Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Face-to-Face and Online

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a person-centred approach to psychotherapy, based on both physiological and psychological principles. EMDR incorporates eye movements (and other forms of bilateral stimulation) into a range of standardised psychological procedures, in a structured and systematic manner, stimulating neural pathways that help the brain to put information “in context”.

EMDR therapy was originally designed to relieve symptoms associated with unhealthy processing of traumatic memories. The therapy is intended to reboot the brain cells and help the brain reprocess these traumatic memories and develop healthy coping mechanisms.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is used to treat people with mental health issues such as:

• Depression

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Anxiety

• Phobias

• Low self-esteem

• Repressed traumas

8 treatment phases of EMDR therapy

EMDR is based on the concept that certain eye movements reduce the intensity of negative emotions such as anxiety and depression. The therapy has eight treatment phases:

1. History taking and treatment planning

The first phase involves taking a thorough medical history to identify the specific trauma affecting you, as well as its intensity and potential triggers. I will then map out treatment goals, which are prioritised for sequential processing.

2. Preparation

I will help you talk out the problem and provide you with an overview of the treatment plan. I will explain in detail what I think is causing your symptoms and how you can start learning to process your trauma in a healthy way. I may teach you some self-control techniques (deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, etc.) to help you calm your mind and reduce your anxiety. 

3. Assessment

You and I will work together to identify the target memory that triggers emotional distress:

• What incident caused the trauma? (Was it sexual assault, an accident, the death of a relative?)

• What is the most consistent image associated with the memory?

• How is the traumatic incident relevant to the present? (What is the chance it will recur?)

During this phase of EMDR therapy, a positive belief may be introduced (“You are safe now”) to help counteract the negative emotions caused by the trauma.

4. Desensitisation

In this phase, the disturbing event is evaluated rationally. I will try to help you change the way your brain associates trauma with its trigger. 

You will be asked to focus on an image that evokes a negative reaction while simultaneously making eye movements using bilateral stimulation. The bilateral stimulation is done in a series of sets that last around 25 seconds each. After each set of eye movements, you will be instructed to take a deep breath and asked to provide feedback on your experience during the preceding set. 

Depending upon the intensity of your response to the trauma, I may adjust the length, speed, and type of stimulation used to cause your eye movement.

5. Installation

Here, I will work with you to “install” a positive belief deeply into your thought process, meaning I will help you strengthen the positive belief so that it replaces the negative one. For example, if you were physically assaulted as a child, you will be helped to realise that as an adult you are capable of resisting the assault. 

This process will continue until your feelings of distress reduce and you experience more positive feelings after each set. 

6. Body scan

After the installation phase, you will be asked to bring back the traumatic event to reevaluate it. The purpose of this is to help me see whether there is any residual trauma; in other words, whether the event elicits a somatic response such as raised pulse. raised blood pressure or muscle tension. If you are still experiencing negative emotions related to the event, I will continue with sessions of bilateral eye movements.

7. Closure

I will emphasise stress reduction techniques and ask you to maintain a record of disturbances that occur between sessions and coach you on how to manage them. 

8. Reevaluation

I will then evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment and the need for further sessions and then plan a follow-up session if needed.

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Face-to-Face and Online

IFS is a therapeutic approach that can be used both inside and outside of formal therapy to foster harmony and understanding within your internal system. It is non-pathologising, acknowledging that while some parts of ourselves can carry burdens or cause challenges, their intentions are ultimately protective and aimed at helping us.

Our minds naturally contain multiple sub-personalities, or “parts.” At the centre of this system is the Self, which is capable of leading and guiding the internal system with clarity and compassion. Each part, even those that seem extreme or harmful, has a positive intent and a role to play. The goal of IFS is not to eliminate parts, but to help them assume healthy, balanced roles.

There are three primary entities in the IFS model:

1. Self – The core of who you are: calm, compassionate, and grounded. This is your true essence, untouched by life’s stressors or traumas.

2. Protective Parts – These parts work to keep you safe and in control.

   Managers are proactive, trying to prevent emotional pain by keeping their lives and emotions organised. They may appear as perfectionistic, critical, controlling, shaming, or over-preparing behaviours.

   Fire-fighters are reactive, jumping in to extinguish pain after vulnerable parts are triggered. They may manifest as addictions, overworking, overeating, social media or gaming distractions, or other impulsive or self-soothing behaviours.

3. Vulnerable Parts (Exiles) – These are the parts that carry emotional wounds such as fear, shame, grief, anger, or feelings of unworthiness. They are often “exiled” by your system to protect you from pain, but safely connecting with them is key to healing.

IFS is grounded in the belief that healing and growth are possible at any age and at any stage of life. By understanding and nurturing your internal system, you can foster self-leadership, resilience, and deeper emotional balance.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy

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DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) is a skill-based therapy and assists individuals experiencing emotional distress, manifesting in unstable mood states and unstable relationships. DBT has a strong commitment to individualising therapy to meet the client’s needs and to teach lifestyle-enhancing skills. DBT combines standard cognitive behavioural techniques for emotional regulation and reality-testing, with concepts of mindful awareness, distress tolerance and acceptance. One of the main components of DBT is to find the “wise mind”, which is finding a balanced approach to life, making it a life worth living. 

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) 

Face-to-Face and Online

Engaging with CBT can help people reduce stress, cope with complicated relationships, deal with grief, and face many other common life challenges.

CBT works on the basis that the way we think and interpret life’s events affects how we behave and, ultimately, how we feel. Studies have shown that it is useful in many situations.

More specifically, CBT is a problem-specific, goal-oriented approach that needs the individual’s active involvement to succeed. It focuses on their present-day challenges, thoughts, and behaviours.