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Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing EMDR header

Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR)

What Is EMDR Therapy?: Originally developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in 1990 to treat symptoms of trauma and PTSD, Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR) is an integrative form of psychotherapy that combines talking therapy with bodywork.

It is thought to utilise the same state that you are in during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, during which you are processing emotions through your dreams.

How does EMDR therapy work?: During EMDR therapy your therapist will ask you about the traumatic event (or negative belief) that is troubling you. They will then begin reconnecting you in a safe and focused way to the images, self-thoughts, emotions, and body sensations around the event(s).

The aim is to get you focusing on the associated negative thoughts and feelings that you have, and helping you to explore positive feelings with which you might want to replace them.

Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing can help with a whole range of issues including:

Therapy Issues That Clinical Psychology Helps With

What does EDMR focus on?: The goal of EMDR therapy is to process past experiences (which may not have been fully processed at the time due to the stress of the situation) and sort out the emotions that have become attached to the memories of the experience. When a difficult and traumatizing memory is stuck, it prevents your brain from properly processing and storing the memory.

We want you to feel able to discuss any questions or worries with your therapist. This is important in order for you to progress in your therapy.

***If you feel you need some help with getting therapy contact us using the form at the bottom of this page and someone will guide you through the process.***

These are some of the additional therapy issues we deal with that are closely related to Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing.

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Eating Disorders

When your relationship to food is complicated or beyond your control.

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Substance Abuse & Addiction

Helping you to explore the underlying causes of your addiction issues.

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Low Self-Esteem & Self-Confidence

Explore the roots of your low self-esteem issues & address your current symptoms.

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Stress, Panic Attacks, Anxiety & Depression

Help wellbeing & day-to-day functioning.

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Helping you to rebuild a sense of safety.

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Body Image Issues

A negative or unhealthy body image can be distressing in your daily life.

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Sex & Intimacy Issues

Addressing sexual & intimacy issues to make your sex life more pleasurable.

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Chronic Pain & Illness

Preventing a detriment to the physical & psychological well-being of the sufferer

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Childhood Trauma & PTSD

Helping overcome ongoing adverse events experienced as a child.

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Trauma

Helping you to talk openly & receive support about your traumatic experience.

EMDR Therapists Working at HQ Therapy

What happens in EMDR therapy?: You will explore and analyse your negative feeling, before being guided through ‘desensitisation’, during which the therapist uses their hands to guide your eye movement.

New associations emerge during this process, and after the desensitisation, your therapist will help you to think through what you have experienced. This can be repeated, focusing each time on something specific that needs to be reprocessed until it is no longer psychologically disruptive to your life.

Below is a selection of our current fully trained EMDR therapists who are available to work with clients who are experiencing therapy issues that we deal with related to EMDR therapy using a wide range range of therapy techniques.

Choosing the right therapist is an important decision for you and it is important that you work with the right practitioner and that both feel comfortable working together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should I Seek EMDR Therapy?

Many people, new to this type of help, believe that they need to be suffering from “mental illness” or serious “psychological problems”, or be in crisis in order for therapy and counselling to be appropriate for them. This is a common misconception; anyone can benefit from therapy when it comes to helping you deal with your personal feelings and problems, make positive changes in your life, and understand yourself better.

So what is therapy and counselling? If you’re new to this world then the first steps can sometimes be the most difficult. Therapy can be a very effective treatment for a whole range of personal problems covering areas from physical and emotional problems, different types of behavioural disorders, through to human sexuality issues and a host of wellbeing and complementary therapy techniques.

Any problem you have that is causing you concern, anxiety or distress is a valid and appropriate reason to reach out and find a therapist and talk to them about it. Far from something to be ashamed of, acknowledging your vulnerability and asking for help is a sign of maturity and strength.

If you feel that you have a desire and are committed to making changes in your life in order to overcome your current problems and achieve more long-term satisfaction, psychological wellbeing and personal fulfilment, then you are ready to seek therapy. We are here to help you work through a wide range of therapy issues that might be troubling you.

Will Information About Me Be Safe & Secure?

It is quite normal to be hesitant when it comes to sharing private and intimate information about yourself with a stranger. You may fear that you will receive judgment from your therapist, or that your therapist will share your details with others.

HQ Therapy Rooms takes your privacy and confidentiality very seriously. Our therapists are required to keep everything said in therapy sessions between you, just like your doctor is required to keep your records private.

For therapy to be effective, there must be unconditional trust built between you and your therapist, and this relies on a shared understanding of confidentiality. It applies to the outside world as well: it is standard practice for therapists not to acknowledge their clients if they run into them outside of the therapy rooms in order to help protect their client’s confidentiality. Read our full privacy policy for more information.

Can I Contact You For Advice About Getting Therapy?

Talking about your thoughts and feelings with a supportive therapist can often make you feel better and help you face your problems. It feels good to be listened to and to know that someone cares about you and wants to help. It is important that you find a therapist with whom you feel comfortable and can build a trusting relationship to help you make positive changes in your life.

But how do you know what type of therapy is right for you? Taking the first steps in finding the right therapist can be the biggest hurdle for newcomers, so we have made it easy. Simply get in touch with us using the form below or give us a call at 0203 997 9229 and one of our fully qualified referral therapists can work with you to make sure you connect with the right practitioner and receive the correct therapy and counselling services you require.

However, if you feel you are ready to start therapy straight away then click HERE to book an initial therapy assessment with a fully qualified therapist, or if you are struggling financially click HERE to book an initial therapy assessment with one of our Low-Cost therapists.

Our practitioners deal with a wide range of therapy issues using different types of therapy modalities tailored to the types of clients we work with. We also cater for people who are beset with financial difficulties, offering them services ranging from low-cost therapy and reduced-rate therapy to working with seasoned, qualified and accredited talking therapists.