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EMDR is an integrative, evidence-based psychotherapy that supports the resolution of unprocessed experiences which may be driving present-day symptoms, emotional distress, or behavioural patterns.

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Grounded in the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, EMDR recognises that overwhelming or disturbing life events can become “stuck” in the nervous system — stored in ways that continue to impact perception, emotion, and behaviour long after the original event. These memory networks can remain active beneath the surface, influencing how we relate to ourselves, others, and the world.

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Through structured bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements, tapping, or sound), EMDR helps the brain access and integrate these unresolved experiences — allowing what was once overwhelming to be processed in a safe and contained way. Many clients describe not only a reduction in emotional intensity, but a more grounded sense of clarity, choice, and internal ease.

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EMDR follows a clearly defined eight-phase model and a three-pronged protocol to process:

 

Past experiences that inform current symptoms or patterns

 

Present-day triggers or emotional reactivity

 

Future events where new, adaptive responses are desired

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There is strong empirical support for EMDR in the treatment of posttraumatic stress, and increasing evidence for its effectiveness across a broad range of presentations — including anxiety, relational difficulties, low self-worth, and complex trauma.

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All EMDR sessions are 90-120 minutes, as this extended format allows for a more spacious and effective therapeutic process. It offers the time needed to fully access, engage with, and integrate core material — without rushing or overwhelming the system.

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EMDR is not about erasing memory — but helping the nervous system process what it no longer needs to carry in the same way.

 

Reference: Laliotis, D., et al. (2021). What Is EMDR Therapy? Past, Present, and Future Directions. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 15(4), 186–201.