EMDR is a comprehensive psychotherapy that helps the young person process and recover from past experiences that are affecting their mental health and wellbeing.
It involves using side to side eye movements combined with talk therapy in a specific and structured format.
EMDR helps the young person process the negative images, emotions, beliefs and body sensations associated with traumatic memories that seem to be stuck. These can contribute to a range of mental health problems.
EMDR helps the person to see things from a different perspective and relieves the symptoms that they were suffering.
Dr Justin Havens, an EMDR consultant, says: “There can be a dramatic transformation from someone who is constantly reminded of a traumatic memory and all of the negative symptoms, to feeling like it is behind them and not of significance anymore.”
He adds: “EMDR is a way of kickstarting your natural healing and recovery process after your trauma. Your therapist is walking alongside you as you heal from the inside out.”
What can EMDR help with?
EMDR was developed – and is best known – as a therapy for treating trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It’s recognised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a treatment for PTSD.
But it can be used to help with a range of mental health difficulties including anxiety, depression, behavioural difficulties and friendship/relationship issues.
Justin says: “Many of these problems may actually be rooted in some kind of trauma, whether that’s someone being bullied, criticised or abused in some way, either during childhood or as an adult, and it isn’t always obvious that this is the case.”
