EMDR Therapy in Wilmslow: What It Is, How It Works and What to Expect
Sometimes something difficult happened months or even years ago, but emotionally it can still feel as though part of you is living through it.
You may know logically that the event is over, yet find yourself having intrusive memories, feeling constantly on alert, avoiding reminders, struggling to sleep or reacting strongly to situations that seem connected to what happened.
EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing — is a psychological therapy designed to help people process distressing experiences and reduce the impact those memories continue to have.
I offer EMDR therapy face-to-face in Wilmslow, Cheshire, as well as online.
60-minute sessions are £150.
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing.
It was developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s and is now widely used in trauma therapy.
EMDR is particularly well known as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). NICE includes EMDR among its recommended psychological treatments for adults with PTSD in appropriate circumstances.
It can also be used therapeutically when distressing past experiences appear to be contributing to difficulties in the present.
Why can a past experience still feel so present?
Most upsetting experiences become less intense with time.
We can remember what happened without feeling as though we are right back there again.
Sometimes, however, an experience has been so frightening, overwhelming or distressing that the memory continues to trigger a powerful emotional or physical response.
You might experience:
- flashbacks, intrusive memories or vivid images
- nightmares or disturbed sleep
- feeling constantly alert or on edge
- strong emotional or physical reactions to reminders
- avoiding particular people, places or situations
- difficulty concentrating
- feeling detached or disconnected
- guilt, shame or negative beliefs about yourself
- repeatedly going over what happened and trying to make sense of it
The NHS describes flashbacks, intrusive images or thoughts, nightmares and avoidance among the experiences that can occur with PTSD.
People sometimes describe this to me as:
“I know it happened a long time ago, but it doesn’t feel like it.”
That sense of the past still being emotionally present is often an important part of the work we do.
How does EMDR work?
During EMDR, we work with a distressing memory while using bilateral stimulation — alternating stimulation from one side to the other.
This often involves following a movement with your eyes, although alternating sounds or taps can also be used.
You remain awake and aware throughout. You are not hypnotised and you are always able to tell me that you want to pause or stop.
The precise mechanisms behind EMDR are still being researched. There are several theories about why bilateral stimulation helps, so I prefer not to present one explanation as though we know with certainty exactly what is happening in the brain.
What we do know is that EMDR aims to help distressing memories become less vivid, less emotionally intense and easier to think about without feeling overwhelmed by them. The EMDR Association UK describes alternating eye movements, sounds or taps as part of the reprocessing process.
What actually happens in an EMDR session?
We don’t usually begin by immediately asking you to revisit your most difficult experience.
The first part of therapy involves getting to know you and understanding:
what has brought you to therapy, what is happening in your life now, which experiences may be relevant, what helps you cope and whether EMDR seems appropriate for you.
We will also spend time making sure that you feel sufficiently prepared before beginning memory processing.
When we do begin EMDR processing, I may ask you to bring a particular memory or image to mind and notice the thoughts, emotions and physical sensations connected with it.
We then use short periods of bilateral stimulation.
After each set, I’ll ask you to notice what comes up.
There isn’t a “correct” thing you are supposed to think or feel. Memories, thoughts, emotions, sensations or seemingly unrelated material may emerge as processing continues.
EMDR is a collaborative process. You remain in control throughout.
Will I have to tell you every detail of what happened?
Not necessarily.
This is something some people particularly like about EMDR.
I need enough information to understand what you are experiencing and to make sure that the work is appropriate and safe, but EMDR does not always require you to describe every detail of an experience aloud.
For people who find talking repeatedly about what happened particularly difficult, that can feel important.
What can EMDR therapy help with?
EMDR has its strongest established evidence base in the treatment of PTSD and trauma-related symptoms.
People may consider EMDR following experiences such as accidents, assaults, abuse, traumatic relationships, frightening medical experiences, witnessing traumatic events or other situations in which they felt overwhelmed or unsafe.
Sometimes a person does not identify one single dramatic event.
There may instead have been a series of difficult experiences — perhaps criticism, bullying, neglect, repeated relationship experiences or events that have shaped how they see themselves today.
Whether EMDR is the right approach depends on you, your history and what is currently causing difficulty. We would discuss that together rather than assuming EMDR is automatically the right treatment because something difficult happened.
Is EMDR only for PTSD?
No, although PTSD is where EMDR has a particularly strong evidence base and formal treatment recommendations.
EMDR therapists may also use the approach with other psychological difficulties when distressing experiences appear to play an important role.
That does not mean EMDR treats everything.
Part of my job is to understand what is maintaining the problem you are experiencing and decide with you whether EMDR, CBT, Compassion Focused Therapy or a combination of approaches is likely to be most helpful.
You can read more about the other approaches I use on my therapy approaches page.
How many EMDR sessions will I need?
There isn’t one answer to this.
A single, clearly defined traumatic event may require a different amount of work from repeated or longstanding experiences.
The length of therapy can also be affected by what else is happening in your life, how safe and stable things currently feel, your wider history and what you would like therapy to achieve.
Rather than promising that EMDR will be “quick”, I prefer to assess what you need and review our progress together.
Is EMDR difficult?
EMDR can bring up strong emotions because we are working with experiences that have been distressing.
That is why preparation and pacing matter.
Therapy should not feel like something that is being done to you. We work collaboratively, and you can tell me if something feels too much, if you need to slow down or if you want to stop.
Some people notice thoughts, memories, dreams or emotions continuing to emerge for a short period after an EMDR session. We will talk about what you might notice and how to look after yourself between appointments.
What does successful EMDR feel like?
The aim isn’t to erase a memory.
You still know what happened.
But ideally, it begins to feel more like something that happened in the past, rather than something your mind and body are continually responding to as though it is happening now.
People may notice that the memory feels less vivid or emotionally charged, reminders trigger less intense reactions, and beliefs connected to the experience begin to shift.
That can create more space to live in the present rather than continually responding to the past.
Looking for EMDR therapy in Wilmslow?
I’m Sarah Rees, a BABCP-accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist with more than 30 years’ experience working in mental health. I am also trained in EMDR and Compassion Focused Therapy.
I offer therapy for adults experiencing trauma-related difficulties, anxiety and other problems where past experiences continue to have an impact in the present.
Appointments are available face-to-face in Wilmslow, Cheshire, and online.
Sessions are 60 minutes and cost £150.
You don’t need to decide for yourself whether EMDR is the right treatment before contacting me. Tell me briefly what you are struggling with and we can think together about whether I am likely to be the right therapist for you.
Enquire about EMDR therapy and current availability