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  • Writer's pictureDr Rachel Graham

EMDR: What is it?

Updated: May 23, 2023


EMDR therapy is a treatment that has been proven to be helpful for individuals who have experienced trauma and other mental health challenges. It is a type of psychotherapy that uses bilateral stimulation like eye movements, tapping, or sound to help the brain process and reprocess difficult experiences from the past, which may hinder the individual's ability to enjoy life to the fullest.


EMDR is a type of therapy that works in tandem with your brain's natural abilities to reprogram itself. It helps you reprocess hurtful experiences in a way that they no longer affect you negatively and therefore, you can move forward with your life without any stress or pain.

 

Who can benefit from EMDR therapy?

EMDR is a proven approach that has been recognised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as an effective way to treat PTSD. EMDR therapy can help alleviate a wide range of issues and symptoms, such as anxiety disorders (including panic attacks, OCD, and phobias), depression, and PTSD. Additionally, it can help you address long-standing issues that have been hindering your personal growth, such as grief from losing a loved one or past abuse.

 

What happens in a session?

During an EMDR therapy session, you and your therapist will chat about what you want to work on. Once you both agree on a past event or experience, your therapist will lead you through eye movements or some other kind of bilateral stimulation while you think about what happened. This helps your brain start its natural healing process and lets you release the emotional pain and trauma related to the experience.


It's important to know that EMDR isn't hypnosis, and you'll be awake during your session.

 

How many sessions are required?

EMDR is a short-term treatment that usually takes around 6-12 sessions, but some people may require more. The number of sessions will be based on your specific needs and the severity of your issues, as well as how well you respond to treatment.

 

EMDR therapy is a really powerful tool that can help with all sorts of problems. It's particularly good for anyone having a tough time getting over a traumatic experience or dealing with PTSD. If you're keen to learn about EMDR therapy, please don't hesitate to reach out.

 

Dr Rachel Graham
Counselling Psychologist

If you have found this article useful or interesting, please spread the word. All articles published on ipsychology is the intellectual property of Dr Rachel Graham.
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