For people managing the impact of trauma, life can often feel overwhelming. Flashbacks, nightmares, and intense emotional responses can affect a person long after the original event, leaving a sufferer stuck in patterns that can feel impossible to escape.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an effective form of treatment for trauma and often the first treatment people think of when it comes to managing mental health difficulties but another approach has gained increasing recognition for its ability to address trauma directly: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
EMDR is a structured form of psychotherapy designed to help people process traumatic experiences and reduce the emotional impact of these events. It was developed in the 1980s and has become one of the most widely researched therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
At the heart of EMDR is bilateral stimulation – this may involve guided eye movements, alternating taps, or tones delivered through headphones. While engaging in this rhythmic stimulation, clients bring to mind distressing memories. The process appears to help the brain reprocess stored traumatic material, reducing its emotional intensity and allowing the memory to be integrated in a healthier way.
Put simply, EMDR helps people remember traumatic events without experiencing the same degree of distress, enable them to move forward with their lives.
EMDR is best known as a treatment for PTSD, where it has shown significant effectiveness. People who have experienced accidents, assaults, or childhood trauma will often find EMDR particularly helpful.
However, EMDR is not limited to PTSD. It can also be used for a wide range of trauma-related difficulties, such as:
In some cases, EMDR may be recommended as an alternative to CBT, especially when traumatic memories lie at the core of someone’s difficulties. For others, EMDR and CBT can work alongside each other, with CBT teaching practical coping strategies, while EMDR directly targets unresolved trauma.
One of the strengths of EMDR is that it follows a clearly defined structure, which is usually broken down into eight phases:
History Taking – The therapist will gather background information and explore whether EMDR would be an appropriate form of treatment.
Preparation – Clients are taught grounding and relaxation techniques to help them to feel safe and in control.
Assessment – The specific memory or issue is identified and paired with any thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations associated with it.
Desensitisation – Bilateral stimulation is used while the client recalls the memory, gradually reducing the emotional intensity of that memory.
Installation – Positive, adaptive beliefs are reinforced to replace negative self-perceptions linked to the traumatic event.
Body Scan – The therapist guides the client to check for any lingering physical tension or distress in the body.
Closure – Each session ends with techniques to ensure stability and emotional safety.
Reassessment – Progress is reviewed at the beginning of the next session.
It’s important to highlight that clients remain fully in control throughout. It is not necessary to share every detail of your traumatic experience if you don’t wish to—EMDR works by processing how the memory is stored, rather than by retelling the event in detail.
Although CBT and EMDR are both evidence-based therapies, highly effective for PTSD, they approach difficulties from different angles.
CBT helps people recognise and challenge unhelpful thought patterns, teaching new skills to manage anxiety, low mood, or trauma
EMDR focuses less on conscious thought and more on the brain’s memory processing system, helping to re-store traumatic memories so they no longer trigger intense emotional and physical responses.
For some clients, combining the two approaches can be particularly powerful: CBT offers tools for daily coping, while EMDR helps resolve the root cause of ongoing distress.
EMDR is not just a “new trend.” It is strongly supported by clinical research and is endorsed by leading health bodies including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK as a frontline treatment for PTSD.
As with any therapy, it is important to work with a qualified professional. Accredited EMDR therapists have undergone specialist training to ensure the therapy is delivered safely and effectively.
If you have experienced trauma and find that memories continue to affect your daily life, EMDR may be a valuable option to think about. Whether used alone or alongside CBT, EMDR can reduce the power of painful memories and help you to reclaim a sense of control.
At Clear Mind CBT, we understand how deeply trauma can affect every aspect of life. Our EMDR therapists, Hannah and Louise, are trained to work compassionately and collaboratively, offering evidence-based approaches tailored to each client. If you would like to learn more about EMDR or explore whether it might be right for you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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