Understanding EMDR Therapy: What is EMDR & what to expect in EMDR Hobart?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It’s a well-established, evidence-based therapy that helps the brain reprocess experiences and supports memories to be stored without the emotional intensity and overwhelm that they might currently hold.

But EMDR isn’t about reliving trauma or talking endlessly about the past. At it's core, EMDR is about supporting freedom from the symptoms of trauma or Janina Fisher calls this "the Living Legacy of Trauma".

Over two years ago, I began using EMDR in my practice and I love how it works to help people heal from distressing memories and emotional pain. In this blog post, I'll explore my understanding of EMDR therapy, how the process unfolds, and how I use EMDR in our trauma therapy sessions.

I offer trauma therapy in nipaluna Hobart and online around Australia.

Eye-level view of a calm therapy room with a comfortable chair and soft lighting — There is more and more emerging research and lived experience suggesting that rather then eye movement, tapping or physical movement works more effectively for neurodivergent folk.

What Is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR therapy is a structured therapy approach developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Francine Shapiro. It was initially designed to help people process traumatic memories that cause ongoing distress. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR uses a unique method which began just with guided eye movements and has now developed into other forms of bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess painful memories. I tend to favour butterfly taps as a form of bilateral stimulation, and I invite you to use butterfly taps slowly at home as a regulatory tool in between sessions.

Over time, EMDR has been shown to be effective for a wide range of difficulties, including:

Trauma and PTSD (including complex or developmental trauma)
Anxiety and panic
Sexual abuse
Family violence
Phobias
Low self-worth and shame
Distressing memories that still feel “alive” in the body

Basically, at it's core, EMDR helps move memories that might be 'stuck' to decrease the symptoms of trauma.

Do I have to talk about what happened?

The short answer is: No.

In EMDR we are working in a somatic and experiential way, so that there will be shifts and reprocessing without needing to:

Describe every detail
Explain your experience perfectly
Find the “right words”

I have found this can feel free freeing if you have experienced a lot of trauma, are autistic, ADHD, or otherwise neurodivergent, or if you find talking exhausting.

EMDR is a somatic therapy approach that works with:

Images
Body sensations
Emotions
Beliefs
Felt sense

Words are welcome, but not required.

Why Bilateral Stimulation Helps:

The exact mechanism and the magic behind EMDR is still being studied, but 40 years of research suggests that bilateral stimulation mimics the brain activity that occurs during REM sleep. REM sleep is believed to be important for processing memories.

This stimulation we use in session is considered to help the brain integrate traumatic memories more effectively. This is what then reduces the emotional intensity of these memories.

The stimulation that I am most likely to use during our sessions is butterfly taps, and I may invite you to incorporate other forms of stimulation like alternate foot tapping, tapping of thighs, eye movement or drawing.

Butterfly taps can be used during our sessions, and ALSO (which I love) butterfly taps are a useful grounding tool outside of session.

Is EMDR suitable for everyone?

EMDR is not a rushed process and much like any therapy modality, EMDR is used with preparation and consideration.

Firstly, we might focus on:

Stabilisation
Emotional regulation
Building safety in the body
Understanding your context and the societal/structural influences in your life.

This is especially important for:

Complex trauma
Family violence (especially if violence is ongoing)
High levels of dissociation

Benefits of EMDR:

People might share

"I feel lighter"
Memories are more distant
An increase in self-confidence
More able to manage big emotions and reduce anxiety

How EMDR therapy helps trauma recovery Hobart

What to expect during an EMDR session?

Trauma therapy with me is 60 minutes, either in-person trauma therapy in nipaluna Hobart, or online around Australia.

Of course, our sessions are tailored to the pace that your nervous system needs and together we will work to support your comfort, and sense of safety. EMDR is able to be used alongside other therapy modalities like CBT, internal family systems, somatic approaches and anything else you can think of!

I have noticed that EMDR is regarded as intense or overwhelming, but much like any other therapy, in reality sessions should feel comfortable enough and supportive of change.

EMDR might feel:

Structured
Collaborative
Slow
Safe

EMDR with me will mean:

Going at your pace
Prioritising safety, predictability, and choice
We can adapt the bilateral stimulation to what feels tolerable. For example, we might include butterfly taps and alternate foot tapping, or return to the traditional eye movement.
Pauses and check in.
Respecting sensory needs and shutdowns
Not pushing emotional intensity.

Afterwards, people have shared that they notice:

A sense of distance from memories
New insights
Positive beliefs about themselves increase
A physical release or "lightness"
Feeling less distressed when recalling a memory.

Thinking about EMDR?

If you’re curious about EMDR, the best place to start is with a complimentary phone consultation to have an opportunity to ask questions and check if we're a good fit.

Reach out to schedule a free phone consultation.

Tips for Choosing an EMDR Therapist

Finding the right therapist is key. You might like to consider these factors when looking for an EMDR therapist:

Confirm the therapist is registered with The EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA) and trained in EMDR.
Confirm the therapist is properly licensed and registered with EMDRAA by searching for them on the EMDRAA website. (You will find me on the EMDRAA website: https://emdraa.org/find-an-emdraa-therapist/ )
Look for experience treating your specific concerns. I specialise in complex trauma, particularly trauma related to violence and abuse.
A robust approach to safety and spending time building grounding techniques.
Ensure you feel comfortable and safe with the therapist. Personal fit matters more than anything else!