EMDR by a Psychologist

Who EMDR therapy can help

Trauma is where EMDR is most commonly used, but our Adelaide psychologists also use it to treat a broader range of everyday struggles. An EMDR session is a method of encouraging change after your psychologist has got to know you, how you would like to change and has formulated the therapy approach. EMDR is suited to the following problems.

• Past trauma, big or small — Single distressing events or a build-up of smaller ones that still affect you today.
• Anxiety and panic — Including panic attacks, phobias, and anxiety with a clear root cause.
• Grief and loss — Processing complicated or sudden loss at a pace that feels manageable.
• Chronic stress or overwhelm — When stress has built up over months or years and feels hard to shift.
• Intrusive memories — Flashbacks, nightmares, or memories that resurface uninvited.
• Low self-worth — Beliefs about yourself that trace back to earlier experiences.
• Work or medical trauma — Difficult incidents at work, accidents, or frightening medical experiences.
• Performance blocks — Persistent fear or self-doubt getting in the way of exams, sport, or public speaking.

EMDR and Trauma

The Australian guidelines for the treatment of PTSD and ASD recommend that individuals with PTSD should be referred for trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy or EMDR, as the first-line treatment, before even before the prescription of medication. This recommendation is based on many studies showing EMDR is an effective intervention with fewer side effects than medication. After a trauma, many people experience flashbacks, intrusive thoughts or body sensations reminiscent of the trauma, and report inability to relax and high anxiety. This is a normal response to trauma, and for most people, these symptoms resolve on their own. But others may benefit from seeking treatment if the symptoms do not resolve with time, or progress to depression, or an overall numbing of emotion. It is common to avoid therapy, as just talking about the traumatic incident is unpleasant and therefore avoided. However, in the longer term, it is best to face the issue.

The goals of EMDR are to desensitise intrusive emotions and to reprocess the memory of traumatic events. The theory behind EMDR assumes that ASD and PTSD occur because of the way that the trauma is remembered. During a traumatic event, overwhelming emotions can cause the experience to be stored in an ‘unprocessed’ way, so the emotions and experiences are not resolved. Individuals report that these memories are fresh. Often, people say, “I remember it as if it was yesterday.”

What happens in an EMDR session

Every EMDR journey is paced to suit the client. Broadly, treatment moves through these stages, some covered in a single appointment, others spread across several weeks.

1. Getting to know you — We start with your history and current concerns, so we understand the full picture before touching on anything difficult.
2. Building your resources — We introduce calming and grounding techniques you can use in session and in daily life, so you always feel in control.
3. Identifying the target memory — Together we choose a specific memory to work on, along with the thoughts, feelings, and body sensations attached to it.
4. Reprocessing — Using guided eye movements, tapping, or sound, we help your brain reprocess the memory while you notice what naturally comes up.
5. Strengthening the positive — We reinforce a more helpful belief about yourself in place of the old one, for example, moving from “I was powerless” to “I am safe now.”
6. Closing and checking in — Every session ends with grounding, so you leave feeling settled, and we review how things feel before and after.

In EMDR, the person is asked to focus on trauma-related imagery, negative thoughts, emotions, and body sensations while simultaneously moving their eyes back and forth following the movement of the therapist’s fingers across their field of vision for 20–30 seconds or more. This process may be repeated many times. You don’t need to understand how or why it works to benefit from the therapy. Your therapist is working hard; a lot is happening behind the scenes.

You don’t have to carry emotions alone. Contact us.

Our EMDR-trained psychologists at Rose Park Psychology

Our team brings depth and experience across trauma, anxiety, and everyday life stress, working at a pace that feels steady and safe for you. Confidentiality is assured, and we offer flexible appointment times, including telehealth.

Session length — a standard treatment session is typically 50 to 60 minutes, weekly or fortnightly depending on your needs. For an EMDR session, you will need to book a 90-minute session.
Telehealth available — EMDR can be delivered online for clients who can’t attend in person.
Rebates — Medicare rebates may apply with a GP Mental Health Care Plan. Private health rebates may also be available.
Booking — Call, email, or book online any time. No GP referral is required. However, you will not be able to claim a Medicare rebate. You could use private health cover.

At Rose Park Psychology, Jo England, Guillermo Castillo, Jill Wiltshire,  Lesley Golley, Julie Henderson and Helen White are trained in EMDR. Please contact us if you would like to book in for EMDR, and our friendly receptionists will be happy to assist you.