Healing from trauma or other distressing life experiences with EMDR

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy that enables

people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life

experiences. EMDR Therapy is based on the idea that negative thoughts, feelings and

behaviours stem from unprocessed memories from stressful or traumatic experiences.

EMDR was first utilised to successfully treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and is

now the most thoroughly researched method used in the treatment of trauma. EMDR has

also been used to effectively treat a wide range of mental health problems, including: anxiety

and panic attacks; depression; stress; phobias; sleep problems; complicated grief; addictions;

pain relief; self-esteem and performance anxiety.

How does EMDR work?

EMDR utilises the natural healing ability of your body, to process memories and feelings that

are “stuck” or stored in the limbic system (emotional part) of your brain in a “raw” and

emotional form. Often this occurs due to your natural coping mechanism becoming

overloaded, at the time of the distressing or overwhelming event.

Memories stored in this way are disconnected from the brain’s cortex (logical part of the

brain), and the painful feelings such as anxiety, panic, anger or despair are continually

triggered in the present.

EMDR helps to create the connections between your brain’s memory

networks, enabling your brain to process the traumatic memory in a very natural way. Eye

movements, similar to those that occur during REM sleep, are used to facilitate the brain’s

natural processing, and you remain fully alert and in control throughout.

Through this process, the memory tends to change in such a way that it loses it’s painful

intensity. Other associated memories may also heal at the same time. Most people

experience EMDR as being a natural and empowering therapy.

Further information can be found on the EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA) website -

https://emdraa.org/emdr-resources/

Natalie Avery, Clinical Psychologist

Mind & Body Psychology acknowledges the Jagerra and Turrbal peoples as the first inhabitants and traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. We pay our respects to the Elders, past and present, and are committed to honouring all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ cultural and spiritual connections to the land, waters, and seas, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

The Director of Mind & Body Psychology contributes 3% of her salary to: Pay the Rent (Aborignal Grassroots Intiative), IndigenousX (Indigenous owned media outlet), the Westerman Jilya Indigenous Scholarship (scholarships to support the training of more Indigenous psychologists), and Bush Heritage (a not-for-profit that purchases land and partners with traditional owners to restore and protect Country).