Most of us carry memories that feel “stuck.” They might pop up when we least expect them — a flashback, a wave of panic, or a sudden sadness that feels overwhelming. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy designed to help people heal from those experiences and feel more at peace in the present.

Where EMDR Came From

EMDR was first developed in the late 1980s by a psychologist named Francine Shapiro. She noticed that moving her eyes back and forth seemed to make upsetting thoughts less distressing. From that small discovery grew a structured therapy approach that helps the brain reprocess difficult experiences so they no longer feel as raw or overwhelming.

How EMDR Works

In EMDR, you don’t have to go into long, detailed descriptions of your trauma (which many people find hard to do in traditional talk therapy). Instead, the therapist will guide you through a process where you briefly bring up the memory while using bilateral stimulation — this could be following their fingers with your eyes, listening to alternating tones, or gentle tapping.

This back-and-forth stimulation helps the brain “digest” the memory properly, so it can be stored in a way that feels resolved rather than constantly triggering.

What EMDR Can Help With

Although EMDR was first designed for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), research has shown it can help with a wide range of difficulties, including:

• Traumatic events (accidents, assaults, medical trauma, abuse)
• Ongoing stress or childhood trauma
• Anxiety, phobias, or panic attacks
• Depression linked to painful experiences
• Grief and loss
• Chronic pain with an emotional or trauma component
• Feeling “stuck” in negative beliefs about yourself

What the Research Says

EMDR is now recognised worldwide as one of the most effective therapies for trauma. Organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Australian Psychological Society (APS) recommend it as a first-line treatment for PTSD. Studies also show that for many people, EMDR can bring about relief more quickly than traditional therapies.

Why People Choose EMDR

Many people are drawn to EMDR because:

• It goes straight to the root cause of the problem, rather than just managing symptoms.
• It doesn’t require retelling your trauma in detail.
• The effects are long-lasting once memories have been reprocessed.
• People often feel lighter, calmer, and more in control after treatment.

A Path Toward Healing

If you’ve been carrying heavy memories or painful experiences, EMDR can offer a way to finally process them so they no longer hold power over you. It’s not about erasing the past, but about helping you live more fully in the present — with greater resilience, peace, and self-compassion.

Contact Darvell Psychology today if you are interested in EMDR