EMDR Therapy & Treatment

EMDR Therapy Brisbane

EMDR has been at Brisbane Counselling Centre since its inception. For over 35 years, the therapists at the Centre have helped people in Brisbane and throughout Queensland using EMDR (which stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing).

For the past 18 years, the attending psychologists at Brisbane Counselling Centre have developed their practice of the treatment even further, taking a holistic approach to EMDR that utilises the therapy alongside other evidence-based modalities. This has been incredibly effective at improving the mental health of clients who have experienced mental or physical trauma. Online EMDR is also available at the Centre, making it accessible to people throughout Australia, as well as internationally.

EMDR is fully endorsed by the Australian Psychological Society and is recognised internationally by several respected bodies, including the World Health Organisation. EMDR is considered an effective form of treatment for trauma-related psychological injuries, and has helped countless people around the world regain control of their mental healing process.

What is EMDR therapy?

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach created and developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 80s. This highly effective therapeutic modality helps individuals overcome trauma-related issues such as PTSD and complex PTSD, along with anxiety and other emotional challenges. It involves stimulating the brain via bilateral eye movements, sounds, or taps, while clients focus on distressing memories.

This evidence-based technique assists in reprocess traumatic memories, reducing their impact. It also helps clients to restructure how they view the memories, as well as develop healthier coping mechanisms.

The psychologists and counsellors at Brisbane Counselling Centre all utilise EMDR, both in-person and online. In your initial session, your psychologist will assess your mental health and its impacts on your quality of life, along with any trauma you’ve experienced, in order to determine if EMDR is suitable for you. If it is, the psychologist will talk to you in more detail about the therapy.

How does EMDR work?

Human beings store trauma in a particular way that makes it difficult to function at an optimal level. EMDR helps to work through these traumas and neutralise the emotional response that particular situations, emotions and memories elicit. Just as you would heal from a physical injury, EMDR helps you to activate your own ability to heal from the mental trauma you have experienced.

EMDR makes use of eye movement treatment, which helps with psychological trauma by bringing internal associations with the traumatic event to the front of the mind. From there, those associations can be changed, allowing the healing process to begin.

This approach fosters a strong therapeutic relationship and focuses on individual client experiences, including past memories and physical sensations.

The psychologists attending the Centre are trained in internationally recognised evidence-based methods. The psychologists shape their approaches around the personal life experiences, symptoms, and emotional distress of their clients. This ensures a safe environment for recovery for those who have experienced significant trauma.

What is EMDR therapy used for?

EMDR is considered to be one of the leading strategies for treating trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Complex PTSD.

Therapists also frequently integrate EMDR with other therapeutic approaches, allowing its application in treating a diverse variety of presenting issues, including:

• chronic pain
• generalised anxiety disorder
• depression
• addictions
• panic disorder
• phobias and social anxiety
• performance issues, such as public speaking
• challenges with sexual intimacy.

For more information on the history and science of EMDR, please click here.

EMDR Counselling in Brisbane

If you think that you or someone you know could benefit from an EMDR therapist in Brisbane, please give us a call on 07 3831 4452. Our receptionists are patient, friendly, and are always keen to assist with any questions you may have.

We look forward to helping you!