EMDR Therapy in Brighton & Online
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a powerful, research-backed approach that helps people recover from traumatic or emotionally distressing experiences. It works with how the brain stores and processes memories - helping you reframe the past so it no longer overwhelms the present.
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Although EMDR is best known for treating PTSD, it has also been shown to be highly effective for anxiety, depression, grief, performance anxiety, and other long-standing emotional blocks.
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“It’s not the trauma itself, but how it's held in the brain, that causes ongoing distress. EMDR changes how that trauma is stored so you can finally move forward.”
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As a counselling psychologist, I’ve used EMDR extensively in my therapy work - in Brighton and online - with remarkable results.
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What Is EMDR Therapy?
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When we go through a distressing or traumatic event, our brain’s ability to process and store the memory can become disrupted. Instead of filing the experience away as “something that happened in the past,” it stays “live” - causing intense emotional reactions, physical sensations, and negative self-beliefs even years later.
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EMDR helps your brain reprocess these stuck memories safely and effectively. The result? The same memory no longer carries the emotional weight it once did.
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EMDR therapy is recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the NHS, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for the treatment of trauma and PTSD.
How EMDR Works
The core element of EMDR is bilateral stimulation - this might involve guided eye movements, tapping, tones or vibrations from left to right. While using this stimulation, you’ll briefly focus on key aspects of a troubling memory.
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This process helps the brain “digest” the memory in a new way, similar to how it naturally processes experiences during REM sleep. Many clients report that after EMDR, the memory feels distant, less charged, or simply no longer upsetting.
Common Questions About EMDR
Do I have to talk through everything in detail?
No. One of the unique benefits of EMDR is that you don’t have to relive or verbalise every detail of your experience for it to be effective. The healing happens in the brain - not in the retelling.
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How many sessions will I need?
Some clients notice improvements after just a few sessions. Others may need longer. It depends on the nature of the issues, how long they’ve been present, and your personal goals. I’ll work with you to find the right pace.
What Can EMDR Help With?
Although it was first developed for trauma, EMDR can support a wide range of emotional and psychological concerns, including:
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Childhood trauma and difficult early experiences
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Specific fears, phobias and anxiety disorders
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Performance anxiety and creative blocks
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Complicated grief
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Disturbing or “stuck” memories
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Deep-seated negative beliefs (e.g. “I’m not good enough” or “I’m not safe”)
What Happens in an EMDR Session?
We’ll begin by identifying a specific memory and any negative beliefs or physical sensations connected to it. Once the foundation is set, we begin the bilateral stimulation while you notice whatever comes up - whether it’s images, feelings, body sensations, or new insights.
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After each set, we pause and check in. My role is to guide and support the process - not to lead it. Your brain knows what it needs to heal.
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Many clients are surprised at how their internal experience shifts:
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Some feel lighter or calmer.
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Others notice the memory becomes more distant.
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Many develop new, empowering perspectives.
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EMDR: Not Just for Healing, but for Growth
​​While EMDR is incredibly effective for trauma and recovery, it’s also a powerful tool for building confidence, developing healthier self-beliefs, and clearing emotional roadblocks that prevent you from living fully.
If traditional talk therapy hasn’t brought the shift you hoped for - or you’re ready for a new way of working - EMDR might be the next step.
EMDR Therapy in Brighton & Online
Whether you’re dealing with distressing memories, anxiety, or a pattern you can’t seem to shift, EMDR can offer relief and resolution. I offer EMDR therapy in Brighton and Hove as well as online, providing flexibility and comfort no matter where you are.
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If you’re curious about whether EMDR could help, I’d love to talk.