EMDR Therapy
Evidence-based therapy to help process traumatic and distressing memories.
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Sometimes a difficult experience does not feel like it is in the past. A memory can return with the same fear, shame or distress you felt at the time, or be triggered by reminders in everyday life.
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based psychological therapy that helps the brain process these memories, so they become less distressing and feel more like something that happened, rather than something that is still happening.
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I offer EMDR therapy face to face in Cheltenham and online across the UK, for adults and young people aged 16 and over.
Helping difficult memories feel like part of the past.
Many people know that what happened is in the past, yet their mind and body still react as though the danger is present.
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You may notice intrusive images or memories, feel on edge, avoid reminders, or feel held back by beliefs such as “I am not safe”, “It was my fault” or “I am not good enough”.
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EMDR works directly with the memories that fuel these reactions. Rather than talking about an experience at length, it helps your brain reprocess it, so its emotional intensity reduces and more balanced beliefs about yourself can develop.
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It can help with the effects of a single traumatic event, as well as with difficulties linked to repeated or earlier life experiences.
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I am Dr Aaron Shaw, Chartered Clinical Psychologist, and I offer EMDR therapy as part of an individualised, evidence-based approach to trauma and distressing or overwhelming experiences.
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Before starting EMDR, we will take time to understand what you are experiencing and decide together whether EMDR is the right approach for you.
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What Is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It was developed by the psychologist Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s and has since become one of the most extensively researched therapies for trauma.
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EMDR is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the World Health Organization (WHO) as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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During EMDR, you briefly focus on a distressing memory while also paying attention to bilateral stimulation, such as following side-to-side eye movements or alternating taps. This dual focus appears to help the brain process the memory differently.
How Does EMDR Work?
When something overwhelming happens, the brain is not always able to process the experience in the usual way. Instead, the memory can remain stored in a raw, unprocessed form, along with the images, emotions, body sensations and beliefs from that time.
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When something in the present reminds you of that experience, these feelings can be triggered as though it is happening again, even when you know you are safe.
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EMDR is based on the idea that the mind has a natural capacity to process and recover from difficult experiences. Bilateral stimulation, combined with focused attention on the memory, is thought to support this process and help link the memory with the more helpful knowledge and perspective you have now.
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People often find that, after EMDR, they still remember what happened, but the memory feels more distant, less vivid and no longer carries the same distress.
What Can EMDR Help With?
EMDR is best known as a treatment for PTSD, but it may also help with a range of difficulties linked to distressing or traumatic experiences, including:
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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
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Single traumatic events, such as accidents, assaults or medical emergencies
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Repeated or complex trauma, as part of a phased approach
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Difficult or traumatic birth experiences
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Distressing medical or hospital experiences
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Traumatic or complicated grief
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Phobias and specific fears
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Anxiety and panic linked to past experiences
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Low self-esteem and shame rooted in earlier experiences
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Intrusive memories, flashbacks or nightmares
You do not need a diagnosis of PTSD to benefit from EMDR. The research evidence is strongest for PTSD, so for other difficulties we will consider together whether EMDR, another approach, or a combination is most likely to help.
Why Do Some Memories Feel Stuck?
After a threatening or overwhelming experience, the brain and body can remain primed for danger.
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A sound, smell, place, tone of voice or physical sensation can bring back the emotions and body sensations of the original event, sometimes before you are even aware of what has been triggered.
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This can explain why telling yourself “it is over” does not always make the distress go away. The memory has not yet been fully processed, so it can continue to feel current rather than in the past.
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EMDR focuses on processing these memories so that your mind and body no longer need to respond as though the threat is still present. Rather than being seen as weaknesses, these reactions are understood as your mind’s attempts to protect you.
What Happens in EMDR Therapy?
EMDR follows a structured, phased approach. It does not begin by going straight to the most difficult memory.
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Initially, we will develop a shared understanding of your history, current difficulties and goals, and make sure you have ways of managing distressing feelings before any memory processing begins.
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EMDR therapy typically involves:
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Assessment and understanding your history and goals
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Preparation, including grounding and calming techniques
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Identifying the memories to work on and the beliefs linked to them
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Reprocessing memories using bilateral stimulation
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Strengthening more helpful beliefs about yourself
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Noticing and processing any remaining body sensations
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Reviewing progress and preparing for future situations
The pace is tailored to you. Memories are only reprocessed when you feel ready and have the resources in place to do so safely.
Will I Have to Talk About Everything That Happened?
A common concern about trauma therapy is that you will be expected to describe distressing experiences in detail.
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EMDR does not require this.
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During reprocessing, you will be asked to briefly bring the memory to mind and notice what comes up. You do not need to put everything into words or share details you are not comfortable sharing. This can make EMDR a helpful option if talking about what happened feels difficult or overwhelming.
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You stay in control throughout, and we can pause or stop at any point.
You remain an active participant in decisions about which memories we work on and when.
My Approach to EMDR Therapy
As a Clinical Psychologist, I take an individualised and trauma-informed approach. EMDR is one of several evidence-based therapies I offer, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.
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Where helpful, I may integrate EMDR with other approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), alongside grounding and stabilisation work.
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Together, we will decide whether EMDR is the right fit for you, which experiences we will focus on and how we will pace the work.
Is EMDR Right for Me?
EMDR can be very helpful, but it is not right for everyone or at every point in life.
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Reprocessing can bring up strong emotions or sensations during sessions, and some people notice vivid dreams, new memories or tiredness between sessions. These effects are usually temporary, and we will plan for them together.
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If you are involved in ongoing legal proceedings relating to what happened, please let me know, as EMDR can change how a memory is recalled and this may affect the timing of therapy.
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An initial consultation allows us to consider your circumstances and whether EMDR, another approach, or a combination would suit you best.
EMDR Therapy Near You
I provide EMDR face to face in Cheltenham as part of my trauma therapy service:
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EMDR can also be delivered online across the UK, using on-screen eye movements or self-tapping, offering greater flexibility around work, family life and other commitments.
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Flexible Appointment Availability
Face-to-face EMDR appointments are available on Saturdays in Cheltenham. Online appointments are also available across the UK.
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Please get in touch to discuss current availability.
If you are interested in EMDR therapy, get in touch to arrange an initial consultation or to ask whether it may be right for you.