Proven EMDR Therapy for Trauma Healing in Melbourne

EMDR Therapy Melbourne

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychological therapy used to help people process traumatic or distressing experiences and reduce the emotional impact they continue to have.

At The Three Seas Group, our psychologists provide EMDR therapy in Melbourne for people experiencing trauma, PTSD, anxiety and other difficulties connected to distressing experiences or memories.

If something from your past continues to affect how you feel, think, behave or respond in the present, EMDR may be an option worth discussing with a psychologist.

Book an appointment with one of our Melbourne psychologists to find out whether EMDR is appropriate for you.

What is EMDR therapy?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It is a structured form of psychotherapy that helps people process distressing memories and experiences that continue to cause emotional or psychological distress.

During EMDR therapy, you are guided to briefly focus on a particular memory, thought, feeling or body sensation while engaging in bilateral stimulation. This may involve following the therapist’s hand movements with your eyes, although other forms of bilateral stimulation, such as tapping or sounds, may also be used.

Importantly, EMDR is much more than simply moving your eyes from side to side. It is a structured therapeutic approach involving assessment, preparation, memory processing and ongoing evaluation.

The aim is not to erase a memory. Instead, EMDR helps you work through the experience so that the memory can become less distressing and have less impact on your life.

How can EMDR help?

EMDR is best established as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma-related difficulties. It may also be considered when distressing experiences contribute to symptoms such as:

• intrusive or upsetting memories
• nightmares
• anxiety or panic
• strong emotional reactions to reminders of the past
• avoidance of people, places or situations
• feelings of fear, shame, guilt or helplessness
• difficulty feeling safe
• distressing physical or emotional reactions to particular triggers
• difficulties associated with past trauma

Whether EMDR is appropriate depends on your individual circumstances, symptoms, history and treatment goals. Your psychologist will assess your needs and discuss the most suitable approach with you.

How does EMDR work?

You may have heard that EMDR “rewires the brain” or that the eye movements mimic REM sleep. These explanations are sometimes used to describe EMDR, but the science behind exactly why bilateral stimulation contributes to therapeutic change is still being studied.

One established model used to understand EMDR is the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model. This proposes that some distressing experiences may not become fully processed and integrated, leaving memories that continue to feel emotionally or physically present.

For example, you may know intellectually that an event happened years ago, but your body and emotions can still react as though the danger is happening now.

EMDR therapy aims to help you process these experiences in a structured and supported way. As treatment progresses, the memory may become less emotionally intense, and the thoughts, feelings and physical sensations associated with it can change.

What happens during an EMDR session?

EMDR follows a structured eight-phase approach. Your psychologist will adapt the process to your individual needs rather than simply asking you to recall a traumatic event and immediately begin eye movements.

1. History and treatment planning

Your psychologist will learn about your history, current difficulties and treatment goals. Together, you will identify what you would like to work on and consider whether EMDR is appropriate.

2. Preparation

Before processing difficult memories, your psychologist will help you develop strategies for managing emotions and staying grounded. This preparation is an important part of EMDR and can help you feel more confident about the treatment process.

3. Assessment

Your psychologist will help identify a specific target memory or experience and explore the thoughts, emotions, physical sensations and beliefs connected with it.

4. Desensitisation

You will be guided to focus on aspects of the memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation. Your psychologist will regularly check in with you and guide the process.

5. Installation

Treatment works towards strengthening a more helpful or adaptive belief about yourself in relation to the experience.

6. Body scan

You will be asked to notice whether any physical distress remains when thinking about the memory. Your psychologist will help you work through any remaining disturbance.

7. Closure

At the end of a session, your psychologist will help you return to a calmer state. If processing of a particular memory is not complete, the session can be closed safely and the work revisited later.

8. Reevaluation

At subsequent sessions, your psychologist will review what has changed since the previous session and determine what should be addressed next.

These eight phases are a core part of the EMDR approach and allow treatment to be structured around the individual rather than simply following a one-size-fits-all process.

Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?

Not necessarily.

One of the questions people often have before starting EMDR is whether they will have to describe every detail of a traumatic experience.

EMDR does involve focusing on memories, thoughts, emotions and physical sensations associated with an experience. However, you do not necessarily need to provide your psychologist with a detailed verbal account of everything that happened.

Your psychologist will explain the process, make sure you understand what to expect and work with you at a pace that is appropriate for your circumstances.

If you are worried about talking about a particular experience, let your psychologist know. This is something you can discuss before treatment begins.

Is EMDR effective?

EMDR is an evidence-based psychological treatment with substantial research supporting its use for PTSD and trauma-related difficulties. It is also included among the psychological strategies recognised within Australia’s Medicare Benefits Schedule.

As with any psychological treatment, EMDR does not work in exactly the same way for everyone. Your psychologist will consider your individual circumstances and discuss whether EMDR is an appropriate treatment option for you.

It is also important to distinguish between evidence for EMDR as a treatment and claims about exactly how it works. Researchers continue to investigate the mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic effects of EMDR.

Is EMDR only for PTSD?

No.

EMDR is particularly well established for PTSD and trauma, but psychologists may also consider EMDR as part of treatment for other difficulties where distressing experiences or memories are contributing to someone’s symptoms.

Research and clinical applications continue to develop, so it is important not to assume that EMDR is appropriate for every mental health condition.

Your psychologist can help you understand whether EMDR is suitable for your particular situation and, if not, recommend another evidence-based treatment.

How many EMDR sessions will I need?

There is no fixed number of EMDR sessions that everyone needs.

The length of treatment depends on factors including:

• what you are seeking help with
• the number and complexity of experiences you want to address
• your current level of distress
• your ability to use coping and grounding strategies
• your treatment goals
• how you respond to therapy

Some people may work on a relatively specific experience over a shorter course of treatment, while people experiencing complex or multiple traumatic experiences may require longer-term psychological support.

Your psychologist can discuss likely treatment timeframes with you once they understand your circumstances.

What does EMDR feel like?

People experience EMDR differently.

During a session, you may notice memories, thoughts, emotions, images or physical sensations arising as you focus on the target experience. Your psychologist will guide you through the process and check in with you throughout.

You remain aware of what is happening and can communicate with your psychologist during treatment.

The goal is not to overwhelm you. Preparation, pacing and the therapeutic relationship are important parts of the process.

Is EMDR safe?

EMDR should be provided by an appropriately trained mental health professional who can assess whether the treatment is suitable for you and support you throughout the process.

Some people experience increased emotions or distress while processing difficult memories. This is one reason preparation and clinical assessment are important before beginning trauma processing.

Your psychologist will discuss the treatment with you and help determine whether EMDR is appropriate based on your individual circumstances.

EMDR therapy in Melbourne

If you are looking for EMDR therapy in Melbourne, The Three Seas Group provides psychological services from our Melbourne practice.

Our psychologists work with people experiencing a range of mental health concerns and can help you understand whether EMDR is the right approach for your needs.

You do not need to know whether EMDR is right for you before making an appointment. Your psychologist can discuss what you are experiencing, answer your questions and explain the treatment options available to you.

Looking for an EMDR psychologist in Melbourne?

Choosing a psychologist is about more than choosing a particular therapy. It is important to find a clinician you feel comfortable with and who can understand your individual circumstances.

If EMDR is appropriate, your psychologist will explain how the treatment works, what you can expect and how it fits into your broader treatment plan.

Meet our psychologists