What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It is a structured psychological therapy, developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, that helps people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences. It is now one of the most widely researched and recommended treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder. It is also effective for phobias, anxiety disorders, depression and many other conditions.
Unlike talking therapies that focus mainly on discussing an experience, EMDR works directly with how a distressing memory is stored in the brain. Using sets of activities that fill working memory, most often guided eye movements, it helps the brain reprocess a memory that has become stuck, so it can be filed away as something that is genuinely over. The memory does not disappear, but it stops carrying the same emotional charge, and the reminders that once triggered you begin to lose their power.
At Integro Health, EMDR is delivered by trained practitioners in a safe, non-judgemental environment in South West WA, in person or online.
How EMDR works
When something overwhelming happens, the brain can fail to process the experience the way it processes ordinary memories. Instead of being filed away as part of the past, the memory stays raw and easily triggered, so a sound, a smell, or a situation can throw you straight back into the feelings of the original event. This is what drives many of the symptoms of trauma and PTSD.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation and distracting tasks to fill your working memory while you also focus on the disturbing memory. This helps the stuck memory move through the brain’s normal processing system effectively and rapidly. As it does, the memory becomes less vivid and less distressing, and more helpful beliefs about yourself can take the place of the ones the trauma left behind.
Importantly, EMDR does not require you to talk about the event in detail, which many people find a relief. The work is guided, structured, and always within your control.
The phases of EMDR
EMDR is a structured therapy that follows specific phases. We never rush it, and we do not begin processing a memory until you feel safe and ready. Depending on what you are working through, some phases take longer than others.
History and planning
First, we get to know you and your history, and gently identify the experiences and beliefs to work on. We build a clear, collaborative plan, and there is no pressure to share more than you are ready to.
Preparation and safety
Before any processing, we make sure you feel safe and steady. We build tools to help you stay grounded and manage distress, so that when we begin, you are never overwhelmed. This foundation is essential.
Reprocessing the memory
In the core phases, you briefly bring a memory to mind while following sets of bilateral stimulation. We work in short, manageable steps, and you stay in control throughout, until the memory no longer carries the same charge.
Strengthening the positive
As the distress eases, we help a more helpful, truer belief about yourself take root, and check that the memory feels settled in your body as well as your mind.
Closure and review
Each session ends with you feeling grounded and steady, never mid-distress. In later sessions we review your progress and make sure the changes are holding, adjusting the plan as needed.
Meet our EMDR practitioners
At Integro Health, EMDR is delivered by registered clinicians and qualified therapists with genuine warmth and years of experience. Take a moment to read about our practitioners and find the right fit for you.
Dr Paul King
General Practitioner
MBBS Bachelor of Medicine/ Bachelor of Surgery
FRACGP Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Jools Fordyce
Social Worker & Family Therapist
Bachelor (Hons) – Applied Social Science with Diploma in Social Work
Postgraduate Diploma in Family and Relationship Therapy
Brooke Eden
Psychologist
Bachelor of Psychology
Graduate Diploma of Education
Member of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc.
Nicholas Kerr
Psychologist
Masters of Psychology (Organisational)
Bachelor of Arts
Member of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc.
Carli King
Office Administrator
As Practice Manager, Carli keeps the daily operations of Integro Health running smoothly, ensuring our clients always receive the highest standard of care.
What EMDR can help with
Trauma
Gentle, trauma-informed therapy that helps you work through the past at your own pace, so it stops running the present.…
Trauma →
PTSD
Evidence-based, trauma-informed treatment for PTSD, including EMDR, delivered safely and at your pace. In Bunbury or online across the South…
PTSD →
Complex PTSD
Careful, relational therapy for complex trauma that builds safety and trust first. Support in Bunbury or online across the South…
Complex PTSD →
Anxiety
Practical, evidence-based help for worry, racing thoughts, and constant unease, so you can feel safe in your own life again.…
Anxiety →
Phobias
Overcome specific fears with gradual, fully-in-your-control exposure therapy, one of the most effective treatments there is. In Bunbury and online.
Phobias →
Childhood Trauma
Gently understand how early experiences still shape you today, and rework the patterns they left behind. Therapy in Bunbury and…
Childhood Trauma →Why Integro Health
Registered, experienced clinicians
Your therapy is delivered by registered clinicians and qualified therapists trained in the approach. Experience and genuine care come as standard.
A whole-person approach
We look at every part of you, your thoughts, feelings, relationships, and circumstances, because difficulties rarely sit in just one area of life.
The right approach for you
We use EMDR where it genuinely fits, and draw on other evidence-based approaches when they would help, rather than forcing a one-size formula.
In Bunbury and online
See us in person at our Eaton clinic near Bunbury, or by secure telehealth anywhere in South West WA and beyond. The choice is yours.
Is EMDR effective? The evidence
EMDR has one of the strongest evidence bases of any trauma therapy. It is recommended by the World Health Organization and by clinical guidelines around the world as an effective, first-line treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Decades of research show it can produce meaningful improvement, often more quickly than some other approaches, particularly for single-event trauma.
Because it works with how memories are stored rather than relying on lengthy discussion, many people find EMDR reaches things that talking alone has not. It is also well tolerated, and does not require you to describe traumatic events in detail.
That said, EMDR is not a magic wand, and no honest practitioner can promise a fixed outcome, because every person and every history is different. What we can say is that it is a genuinely powerful, evidence-based approach, and that we deliver it carefully, at a pace that keeps you safe. If another approach would suit you better, we will say so.
What to expect in an EMDR session
If EMDR is new to you, it can sound unusual, so it helps to know what actually happens. Early sessions involve no processing at all. They are about understanding your history, building trust, and making sure you have the tools to stay grounded.
When you are ready, a processing session involves briefly bringing a memory to mind while you follow a set of eye movements, taps, or tones, then pausing to notice what comes up. You do not have to describe the memory in detail. Your practitioner guides the process gently, checks in with you constantly, and you can pause or stop at any time. Sessions end with you feeling calm and grounded, not distressed.
Sessions usually run for around 50 to 60 minutes. You can read more about what to expect on our first session page.
Is EMDR right for you?
EMDR may be a good fit if distressing past experiences still intrude on your present, through flashbacks, nightmares, being easily triggered, or strong reactions that feel out of proportion. It can help whether the experience was a single event or something that happened over a long time, and whether it was recent or many years ago.
EMDR is powerful, and it is not always the right place to start. If you are in the middle of a crisis, or do not yet feel safe and stable, we focus first on building that foundation. For some people, a different or complementary approach fits better, and we will talk that through honestly with you. If you are unsure, reaching out is a good first step. If you are ever in immediate danger, please call 000, or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Your questions answered
It is a fair question, because EMDR can sound unusual. The reassuring answer is that it is one of the most researched trauma therapies there is, with strong evidence and recommendations from bodies like the World Health Organization. It is not magic, and results vary from person to person, but for many people it produces genuine, lasting change.
No, and many people find this a great relief. Unlike some therapies, EMDR does not require you to describe what happened in detail or relive it out loud. You briefly bring the memory to mind while we guide the processing, but the depth of what you share is always up to you.
EMDR provided by a registered psychologist can attract a Medicare rebate if you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, which covers up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year. We are happy to explain what applies to you and talk through the options and costs before you begin.
This varies with the nature of the trauma. A single distressing event can sometimes be worked through in a small number of sessions, while trauma that was prolonged or began in childhood usually takes longer and is done in careful stages. We always build safety first and move at your pace, and we review progress with you as we go.
EMDR is safe when delivered by a trained practitioner, which is exactly how we work. We do not begin processing until you feel steady, we keep sessions within your control, and we always end with you feeling grounded rather than distressed. Some strong feelings can come up during the work, which is normal, and we support you through them carefully.
Yes. We offer sessions by secure telehealth across South West WA and Australia-wide, as well as in person at our Eaton clinic near Bunbury. For most people online sessions are just as effective, and they are especially helpful if you are in a regional area or short on time. You can read more on our online therapy page.
No referral is needed to book a session. You can contact us directly to arrange a first appointment. If you would like to access a Medicare rebate through a Mental Health Treatment Plan, you will need a GP referral first, and we can guide you through that.
EMDR is best known for PTSD and trauma, including childhood trauma and complex PTSD. It is also used for anxiety, phobias, panic, and distressing memories connected to grief and other experiences. If you are not sure whether it fits your situation, we are happy to advise.
Medically reviewed by
General Practitioner
The clinical information on this page has been reviewed for accuracy by Dr Paul King, General Practitioner at Integro Health. It is general information, and not a substitute for personal medical or psychological advice.
