What Is EMDR Therapy, and How Does It Work?

By Jemma Dennis | Psychotherapist & EMDR Therapist | Wimpole Street, London | March 2026. Get in Touch

If you've been researching therapy for trauma, anxiety, or PTSD, you've probably come across the term EMDR. It can sound a little clinical, even a little strange, when you first read about it. Eye movements? Processing? What does that actually mean in practice?!

As a qualified EMDR therapist I still find that most people who come to see me have heard of it but aren't quite sure what it involves. So I wanted to write something clear and human about what EMDR is, how it works, and, most importantly, what it actually feels like to experience it.

So, what is EMDR?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It is a structured, evidence-based therapy developed in the late 1980s and now one of the most widely researched psychological treatments in the world. It is recommended by the NHS and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a first-line treatment for PTSD and trauma.

The basic premise of EMDR is this: when we experience something traumatic or deeply distressing, the brain can struggle to process that experience in the way it normally would. The memory becomes, in a sense, stuck, stored in a raw, unprocessed form that continues to feel vivid, present, and emotionally overwhelming, even years after the event itself.

EMDR helps the brain do what it couldn't do at the time: process the memory properly, so that it loses its grip on you.

What actually happens in an EMDR session?

This is the part people are often most curious, and sometimes most apprehensive about. Let me walk you through it.

EMDR uses what's called bilateral stimulation, typically, the therapist moves their fingers from side to side in front of the client's eyes, and the client follows the movement. This can also be done with tapping on the clients knees gently or by using sounds alternating between left and right. The back-and-forth stimulation mimics the kind of rapid eye movement (REM) that happens naturally during sleep, which is thought to be the mechanism by which the brain processes and files away the day's experiences.

During this process, you are gently guided to bring a difficult memory to mind, and hold it in your awareness while the bilateral stimulation happens. What most people find, often to their own surprise, is that the memory begins to shift. Its emotional intensity reduces. New associations and realisations emerge naturally. The memory doesn't disappear, but it begins to feel like something that happened in the past, rather than something happening right now. Many of my clients describe EMDR as feeling like the volume being turned down on a memory that had been playing at full blast for years.

What can EMDR help with?

EMDR was originally developed for PTSD, but now qualified EMDR therapists can see the benefit of using this method with other issues clients are experiencing.

I use it with clients working through:

•       Trauma and complex trauma (including childhood trauma)

•       Sexual abuse and assault

•       Anxiety and panic

•       Low self-esteem and negative core beliefs

•       Phobias

•       Grief and loss

•       Work-related stress and burnout

It is particularly valuable for people who feel stuck, who have perhaps spent time in talking therapy and found it helpful, but sense that there is something deeper that words alone haven't been able to reach.

Is EMDR right for me?

EMDR isn't the right fit for every person or every situation, and I would never suggest it is. Before beginning EMDR work, I always spend time getting to know a client, understanding their history, and making sure that we build a strong enough foundation of safety and trust. EMDR is a powerful approach, and it works best when the therapeutic relationship is solid.

If you've been carrying something for a long time, a memory, an experience, a feeling about yourself that you can't seem to shift, it may be worth exploring whether EMDR could help. Many of my clients tell me that they wish they had found it sooner.

A note on what EMDR is not

EMDR is not hypnosis. You remain completely conscious and in control throughout. While it is not a quick fix, many clients do notice meaningful shifts more quickly than they expected.

It is, at its heart, a way of helping your brain do something it has been trying to do on its own, and simply hasn't been able to manage without support.

If you'd like to find out whether EMDR might be helpful for you, I'd love to hear from you. I offer EMDR therapy in person at my consulting room on Wimpole Street in central London, and online via zoom to people globally. Please get in touch to arrange an initial consultation, there is no obligation, and no pressure. You can get in touch with me through my website www.jemmadennis.com or by emailing me at jemma@jemmadennis.com

All the best

Jemma