What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, EMDR, is a therapy developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Francine Shapiro. It was originally designed to treat post-traumatic stress, but research has since confirmed its effectiveness across a much wider range of presentations.
At its core, EMDR works on the understanding that traumatic or distressing experiences can become "stuck" in the nervous system - stored in a way that keeps them feeling raw and immediate, even years after the event. Rather than asking you to talk through these memories in detail, EMDR uses a process of bilateral stimulation (typically guided eye movements) to help the brain reprocess and integrate them, reducing their emotional charge.
The result is not that the memory disappears - it's that it loses its grip. Events that once felt overwhelming can be recalled without the same intensity of fear, shame, or distress.
No need to relive everything
Unlike some trauma therapies, EMDR doesn't require you to describe events in detail. Many people find this makes it easier to engage with than they expected.
In Person & Telehealth
EMDR can be delivered effectively via Telehealth. Kirsteen uses adapted bilateral stimulation techniques that work just as well online as in the room.
Recognised Worldwide
EMDR is endorsed by the World Health Organisation, the American Psychological Association, and the Australian Psychological Society as a first-line treatment for PTSD and trauma.