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My EMDR Therapy for Trauma Training: Insights and Client Benefits


Close-up of a person’s eyes moving side to side behind stone blocks spelling out EMDR, representing Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy for trauma
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) uses eye movements to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories and reduce their emotional intensity.

I’ve just completed Part 1 of my EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) training, accredited by EMDR Europe, and I’m already seeing the potential it holds for supporting clients in healing from trauma.


EMDR is a structured, evidence-based therapy that enables people to process distressing memories without needing to talk about them in detail, making it especially helpful for those who find traditional “talk therapy” overwhelming.


A key concept in EMDR is the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, which suggests our brains are naturally wired to process and resolve difficult experiences—much like the body heals from a wound. However, when someone experiences a traumatic event, the brain’s processing system can become overwhelmed. High levels of stress hormones like cortisol can disrupt the brain’s ability to file the memory away properly. As a result, the traumatic memory isn’t ‘timestamped’ and stored like a regular memory. Instead, it gets stuck in its original, unprocessed state complete with the emotions, body sensations, and beliefs that were present at the time.


This explains why certain triggers, even subtle ones, can cause someone to feel like they’re right back in the traumatic moment. The brain reacts as if the event is happening now, rather than something that occurred in the past. EMDR helps “unlock” these stuck memories and reprocess them so they can be stored properly, reducing their emotional charge and helping the nervous system recognise that the danger is over.


The training deepened my understanding of how unprocessed trauma can contribute to symptoms such as anxiety, nightmares, flashbacks, and low self-worth. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation—such as eye movements via a light bar, or tactile input like pulsators held in each hand to support this reprocessing. It’s a powerful tool for helping the brain resume its natural healing process.


The effectiveness of EMDR is strongly supported by a growing body of research. The World Health Organization and NICE guidelines (UK) both recommend EMDR as a first-line treatment for PTSD. A 2024 review by de Jongh et al. cited over 30 randomised controlled trials confirming its success across adults and children. A systematic review by Novo Navarro et al. (2018) also found EMDR to be as effective as other trauma-focused therapies and significantly more effective than no treatment or general interventions.


Further studies highlight its wide-reaching benefits:


  • Bae et al. (2018) found that EMDR helped 57% of PTSD clients recover after six sessions, even when antidepressants hadn’t worked.

  • Schubert et al. (2011) showed that EMDR with eye movements reduced the vividness and emotional intensity of distressing memories and triggered calming physiological responses.

  • Letizia et al. (2007) found that EMDR produced neurobiological changes in brain activity and structure among police officers with PTSD.

  • EMDR has also shown promise for generalized anxiety disorder (Pournasir & Karimkhani, 2021).


I’m currently working with clients who have experienced single-incident trauma—such as accidents, medical emergencies, or assaults—where EMDR can be especially effective.


With Part 1 training completed and full insurance in place to practise this psychotherapeutic approach, I’m safely and ethically integrating EMDR into my work to offer clients a powerful, research-backed path to healing.


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