
EMDR work typically includes preparation, identifying specific memories or experiences, reprocessing, and integration.
The number of sessions varies depending on what is being worked with. Some experiences can be processed relatively quickly, while others benefit from longer-term, integrated work.
Standalone EMDR sessions are 60 minutes. Where EMDR forms part of ongoing weekly psychotherapy, sessions remain 50 minutes and EMDR is integrated into the wider therapeutic work when appropriate.
Sessions are available in person at my practice in Hadley Wood or online, where clinically appropriate.