Francine Shapiro
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an evidence-based psychotherapy designed to help individuals process distressing or traumatic experiences that may still impact them today. Often, difficult memories can become "stuck," triggering intense emotions, physical sensations, or negative beliefs long after the original event has occurred. Through EMDR therapy, the brain is guided to reprocess these memories in a safe and structured way, reducing their emotional intensity and allowing them to be stored more adaptively. While the memory itself doesn't disappear, it often transforms into something that can be recalled without feeling overwhelmed, making EMDR an effective treatment for trauma.
Everyone experiences EMDR therapy, or Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, differently. Some individuals notice that their memories become less distressing, while others describe feeling lighter, calmer, or less emotionally impacted by past events related to their treatment for trauma. You remain fully awake and in control throughout the session, and you can pause at any time. We will always work at a pace that feels safe and manageable for you.
EMDR therapy, or Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, can be a highly effective treatment for trauma and other challenges associated with distressing life experiences. During your initial assessment, we'll explore your experiences together and determine whether EMDR, CBT, or a combination of both is the most appropriate approach for your needs.

We'll spend time getting to know one another, understanding your experiences, and deciding if EMDR therapy, also known as Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, is the right treatment for trauma for you.

Before any memory processing begins in EMDR therapy, or Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, we will develop coping strategies and grounding techniques to help you feel safe, supported, and in control throughout this treatment for trauma.

From then on, sessions for EMDR therapy, a treatment for trauma using Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, take place weekly or fortnightly. We’ll begin each session by setting an agenda, which we’ll then reflect on afterwards.

At the end of each session, you’ll leave with a home task related to EMDR therapy, specifically focusing on Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing techniques, to complete before we next meet. Together we’ll develop and agree on what that task will be, as action plans are a key feature of CBT and vital in the treatment for trauma. We’ll then review these plans at our next session.