emdr psychotherapy
There are several stages to EMDR, so what happens during a session depends on the stage. In the early sessions we talk about you and your life experiences. We explore links between the past and present and perhaps make notes together or create a written timeline of your life experiences. We look at what you want to be different in the future. We may also work on self-soothing and grounding techniques. During the "processing" stage of EMDR I help you to activate the target we have chosen to work on. Then I invite you to track a moving dot on a screen (or perhaps use alternate tapping on your knees or shoulders). There is minimal talking during this stage and I invite you to "just notice" whatever comes up. At every stage of treatment I will ask how you are and we will go at the pace that is right for you.
EMDR may have already been recommended to you, or you may have read about EMDR and decided that it is a good match for your problems. However, if you are unsure, I am happy to have a brief preliminary conversation to help decide whether EMDR is a good fit for you. Problems that are readily compatible with EMDR are post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD). Problems with mood, self-esteem or anxiety are frequently amenable to treatment with EMDR.
I currently work online only and have been doing so since March 2020 with good results. The feedback from clients is that virtual appointments save on travel time and cost and still feel very "personal" and "connected". Clients have also said that they like being in the comfort and familiarity of home when they are talking about difficult or distressing things. I completely understand that virtual therapy is not everyone's preference and if I am able to work face-to-face in future I will give updates on this.
EMDR sessions are 60 minutes in length, although sometimes we may need longer than 60 minutes because we are actively processing a memory. A 60 minute session costs £90. If we need a longer session I would negotiate this with you beforehand. The overall duration of a course of therapy in terms of weeks or months very much depends on the nature of your difficulties, however, the recommendation from NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) is as follows: EMDR for adults should typically be provided over 8 to 12 sessions, but more if clinically indicated, for example if individuals have experienced multiple traumas.
Yes, I am also a fully qualified and accredited cognitive behavioural therapist with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies. CBT has an excellent evidence base for treating mood and anxiety problems and I am very happy to discuss CBT as a treatment option. Alongside traditional CBT I also practice "third wave" CBT, which includes compassion-focused work, emotional regulation techniques, behavioural activation and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).