Trauma does not always feel like a memory from the past.
You may know that an event is over, yet your body reacts as though danger is still present. A sound, smell, image, conversation or medical appointment can trigger panic, nausea, anger or a powerful urge to escape.
Some people experience vivid flashbacks and nightmares. Others feel numb, disconnected or constantly alert. You may avoid thinking about what happened while also finding that the memory intrudes when you least expect it.
EMDR therapy through Geelong-based clinic Happy Minds Psychology is a structured psychological treatment designed to help people process distressing memories and reduce trauma-related symptoms.
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It was originally developed for post-traumatic stress disorder and is now used by trained clinicians within broader trauma-informed treatment plans.
It is not hypnosis, memory erasure or a rapid technique that bypasses the need for careful assessment. Good EMDR begins with understanding the person, establishing safety and deciding whether trauma processing is appropriate at that time.
What is EMDR?
EMDR is a structured psychotherapy in which the client briefly focuses on aspects of a distressing memory while also engaging in bilateral stimulation.
Bilateral stimulation usually involves:
- guided side-to-side eye movements;
- alternating taps;
- alternating sounds; or
- another form of left-right stimulation.
The American Psychological Association describes EMDR as a structured treatment that combines brief attention to a trauma memory with bilateral stimulation, which is associated with reduced vividness and emotional intensity of distressing memories.
During processing, the psychologist does not tell the client what they should think. The client notices thoughts, emotions, images, physical sensations and associations as they arise.
The aim is not to remove the historical memory. It is to help the memory become integrated so that reminders no longer trigger the same level of present-day alarm.
What conditions is EMDR used for?
The strongest established evidence for EMDR is in the treatment of PTSD.
PTSD may develop after experiences such as:
- assault;
- childhood abuse;
- family violence;
- serious accidents;
- occupational trauma;
- medical trauma;
- traumatic birth;
- disasters;
- military service;
- emergency service work;
- sudden or traumatic loss; or
- witnessing death or serious injury.
Major clinical guidance includes EMDR among recommended psychological treatments for PTSD. The NICE PTSD guideline covers EMDR and other trauma-focused treatments for adults, children and young people, while the World Health Organization has also included EMDR in guidance for conditions related to traumatic stress.
Clinicians may also use EMDR-informed approaches with other distressing memories or trauma-related presentations. However, the quality and extent of evidence varies across conditions.
People should be cautious about claims that EMDR is proven to treat almost every psychological or physical condition. Treatment should be based on a clear assessment and evidence relevant to the presenting problem.
What does trauma look like?
Trauma symptoms do not always look dramatic.
You might notice:
- intrusive images or memories;
- nightmares;
- flashbacks;
- panic when reminded of the event;
- avoidance of places, people or conversations;
- feeling constantly alert;
- exaggerated startle responses;
- irritability;
- sleep problems;
- emotional numbness;
- disconnection from yourself or others;
- guilt or shame;
- difficulty concentrating;
- physical reactions without understanding why;
- anger that feels difficult to control;
- using alcohol or work to avoid memories; or
- a sense that the world is no longer safe.
Some people can describe the event clearly but feel little emotion. Others become overwhelmed by fragments of memory and cannot tell the story in sequence.
Neither response means the trauma was insignificant.
How are traumatic memories different?
Ordinary memories usually feel located in the past.
You may remember an upsetting event and know that it is over, even if you still feel sad about it.
Traumatic memories can remain strongly connected with the sights, sounds, body sensations, emotions and beliefs present during the event. When triggered, they can feel immediate.
The person may react to a current situation through the meaning created at the time of the trauma:
- “I am powerless.”
- “I am in danger.”
- “It was my fault.”
- “I cannot trust anyone.”
- “My body failed.”
- “I should have done more.”
- “I am permanently damaged.”
EMDR is designed to help process the memory and the distressing meanings attached to it.
Do I have to describe everything in detail?
Not necessarily.
EMDR requires enough information for the psychologist and client to identify the memory and assess its components, but it does not always require an extended verbal account of every detail.
The client may identify:
- an image representing the worst part;
- a negative belief;
- the preferred adaptive belief;
- emotions;
- physical sensations; and
- the current level of distress.
The clinician then guides the processing while monitoring the client’s response.
Some clients find this less confronting than therapies that involve repeatedly describing the entire event. However, EMDR still involves contact with distressing material. It should not be presented as trauma therapy without discomfort.
The eight phases of EMDR
EMDR is usually described as an eight-phase therapy.
1. History-taking and treatment planning
The psychologist learns about your current symptoms, history, strengths, risks and goals.
Potential treatment targets may include past memories, present triggers and anticipated future situations.
2. Preparation
You receive information about EMDR and practise strategies to remain grounded and manage emotional activation.
The psychologist also assesses whether you have sufficient stability, support and capacity to begin processing.
3. Assessment
You and the psychologist identify the target memory, associated image, beliefs, emotions and physical sensations.
4. Desensitisation
You briefly focus on the memory while engaging in sets of bilateral stimulation. After each set, you report what you notice.
5. Installation
The work strengthens a more adaptive belief connected with the memory.
For example, “I am powerless” may shift towards “I survived and I have choices now.”
6. Body scan
You notice whether distress remains in the body when thinking about the event and the new belief.
7. Closure
The psychologist helps you return to the present and ensures the session ends as safely and steadily as possible.
8. Re-evaluation
At the next session, you review what has changed and whether further processing is needed.
The APA describes these eight phases as central to EMDR, including history-taking, preparation, target assessment, processing and evaluation of treatment outcomes.
Why preparation matters
EMDR is sometimes marketed as a rapid trauma treatment. Some memories can shift within a relatively small number of sessions, but there is no responsible promise about how quickly an individual will respond.
Treatment may take longer when there is:
- complex developmental trauma;
- repeated interpersonal trauma;
- dissociation;
- ongoing danger;
- limited support;
- severe emotion-regulation difficulty;
- multiple linked memories;
- chronic pain or medical complexity;
- substance dependence;
- current family violence; or
- significant instability in housing, relationships or health.
Preparation is not wasted time.
A person needs enough capacity to remain partly connected to the present while approaching the past. Beginning intensive processing before this capacity is established can be overwhelming.
A trauma-informed EMDR psychologist will continually assess pacing and readiness rather than progressing through a rigid sequence.
EMDR for complex trauma
Complex trauma can result from repeated or prolonged experiences, often within relationships where safety, attachment or dependence were involved.
Treatment may need to address:
- shame;
- chronic self-blame;
- dissociation;
- difficulty trusting;
- unstable relationships;
- emotional flooding;
- numbness;
- identity;
- multiple traumatic memories; and
- present situations that continue to resemble earlier danger.
EMDR can form part of treatment, but it may need to be integrated with relational therapy, skills work, schema-informed strategies, parts-oriented work or other approaches.
The aim is not to process every painful event individually. Treatment planning identifies the memories and themes most relevant to current difficulties.
EMDR for birth and medical trauma
Medical experiences can create trauma when a person experiences threat, pain, helplessness, invasive treatment or loss of control.
Triggers might include:
- hospitals;
- uniforms;
- medical smells;
- alarms;
- examinations;
- needles;
- pregnancy;
- driving past the hospital;
- hearing another person’s birth story; or
- routine health appointments.
Happy Minds Psychology currently provides EMDR and specialised birth-trauma support, including therapy for intrusive memories, hypervigilance, anxiety and difficult hospital experiences.
Treatment may help the person remember the event without experiencing the same immediate physical alarm.
EMDR for first responders
Police, paramedics, firefighters and other first responders may experience both single-incident trauma and cumulative exposure.
They may be affected by:
- deaths involving children;
- serious accidents;
- violence;
- threats to their own life;
- moral injury;
- perceived operational failure;
- inadequate backup;
- repeated exposure to suffering; or
- incidents that connect with personal experiences.
First responders sometimes minimise symptoms because traumatic exposure is expected within the role. However, expected exposure is not the same as harmless exposure.
EMDR may be included in a broader treatment plan addressing PTSD, sleep, alcohol use, relationships, occupational identity and return to work.
Happy Minds Psychology offers specialised trauma support for first responders in Geelong and via telehealth.
Can EMDR be done online?
EMDR can be adapted for telehealth when the clinician is appropriately trained and online treatment is suitable for the client.
Bilateral stimulation may involve:
- following a visual target on screen;
- self-tapping;
- alternating audio; or
- another agreed method.
Before providing online EMDR, the psychologist should consider:
- privacy;
- internet reliability;
- the person’s physical location;
- emergency contacts;
- dissociation;
- current risk;
- ability to remain oriented;
- what support is available after the session; and
- whether in-person treatment would be safer or more effective.
Telehealth may increase access for people outside Geelong, but convenience should not override clinical safety.
What EMDR is not
EMDR is not hypnosis
You remain awake and aware. You can speak, pause or stop the process.
EMDR does not erase memories
You should still be able to remember what happened. The goal is to reduce the memory’s emotional and physiological intensity.
EMDR is not simply eye movements
The eye movements or bilateral stimulation sit within a structured psychological treatment that includes assessment, preparation, formulation and review.
EMDR is not appropriate for everyone immediately
Some clients need stabilisation, medical care, substance-use treatment, environmental safety or another therapeutic approach before trauma processing.
EMDR does not guarantee a rapid cure
Response varies according to the person, trauma history, current circumstances and treatment goals.
What might happen after an EMDR session?
Some people feel relieved or calmer. Others feel tired, emotionally tender or notice dreams, memories or new associations between sessions.
Your psychologist should explain:
- what reactions may occur;
- how to ground yourself;
- whether to record new material;
- what to do if distress increases;
- how to access support; and
- when to seek urgent assistance.
Sessions should allow time for closure rather than ending immediately after intense processing.
Choosing an EMDR psychologist
Ask potential therapists:
- What is your core professional qualification?
- Are you registered with the appropriate professional regulator?
- What EMDR training have you completed?
- Are you accredited or working towards accreditation through a recognised EMDR association?
- How much experience do you have with my type of trauma?
- How do you assess dissociation and readiness?
- What happens if I become overwhelmed?
- Do you provide online or in-person treatment?
- How do you integrate EMDR with other therapies?
- How will we review whether treatment is helping?
EMDR training does not replace the need for broader clinical competence. The therapist must also be able to assess risk, differential diagnoses, complex trauma, comorbidity and whether another treatment is more appropriate.
EMDR therapy at Happy Minds Psychology
Happy Minds Psychology provides EMDR therapy Geelong clients can access from our Drysdale clinic, with telehealth appointments available across Australia when clinically appropriate.
Our EMDR service supports people experiencing trauma related to:
- accidents;
- abuse;
- family violence;
- birth and medical experiences;
- grief and loss;
- first responder work;
- childhood experiences;
- reproductive trauma; and
- other distressing events.
Our current EMDR service information emphasises assessment, preparation, emotional safety and treatment tailored to the client’s goals and readiness.
EMDR may be used alone or integrated with CBT, ACT, relational therapy, psychoeducation and regulation work.
Remembering without reliving
Trauma treatment is not about pretending an experience did not matter.
It is about helping your nervous system recognise that the event belongs to the past.
With appropriate assessment, preparation and a trained clinician, EMDR therapy Geelong residents can access may reduce the emotional intensity of traumatic memories and support more flexible engagement with daily life.
You do not need to describe your whole history when you first contact the clinic.
The first step can simply be saying:
“Something happened, and it still feels present.”
If you are looking for support, contact us now to find a clinician that is equipped to support you.
Frequently asked questions
How many EMDR sessions will I need?
There is no standard number for every person. A single-event trauma may require fewer sessions than repeated or developmental trauma. Assessment and preparation are part of the treatment timeframe.
Is EMDR only for PTSD?
Its strongest evidence base is for PTSD. Clinicians may use EMDR with other trauma-related concerns, but the evidence varies and treatment should be based on individual assessment.
Can EMDR make things worse?
Trauma processing can temporarily increase distress, memories or dreams. Careful preparation, pacing and monitoring reduce risk. Tell your psychologist when treatment feels unmanageable.
Can I stop during processing?
Yes. You remain in control and can ask to pause at any time.
Do I need a GP referral?
You can contact the clinic directly. An eligible Mental Health Treatment Plan may allow Medicare rebates for psychology sessions.
What if I am in crisis?
EMDR is not an emergency service. When you or another person is in immediate danger, call 000 or attend an emergency department. Lifeline is available 24 hours a day on 13 11 14.
