EMDR Therapy
1-1 EMDR Therapy
I offer online sessions and face to face. Online sessions are offered via zoom.
Each session last approximately 50 mins and are priced at £100
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (or EMDR for short) is a psychological therapy developed by Francine Shapiro in 1987. It is an internationally recognised treatment for trauma, as well as other psychological difficulties such as anxiety disorders and depression.
EMDR is used to help those living with difficult past experiences that are still emotionally affecting them in the here and now. Healing from past trauma not only improves how you feel day to day, but also improves your overall quality of life.
EMDR works in a similar way to the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep phase. Just as REM sleep helps our brains process the events and experiences of the day, the rapid eye movements experienced during EMDR stimulate the brain’s natural process for healing. This can desensitise the emotional distress you feel in the present when you think of the distressing event. It can also help change the meaning of that traumatic event and prevent it from shaping how you think, feel and behave now.
When chronic pain is linked to past trauma, addressing the underlying psychological factors through EMDR therapy can be transformative. By processing and integrating the traumatic memories, individuals may experience a reduction in pain intensity, frequency, and duration. Additionally, they may notice improvements in mood, sleep, and overall quality of life.
EMDR can also help individuals develop healthier coping mechanisms for managing pain and stress. By reframing their past experiences and building resilience, they can cultivate a greater sense of empowerment and control over their pain.
How does EMDR work for chronic pain?
Since chronic pain may involve changes in the brain and nervous system that are similar to the changes seen with trauma, EMDR may also be an effective therapy for individuals with chronic pain. EMDR therapy for chronic pain involves focusing on traumatic or distressing memories or pain-related memories, current pain sensations, or anticipated stressful or painful situations while engaging in rapid eye movement.
It’s not just effective pain management, rather, EMDR helps to resolve memories and allows your body to heal from that emotional trauma. Traumatic or distressing memories often manifest themselves through chronic pain. If those memories no longer cause you to feel upset, then that can actually help to have a positive impact on your pain experience.
