Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprogramming (EMDR)

EMDR helps people to process traumatic experiences through the use of bilateral stimulation. This includes actions such as eye movements, sounds, or tapping. Processing traumatic memories in this way can help reduce their emotional intensity and decreases the associated pain and distress. 

Bilateral stimulation is thought to mimic the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phase, during which the brain naturally processes and integrates memories. During traumatic events we may not properly process the experience due to the distress we are in. EMDR is thought to support the natural processing and integration of difficult and traumatic memories.

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend EMDR as a first-line treatment option for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There is growing evidence for the use of EMDR for a range of mental health, emotional and substance misuse difficulties, particularly if difficult or traumatic experiences are associated with these difficulties.