Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR)

Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) is an innovative psychological therapy that facilitates the processing of previous traumatic experiences with less distress than other methods.

The therapy is based on a technique where the patient tracks a moving object with their eyes while considering previous traumatic or significantly negative experiences. The eye-movement occupies part of the client’s working memory, which reduces the intensity of the emotion experienced by the client during the process, as well as in future times that the experiences is recalled.

Additionally, the process facilitates the accessing of related memory networks, meaning that not only the target experience, but also those with similar themes or meanings are addressed during the therapy.

The object-tracking is an essential component and is the main characteristic of the therapy. However, the same effect can be obtained with other distracting exercises such as hand-tapping. While the eye-movement and recollection of the experience are fundamental to EMDR, the therapy also involves assessment and education sessions.

EMDR is used predominately in the treatment of trauma, however has also been found to be effective with a range of other conditions. These include anxiety, phobias, complicated grief, disturbing memories and body dysmorphia. Generally, treatment will require several sessions, with the first one or two of these being an assessment.

The main benefits of EMDR are that, compared to other psychological therapies that focus on trauma, it is less distressing, and that it is often faster than other therapies. It is grounded in scientific evidence and recognised by the Australian Psychological Society as an effective psychological treatment.

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