EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)

Why this matters
When we experience something overwhelming, our brain and body do their best to protect us. Sometimes, though, the memory or emotional imprint of that experience doesn’t fully process, leaving parts of us feeling “stuck” in the past, even when life has moved on.

This can show up as intrusive thoughts, sudden emotional reactions, anxiety, numbness, or physical tension that doesn’t make sense in the moment. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) therapy helps the brain reprocess these experiences so they no longer carry the same emotional intensity.

You don’t need to have a clear memory or even talk through the whole event for EMDR to be effective. The process can work with the felt sense of an experience, the emotions, sensations, or images held in the body, supporting your system to process and integrate what’s ready for change.

How EMDR works
EMDR is an evidence-based trauma therapy recognised by the World Health Organization and the Australian Psychological Society. It’s grounded in neuroscience and helps the brain naturally reprocess distressing experiences so they become integrated, not overwhelming.

During EMDR, you’ll be guided to bring to mind aspects of a memory, thought, or emotion while engaging in bilateral stimulation. This might involve following movement with your eyes, tapping, or gentle auditory tones that alternate left and right.

This process activates parts of the brain, allowing information to move between networks that may have become “stuck” during trauma. Over time, the emotional charge of the experience decreases, while your capacity for calm, perspective, and self-connection increases.

You remain fully present and in control throughout. EMDR is not hypnosis, and you don’t need to relive events in vivid detail. The focus is on how your system is responding now and helping it find completion and safety.

What EMDR can help with
EMDR is well-supported by research for trauma and post-traumatic stress, but it’s also used effectively for a range of emotional and behavioural concerns, including:

• Anxiety and panic
• Phobias
• Distressing memories or flashbacks
• Emotional overwhelm or shutdown
• Relationship challenges linked to past experiences
• Low self-esteem and negative self-beliefs
• Grief and loss
• Medical or birth trauma
• Workplace or performance-related stress

EMDR can also be integrated with other therapies, such as CBT, DBT, ACT, or somatic approaches, to support nervous system regulation and emotional healing.

Trauma-informed and paced to your nervous system
In therapy, we go at your pace. EMDR is not about pushing past defences. It’s about creating the safety your system needs to process what’s been held inside.

We begin by strengthening your ability to regulate and ground before exploring any distressing material. This ensures your nervous system has the resources to handle the work.

Together we’ll:

• Build skills for safety and stability
• Identify what your system is ready to process
• Release emotional “stuck points”
• Strengthen adaptive beliefs that support growth and self-trust

This approach honours your body’s natural timing and capacity for neuroplasticity which is the brain’s ability to form new, healthier connections and responses.

The experience of EMDR
Clients often describe EMDR as a process of “lightening,” “clarity,” or “coming back into themselves.” While everyone’s experience is unique, most notice shifts in how memories feel, how they respond to triggers, and how they relate to themselves and others.

Healing isn’t about erasing the past, it’s about freeing your present.

Getting started
You don’t have to have everything worked out before beginning. EMDR can be integrated at any point in therapy. Whether you’re just starting to process trauma, or have been in therapy for some time and feel ready to go deeper.

If you’d like to explore whether EMDR is right for you, we can discuss your goals and develop a plan that feels safe and achievable.

Our sessions are available securely online across Australia, with a focus on evidence-based, trauma-informed care that honours all parts of you. 

Ready to take the next step?
If something here resonates with you, it might be the right time to explore what support could look like. Therapy can help you understand yourself more deeply and make the changes that matter most to you.

Email: info@nvpsychology.com.au

This article provides general information only and is not a substitute for personalised psychological or medical advice, assessment, or treatment. If you are in crisis or feel unsafe, please call Triple Zero (000) in Australia. You can also contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) for 24/7 confidential support. For further resources and support options, please see our referral directory listed on our 'Contact' page.