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EMDR Therapy
Processing trauma can feel like trying to move forward while carrying something heavy that refuses to shift. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy helps you put that weight down.
It’s a structured, evidence-based approach that supports your brain in reprocessing distressing memories so they no longer hold the same emotional power over you. I am a EMDR HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist with over 18 years’ experience working with adults. Sessions are available in person in Manchester,Preston or online across the UK, offering a safe and compassionate space to process trauma, anxiety and emotional overwhelm at your own pace.
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR therapy helps people recover from the emotional and physical distress that follows traumatic or highly stressful experiences. Rather than requiring you to talk in detail about what happened, EMDR activates the brain’s natural healing process through a method known as bilateral stimulation – often involving guided eye movements, gentle tapping or alternating sounds.
During sessions, you’ll focus on a particular memory or event while your therapist helps you engage in these side-to-side movements. Over time, this helps the brain to “unstick” the memory, so it becomes integrated into your wider life story without triggering the same level of distress.
Many people describe EMDR as the process of finally being able to think about the past without feeling hijacked by it. It doesn’t erase what happened, but it changes how it feels – allowing space for calm, perspective and relief.
When EMDR
Therapy Is Used
EMDR therapy is widely recognised for its effectiveness in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, but it’s also highly effective for a range of emotional and psychological difficulties where distressing experiences have left a lasting mark.
At PATH North West, EMDR therapy may be used to support people experiencing childhood trauma or emotional neglect, single-incident trauma such as accidents, medical emergencies or assaults, chronic stress, burnout or overwhelm, panic attacks or phobias, grief, loss or complicated bereavement, negative self-beliefs like “I’m not good enough” or “I’m unsafe,” social or performance anxiety, and distressing medical or workplace experiences.
EMDR is suitable for both recent and long-term trauma. You don’t need to remember every detail of what happened or describe it vividly in order for therapy to be effective. The process is designed to be gentle, paced, and responsive to your emotional needs.
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How EMDR
Therapy Works
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When you experience trauma, your brain may not fully process the event at the time, leaving parts of the memory “stuck” in their original emotional state. As a result, the memory can continue to cause distress, as if the event is still happening in the present. EMDR therapy works by helping the brain complete this processing.
While you bring the memory to mind, bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or tones) engages both hemispheres of the brain. This mimics the natural processing that occurs during REM sleep, allowing the memory to shift from raw, emotional experience to a more neutral narrative.
The process unfolds in eight structured phases, including history-taking, preparation, desensitisation and reprocessing, installation of positive beliefs, and body awareness. With EMDR therapy with myself you’ll never be rushed through these stages – my focus remains on safety, stability, and ensuring that you feel in control at every point.
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What to Expect in EMDR Therapy
Here’s what the experience typically looks like.
Initial Assessment: Your first session is a space to talk about what’s bringing you to therapy, what you hope to change, and whether EMDR feels like the right fit. You won’t be asked to describe traumatic experiences in detail during this stage. Together, we’ll create a clear, shared understanding of your goals and needs.
Preparation and Safety: Before any reprocessing begins, we’ll spend time developing grounding and self-soothing techniques. You’ll learn how to manage emotional intensity, create a sense of safety, and build confidence in the process. This stage ensures you have the tools to stay steady throughout therapy.
Reprocessing Phase: When you’re ready, we’ll identify a specific target memory to work on. While focusing on this memory, you’ll follow the therapist’s guidance through a series of eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones. You may notice thoughts, emotions, or sensations shifting as your brain begins to process the memory.
Integration and Reflection: As distress reduces, new insights often emerge. Many clients report a sense of clarity, relief, or self-compassion where there was once shame or fear. We’ll take time to reflect on these changes, integrate what you’ve learned, and strengthen positive beliefs about yourself.
Each person’s experience of EMDR therapy is unique. Some people notice significant relief after a few sessions, while others benefit from a longer, more gradual process. You’ll always be supported in a way that matches your individual pace and comfort level.
​How EMDR Therapy Helps Autistic Adults
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For autistic adults, trauma can look and feel different. Many people have experienced repeated invalidation, bullying, misunderstanding, or chronic stress from masking and sensory overload.
These experiences may not always be recognised as “trauma” but can deeply affect emotional regulation and self-esteem. EMDR therapy can be particularly effective for autistic individuals because it doesn’t rely heavily on verbal storytelling.
Processing happens through experience, not lengthy talking. Bilateral stimulation engages the sensory and visual systems, which can align well with the way autistic people process information. The structured, predictable format of
EMDR helps create safety and reduces uncertainty. It can address both overt trauma such as bullying or medical trauma and “everyday” trauma linked to social exclusion, overwhelm or burnout. For autistic adults, EMDR can offer not just trauma recovery, but also a pathway to self-understanding and emotional regulation.
How EMDR Therapy Helps Adults with ADHD
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Adults with ADHD often carry layers of unprocessed stress and self-blame. Experiences of rejection, criticism, underachievement, or emotional impulsivity can leave behind deep-seated shame and frustration. EMDR therapy helps to unhook these experiences from self-identity, allowing greater confidence and calm.
For people with ADHD, EMDR can be supported by processing memories of rejection or failure that contribute to low self-esteem, reducing hyperarousal and emotional reactivity, improving focus by releasing the cognitive and emotional load of unresolved experiences, and building self-compassion through reframing past struggles.
Because EMDR uses sensory-based processing rather than long discussions, it suits ADHD brains that can become overwhelmed by talking-based therapies.
The approach is dynamic and engaging, helping clients stay present and actively involved without needing to overthink or analyse. Many adults with ADHD find that after EMDR, they experience less internal “noise” and greater emotional stability – allowing them to focus more clearly on what matters in their daily lives.
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EMDR Therapy Online and In-Person
You can access EMDR therapy either in person at my quiet clinic space in Manchester and Preston, or online across the UK via a secure video platform. Online EMDR therapy is equally effective and follows the same structured process as in-person sessions. Bilateral stimulation is guided digitally through tapping. This option suits clients who prefer privacy, accessibility, or comfort from home. In-person sessions offer a grounding environment for those who value physical presence and face-to-face connection. We’ll discuss both options during your initial consultation to determine what feels most supportive for you.
Why Choose EMDR Therapy with PATH North West
I am a HCPC-Registered Clinical Psychologist with over 18 years’ experience. I offer:
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Specialist EMDR training and trauma-informed approach.
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EMDR therapy dapted for autistic and ADHD adults.
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Insurance registered with BUPA, AXA, Aviva and Vitality.
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No GP referral or waiting list required.
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Compassionate, professional and confidential. At PATH North West, EMDR therapy is not about reliving the past – it’s about reclaiming your present. Whether you’ve been carrying trauma for years or are only just recognising its impact, EMDR offers a clear, evidence-based path to healing.
Start Your Journey
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Taking the first step can feel daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you’re ready to explore how EMDR therapy could help you process trauma, build resilience and reconnect with yourself, get in touch to arrange an initial consultation. Use the contact form to reach out with any questions or to book your first session. Together, we can find a way forward that feels safe, manageable and genuinely healing.