EMDR therapy for trauma

EMDR is a treatment for trauma including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  Recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the World Health Organization (WHO)

Psychological trauma is a mental condition that may follow a deeply distressing and upsetting experience.  This may have been accompanied by severe shock, threat or perceived risk to life (yourself or others).  

After we experience a traumatic or stressful event it is common to experience Post-traumatic Stress (PTS). Actually this is a normal "adaptive" reaction to a difficult situation and often the symptoms subside naturally after a few days or weeks.  It may still be beneficial to seek counselling support during this difficult time but EMDR therapy may not be required.

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However, sometimes the symptoms of trauma do not naturally clear.  If they continue severely for over one month and are interfering with your daily life you may have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  Here the traumatic memories are believed to be stored in a "maladaptive" manner and this is where EMDR can help.

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EMDR therapy has also been found to be beneficial with less obvious forms of trauma (known as "small-t trauma").  Examples include:

 - adverse childhood life experiences

- phobias

- panic and general anxiety disorder

- depression

- grief and mourning

- body dysmorphic disorder

- obsessive compulsive disorder