If you have experienced trauma — whether a single distressing event or years of difficult experiences — you may have heard of EMDR. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing is one of the most effective and fastest-acting trauma therapies available, recommended by NICE and the World Health Organisation for PTSD.
How Does EMDR Work?
When we experience trauma, the memory can become “stuck” — stored with the original emotions, sensations, and beliefs intact. This is why a sound, smell, or situation can trigger a flashback or panic response years later.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation — typically guided eye movements, but sometimes tapping or audio tones — while you briefly focus on the traumatic memory. This appears to help your brain reprocess the memory so it is stored normally, without the distressing emotional charge.
What Does an EMDR Session Look Like?
A typical course of EMDR involves 6-12 sessions. The first 1-2 sessions focus on assessment and preparation. Your therapist will teach you grounding techniques and ensure you feel safe before any reprocessing begins. The reprocessing sessions themselves involve focusing on a target memory while following your therapist’s finger movements (or a light bar) with your eyes.
What Does the Evidence Say?
EMDR has one of the strongest evidence bases of any trauma therapy. A meta-analysis of 26 randomised controlled trials found that EMDR significantly reduces PTSD symptoms, often in fewer sessions than traditional trauma therapy. It is also effective for phobias, performance anxiety, grief, and nightmares.
Can EMDR Be Done Online?
Yes. Research shows that online EMDR is equally effective as in-person sessions. At Make Peace, our EMDR-trained therapists deliver sessions via secure video using on-screen visual stimulation. Available from London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and online across the UK.
Learn more about EMDR at Make Peace or book your first session.