What is EMDR Therapy?

Francine Shapiro formulated EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing) in the 1980s. EMDR is a comprehensive and integrative approach to psychotherapy that works with the neurophysiology of memory to repress disturbing life experiences that continue to have a negative impact on self and psyche.

It is a standardised, eight-phase, trauma focused therapy, involving the use of bilateral physical stimulation such as eye movements, taps or use of tones (BLS).

Phase 1- Comprehensive History Taking
Phase 2- Preparation and Stabilisation
Phase 3- Assessment – Target memory
Phase 4- Desensitisation (Use of bilateral stimulation)
Phase 5- Installation
Phase 6- Body scan
Phase 7-Closure
Phase 8- Re-Evaluation

EMDR targets past experiences, current triggers and future potential challenges in working towards;

Alleviating presenting problems
Decreasing or eliminating distress from the disturbing memory
Improving view of the self
Relief from bodily disturbance
Resolution of present and future anticipated triggers
Retraining the experience of pain (psychological and physical).

“Old disturbing memories can be stored in the brain in isolation: they get locked into the nervous system which the original images, sounds, thoughts and feelings involved. The old distressing material just keeps being triggered repeatedly. This prevents learning/ healing from taking place. In another part of your brain, you already have most of the information that you need to resolve this problem; the two just cannot connect. Once EMDR starts, a linking takes place. New information can come to mind and resolve the old problems. This may be what happens spontaneously in REM or dream sleep when eye movements help to process unconscious material.” - Shapiro, F.(2018). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, 3^rd edition. N.Y.:The Guilford Press.

EMDR Therapy is an evidence-based, empirically supported psychotherapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD] (WHO, 2013; UNHCR/WHO,2015)

Lisa running an online yoga therapy session

How would we work together? What are my options?

All EMDR therapy is conducted in 1:1 sessions. Lisa only works with clients over 18. The following options are available to you:

Online globally

1:1 x 90 min session on a weekly
1:1 X 90 min sessions with more than one session booked in during the same week.
Intensive therapy over two days (weekend). This consists of 1:1, 4x 90 min sessions. This process enables you to fully immerse yourself into the therapy with the least amount of disruption. There is a follow up session (90 mins) one week later. This session can be booked in during the week. This makes a total of 5 sessions.

The cost is £125 (or, 260AUD, 150EUR, 170USD) for each 90 min session. Please contact Lisa for weekend bookings.

Each weekend intensive is focusing on one target memory.

Requirements

- For online therapy you will need to organise yourself to be in a confidential space free of distractions.
- Sit in a chair (not on your bed) directly facing your computer screen.
- Your device needs to be on a computer screen, not on a small device screen such a tablet or a phone.
- Please place your computer on a stable table directly in front of you. Lisa will need to see you in frame (in a mid-shot) at eye level (from just below your chest to just above your head).
- Wear a set of headphones.
- Ensure that your computer has sufficient charge, and you will need to have a 4G/ 5G stable internet connection.
- Microsoft Teams will be the platform used for the sessions.

Click HERE to book in for a pre-therapy chat for EMDR online.

In person globally (Please note that this is also 1:1 Therapy)

You may choose to have EMDR as the main therapy attended to in a Therapy Intensive in the form of the Reconnection Retreat. Combining EMDR Therapy and Yoga Therapy designed just for you during your time off over 3 days. This may be held at a holiday destination or near to your home.

The Reconnection Retreat is an opportunity to attend to the Therapy process and go deeply to reprocess your Trauma while you are held in a safe space with practices for deep rest, while learning to feel safe in your body. Depending on the therapy goals, further Therapy work may be necessary. If this is the case then further sessions can be arranged together online after the retreat.

Reaching out

Please book in (here) for a Pre-Therapy 60-minute consultation for the Reconnection Retreat.

Upon making a booking, you will be emailed further information about the Reconnection Retreat. This includes a form for you to fill out some basic information of a space you have in mind to have the Reconnection Retreat held in, possible dates, information on costings to consider.

Pre-Therapy form for you to fill out advising Lisa of why you are seeking therapy.
Client Registration form.
Schedule overview.

EMDR can help people to break free from the suffering of trauma.

Please note that it is unknown how many sessions a client will need to reprocess a Trauma event until the process is underway. If further sessions are needed/further assessments, this will be discussed in detail with clients.

Testimonial

From the very first session, Lisa’s presence felt like a warm, gentle embrace for my nervous system. I came to this work with the intention of healing deep abandonment trauma rooted in a painful and abusive childhood, a wounds that had weighed heavily on me for most of my life. Lisa’s expert guidance, coupled with her deeply attuned and soothing presence, created the safest space I’ve ever known in therapy. Throughout our EMDR sessions, Lisa held me with such care and professionalism. She listened with her whole being and honoured my requests for adjustments with grace and compassion. Her ability to sense exactly what I needed in each moment allowed me to relax and move through difficult reprocessing with a sense of safety and inner strength. Throughout the work with Lisa, I felt the trauma begin to lift from my body. And in its place, I found a version of myself I’ve been longing to reconnect with for a long time, - a version that is more grounded, confident, and empowered from the inside out. Lisa is truly an angel on this earth, and I am deeply grateful for the healing she has helped facilitate in my life. I wholeheartedly recommend Lisa's work to anyone seeking not just a therapist, but a deeply caring, skilled, and loving guide on their healing journey.”

- Monika B, Australia

FAQ

Think of EMDR as a process therapy rather than a talking therapy (although it is psychotherapy). There are different ways that EMDR may be conducted. One method is that you do not need to talk about what has happened if you don’t want to. We do not wish to re-traumatise you in you having to explain your story. It is possible to still attend to treating the Trauma. This can be very liberating for many clients. Please discuss this option with Lisa if you would like to know more.

In the early stages of EMDR, you will be asked to answer some screening questions which help Lisa to understand if EMDR is suitable for you, including if further supports may be needed, and what type of EMDR protocol may appropriate. It is possible that EMDR might not be suitable for you to do at this time for a few reasons. If this is the case, it will be discussed with you along with what your options may be to help you.

You can have a session with me using your computer or other device such as a tablet or smartphone. New counselling clients are to have a Pre-therapy consultation. Book here.

When you send me your email address, I send you back a link which is an invite using Microsoft Teams. This is a secure and private platform that we can use to have sessions on. YOU DO NOT NEED TO INSTALL ANY NEW SOFTWARE ON YOUR PC. If you are using a mobile device you will need to install Microsoft Teams from your app store which is free. When you accept the invitation, a time slot is created in your digital calendar. Just before our scheduled session, you will be sent a reminder email. When it is time, you then open the link either in your email reminder or in the calendar reminder and it will take you to the meeting. You will be prompted to accept the app terms and conditions if it is your first time using Microsoft Teams. Once you have accepted, press “Join”. Your device will ask you for permission to use your camera and microphone. Please ensure that you grant these permissions and that your microphone and camera is set to “on” so that we can see and hear each other.

Here is a link to a tutorial.

Cancelling a booking, late appointments and rescheduling

Please give me 48 hours’ notice if you cannot make a scheduled appointment. I reserve the right to charge a cancellation fee if you fail to show up, or if you give me less than 48 hours’ notice. Please see Cancellation Policy.

If you arrive late, I will not be able to extend the session as other clients are likely to be following you. If you decide to leave early, I will still charge the fee for a full session unless previously arranged. I keep the online Teams room open for the duration of the session.

You may reschedule your appointment (more than 48 hours’ notice) via the link which is listed on your appointment email.

Applying for refunds

If you request a refund (outside of the 48 hour cancellation window), and you would rather have a refund instead of rescheduling. Please get in contact with lisa@thinkingfeelingmoving.com as soon as possible, your request will need to be in writing. Please state what the service was, and the date you are wanting the refund for. I may enquire as to why you are seeking the refund so that we may improve our services. I will make every effort to process your payment as quickly as possible. Your financial institution can take up to 20 days for the refund to reflect in your bank account/ card.

Therapy should be kept to therapy appointments. You can email me if you have a query which is unable to wait for our scheduled session. As I am often in session with clients, please allow until the end of (my) working day for me to reply to your email. You have the availability to change your appointment time if it is more than 24 hours away via the link on your email with details of the booking, or you can book in for an earlier time if there is availability.

Should you need support between sessions, please contact your GP or one of these organisations for help.

UK

Samaritans

24 -hour Helpline: 116 123 www.samaritans.org National organisation offering support to those in distress who feel suicidal or despairing and need someone to talk to.

SANE

SANE is a leading UK mental health charity working to improve quality of life for anyone affected by mental illness. SANEline 0300 304 7000 6pm-11pm daily. www.sane.org.uk

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