EMDR Therapy: What is it, how does it work, and how it can help?

If you’ve been searching for trauma-informed support, you’ve probably come across the term EMDR therapy at some point. It’s often followed by glowing reviews, stories of deep emotional breakthroughs, or even claims of “life-changing” results.

But for many people, EMDR still feels mysterious.

“Is it hypnosis?”

“Is it only beneficial for trauma work?”

“Why are people following someone’s fingers with their eyes?”

“How can that possibly be beneficial?”

This introductory guide will walk you through what EMDR really is, how it works, who it can help, and where to find a qualified EMDR therapist in Australia.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide professional training, guidance, or therapeutic instruction in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Solid Foundations Counselling does not provide EMDR therapy, and the information below is a general overview designed to support people who are researching this modality.

For personalised assessment or EMDR treatment, please seek support from a qualified, accredited EMDR practitioner.

It’s an evidence-based psychological therapy originally developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987 to help people process traumatic memories.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn’t require you to go into graphic detail about your experiences. Instead, it helps the brain process unresolved memories so that they no longer feel as emotionally overwhelming.

Trauma doesn’t just live in your mind, it gets stuck in the nervous system.

EMDR helps “unlock” these memories and reprocess them so that you can think about past events without the same emotional intensity, fear, or shame.

What EMDR Is Not:

❗️It’s not hypnosis

❗️It’s not a quick fix

❗️You don’t lose control at any point

❗️You don’t have to retell every detail of your trauma

It is a structured, clinically validated therapeutic method used worldwide.

EMDR includes a process called bilateral stimulation – typically through eye movements, tapping, or alternating sounds. Research suggests this dual-attention processing helps the brain integrate memories more effectively.

Multiple studies support EMDR’s effectiveness for trauma:

A meta-analysis published in The Lancet Psychiatry found EMDR to be as effective as trauma-focused CBT for PTSD.

✅ The World Health Organisation (WHO, 2013) recommends EMDR for adults and children experiencing trauma.

✅ The Australian Psychological Society recognises EMDR as an evidence-based treatment for PTSD.

EMDR follows an eight-phase protocol. While the full process varies between therapists, here’s what typically happens:

History-taking and planning

Your therapist gathers information about your experiences, symptoms, triggers, and goals.

Preparation and grounding

Before trauma work begins, you learn coping skills such as:

Breathwork
Grounding strategies
Safe-place visualisation

This ensures you feel supported and emotionally safe.

Identifying the target memory

You and your therapist select specific memories or themes contributing to distress.

Desensitisation

This is where bilateral stimulation begins. You focus on the memory while engaging in:

👉🏽 Eye movements
👉🏽 Alternating tapping
👉🏽 Audio tones

The emotional intensity typically reduces session by session.

Reprocessing positive beliefs

Once the emotional charge decreases, the therapist helps you strengthen new, healthier beliefs such as:

❇️ “I’m safe now.”
❇️ “It wasn’t my fault.”
❇️ “I can cope.”

Body scan

You check for any leftover tension or activation in the body.

7️⃣ and 8️⃣ Closure and reevaluation

Sessions end with grounding strategies, and each new session starts with checking progress.

Although EMDR was originally developed for PTSD, research now shows it can be effective for a wide range of issues.

EMDR for trauma and PTSD

‼️One of the most robust areas of evidence.

EMDR may also support people experiencing:

💭 Anxiety

💭 Panic attacks

💭 Relationship trauma

💭 Childhood trauma

💭 Medical trauma

💭 Grief and loss

💭 Phobias

Some emerging research also supports EMDR’s use with:

📌 Chronic pain

📌 Performance anxiety

📌 Specific types of depression

1️⃣ It doesn’t require retelling every detail

For many people, re-living trauma in therapy feels overwhelming. EMDR reduces the need for detailed verbal storytelling.

2️⃣ It works with the body, not just the mind

EMDR recognises that trauma is stored physically as well as mentally.

3️⃣ Faster results for some clients

Research shows that EMDR can produce improvements more quickly than some traditional therapies, although everyone’s experience is unique.

4️⃣ Backed by strong international research

Endorsed by:

World Health Organisation (WHO)

American Psychiatric Association

UK’s NICE guidelines

Australian Psychological Society

5️⃣ Helps clients feel more in control

EMDR is designed to empower you, not overwhelm you.

Clients often describe EMDR sessions as:

💬 “intense, but in a strangely manageable way”

💬 “like my brain finally finished a thought it had been stuck on for years”

💬 “the memory is still there, but it no longer controls me”

💬 It’s not always comfortable, but many people feel relief quickly.

You might find EMDR helpful if:

You feel stuck in past memories

You have trauma responses you can’t explain

You experience emotional reactions that feel bigger than the situation

You’ve tried talk therapy but want a different approach

You want a trauma-focused method backed by research

If you’re unsure whether EMDR is right for you, an EMDR-trained therapist can assess this during an initial consultation.

EMDR may not be recommended (or may require careful preparation) for people experiencing:

❌ Active psychosis

❌ Unmanaged dissociation

❌ Severe substance dependence

❌ Current unsafe environments (e.g., domestic violence)

A qualified therapist will determine whether EMDR is appropriate.

Because EMDR is a specialist therapy, it’s important to find a practitioner with formal training.

Where to start:

1️⃣ EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA)

Their practitioner directory lists accredited EMDR therapists.

2️⃣ Psychologists or counsellors with EMDR training

Look for:

☑️ EMDRAA membership

☑️ Level 1 or Level 2 EMDR certification

☑️ Experience working with trauma

Ask about:

❇️ Their trauma training

❇️ Experience with your presenting issues

❇️ How they structure EMDR sessions

❇️ Fees and availability

Here’s what the research consistently shows:

❗️70–90% of people with single-incident trauma report improvement with EMDR (Journal of EMDR Practice and Research)

❗️EMDR is often as effective as trauma-focused CBT

❗️Many people experience faster symptom reduction compared to some other therapies

❗️EMDR produces long-term, sustained improvements

For many people, EMDR helps create the emotional space to move forward with confidence.

Healing from trauma is deeply personal, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. EMDR is just one tool, but it’s a powerful, research-backed option that has helped millions of people around the world.

If you’re exploring different therapy types, EMDR may be worth considering, especially if talk therapy hasn’t fully addressed the emotional impact of your past experiences; and if you’re unsure what modality is right for you, a good first step is simply speaking with a mental health professional you trust.

If you’d like guidance, I’m always happy to help you explore your options – including referrals to EMDR-trained practitioners when it’s appropriate.

Get in touch via phone or email or book a session here.