What is EMDR therapy?

Welcome to my first blog post! I’ve never written a blog before, but I wanted to use part of my website to put helpful information out there for anyone and everyone to access, whether or not I am your chosen therapist. As well as being a qualified Clinical Psychologist, I am also a trained EMDR therapist and I have found EMDR to be extremely effective. But what is EMDR, who can it help, and why is it so effective? First, let’s look at a bit of background information.

EMDR Therapy: How to find an EMDR Therapist

So, you’ve decided that EMDR is a therapy that might help you. Perhaps you know you’ve been through a difficult situation and you need some professional help to move forward. Knowing where to look for an EMDR therapist can feel like a minefield.

Searching on Google will bring up thousands of options to explore, but how do you know whether someone is properly qualified? What does being qualified in EMDR even mean? Keep reading and I will help you to understand what you need to look out for and consider when searching for an EMDR therapist.

Healing from Medical Trauma with EMDR Therapy

"Trauma is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence.”

Peter A. Levine

The reason I wanted to write a blog article about what I am calling ‘medical trauma’ is because this is an area of work I feel passionately about and has been relevant during my career. When I was a trainee clinical psychologist, I undertook a placement in a large hospital, working in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Rehabilitation team. This team supported people who were in ICU or who had been discharged from ICU.

Why EMDR Accreditation Matters: Ensuring Safe & Effective Trauma Therapy

“Being able to feel safe with other people is probably the single most important aspect of mental health; safe connections are fundamental to meaningful and satisfying lives”.

Bessel A. van der Kolk

I first began training in EMDR therapy in 2019 while completing my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. As I prepared for a placement in my final year, a supervisor introduced me to the idea of training in EMDR, as there was an opportunity to use this approach with clients. I decided to take the training—and very soon, I saw firsthand what a powerful and life-changing therapy it can be. That moment became a turning point in my career, sparking a deep commitment to learning, practicing, and developing my skills in EMDR therapy.

How to Build Emotional Resilience After Life Setbacks

At some point in life, most of us experience something that shakes the ground beneath our feet. Sometimes it can feel as though life is rarely smooth or easy. Or perhaps things were going well, and then something significant happened that completely de-railed you. Whatever your situation, coping with life setbacks can feel confusing and overwhelming. It’s not always obvious how to pick ourselves back up and move forward.

Can Cancer Be Traumatic? How EMDR Therapy May Help

When people think about trauma, they often imagine a single frightening event that is clearly over. But for many people affected by cancer, the experience can feel very different.

Cancer can involve ongoing uncertainty, repeated medical procedures, difficult treatments, fear about the future, changes to the body, and moments where life suddenly feels unsafe or fragile. Even after treatment ends, many people find that their nervous system continues to react as though danger is still present.