What is EMDR?  

It’s a structured, evidence-based therapy that targets the way traumatic or distressing memories are stored in the brain. When something overwhelming happens — particularly when we’re young, or when there’s no one there to help us make sense of it — the memory gets lodged in the nervous system without being fully processed.

That unprocessed memory doesn’t just sit quietly. It gets activated by present-day situations that remind the brain, often unconsciously, of the original experience. The result is that old pain shows up in new moments: a tightness in the chest that makes no logical sense, a pattern you keep repeating, a reaction that feels larger than the situation warrants.

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation — typically guided eye movements, tapping, or sounds — to engage the brain’s natural processing mechanisms. It’s the same process that happens during REM sleep, when the brain consolidates and integrates experience. With EMDR, we direct that process intentionally, toward the memories and beliefs that are still keeping you stuck.

“EMDR doesn’t require you to talk through everything in detail. The processing happens at a deeper level — where the memory actually lives.”

Who is EMDR for?

EMDR is effective for more than you might think.

Most people know EMDR in relation to PTSD. And yes — the research here is substantial. But the reach of EMDR extends well beyond a single diagnosis. If distress from your past is showing up in your present, EMDR is worth exploring.

Conditions and presentations we work with: 

The Neuroscience Behind EMDR

Why EMDR works — and what’s happening in the brain.

When an experience is overwhelming, the brain’s normal processing system gets disrupted. The hippocampus — responsible for contextualising and filing memories — can’t do its job properly under extreme stress. What should become a memory stored in the past remains fragmented: lodged in the body, accessible to the senses, and easily triggered.

This is not a character flaw. It’s neurobiological adaptation. The brain did what it needed to do to survive.

EMDR works by engaging the same adaptive information processing system that operates during REM sleep. Bilateral stimulation — the back-and-forth rhythm of eye movements, taps, or sounds — appears to facilitate communication between the brain’s hemispheres and activate the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, helping to “unstick” the frozen memory and allow it to be processed and stored as past, rather than present.

What changes isn’t the facts of what happened. What changes is the meaning the memory carries, the charge it holds in your body, and the way your nervous system responds when it surfaces.

The research supporting EMDR is extensive. It is recognised by the World Health Organisation, the American Psychological Association, and the Australian Psychological Society as an evidence-based treatment for trauma and PTSD

My Approach to EMDR

This isn’t a protocol I run on you. It’s a relationship we build something inside of.

I’ve spent twenty years learning that trauma isn’t only about what happened — it’s about what happened in the context of relationship, power, and whether anyone was there to help you make sense of it at the time. So before we touch anything difficult, I care more about the quality of trust between us than I do about how quickly we get to processing.

EMDR isn’t something I run in isolation. It sits inside a wider, integrative way of working — grounded in relational neuroscience, memory reconsolidation, developmental and attachment theory, embodiment, and the principles of deep democracy — that I’d describe as experiential at its core. That’s what lets EMDR sit alongside deep relational work, parts work, and body-based processing in the same session, rather than as a separate protocol bolted onto talk therapy. Practically, it means I’m not just tracking the part of you that wants to heal. I’m making room for the part that’s scared to, the part that protects you by staying vigilant, and the part that’s simply exhausted from holding all of this alone for so long. All of those parts get a say in how this goes.

You don’t need to perform readiness. You don’t need to have it figured out before you walk in. You just need to show up as whoever you actually are that day — that’s the only prerequisite.

What to Expect — Practical Information 

Everything you need to know before you begin.

Session Length EMDR sessions are 50 minutes. In some cases — particularly during active processing phases — extended 80-minute sessions may be recommended. We’ll discuss this together. Intensive programs are also available.

Session Frequency Weekly or fortnightly sessions. Regular attendance supports the continuity of processing. Gaps between sessions can sometimes allow material to settle — so fortnightly can work well once the work is underway.

How Many Sessions? This is genuinely individual. Some people experience meaningful shifts in 8–12 sessions for a specific, circumscribed trauma. Complex, developmental, or relational trauma typically requires a longer engagement. We assess as we go, and you’ll always have a clear sense of where we are and where we’re heading.

Telehealth EMDR can be delivered effectively via Telehealth. We use a platform that supports bilateral stimulation remotely. Many clients find the accessibility of telehealth reduces the barrier to beginning this work.

Medicare Rebates Sessions are eligible for a Medicare rebate under a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) referred by your GP. A rebate does not require a specific EMDR diagnosis — your GP simply needs to make a referral for psychological treatment.

Fees Individual therapy sessions are $300–$320. After-hours appointments are available at an additional $20. Contact us for full fee information and to discuss your circumstances

Common Questions 

Questions worth asking before you start.

Do I have to talk about everything in detail? No. One of the defining features of EMDR is that it doesn’t require a detailed verbal narrative. You’ll orient us to what needs to be processed, but the processing itself is largely internal. Some people find this a relief — particularly those who have spoken about their experiences before without feeling like anything has shifted.

What if I get overwhelmed during a session? Preparation for this is built into the early phases of EMDR. Before we approach any difficult material, we develop your capacity to stay regulated — so that when emotions arise in processing, you have the resourcing to move through them rather than being destabilised. We also move at your pace. Nothing proceeds without your agreement.

Will EMDR work for me if I’ve already done a lot of therapy? Often, yes. Many people come to EMDR having done significant talk therapy — and found that insight alone didn’t create the change they were looking for. EMDR works at a different level. It’s not about adding more understanding. It’s about changing the way the memory is held in the body and nervous system.

What does bilateral stimulation feel like? During in-person sessions, you’ll follow a moving object with your eyes — or I may use a light bar. Some people prefer tapping (alternating on the knees or hands) or auditory tones. It’s not unusual or clinical. Many people describe the experience as simply focusing on a rhythm while attending to what comes up internally.

Is EMDR appropriate for children? EMDR has been adapted effectively for children and adolescents, with protocols suited to different developmental stages. Please contact me directly to discuss whether this is appropriate for your child’s situation. [ At present I have limited spaces for children. ] 

Can I do EMDR if I have a dissociative disorder? All therapy requires careful clinical judgment for people with significant dissociation. EMDR is a phased oriented therapy. This means that there are different steps that make the overall therapy. In some presentations, I emphasise more preparation work ( phase 2 ). A thorough assessment is always conducted before any processing ( phase 4 ) begins, and I would discuss this openly with you. In fact, therapy is actually an ongoing assessment process, so that there is a balance of activation and regulation, so that memory reconsolidation can occur, and re traumatisation is a minimal risk.  

I am happy to discuss this more completely in a phone call with potential clients and / or referrers.