It goes without saying that central to my EMDR practice is our relationship, the trust we build together and the collaborative nature of our decision-making.  

The standard protocol (see What is EMDR?) is highly effective if you have experienced upsetting events in adulthood.   However, if what you bring stems from childhood, I often suggest Attachment-Focused EMDR, a highly-established modification created by Dr Laurel Parnell, a student of Francine Shapiro.   

Attachment-Focused EMDR involves 'slowing down' the preparatory, first two phases, enabling you to feel more fully resourced before the trauma-processing (phase 3 onwards).  It engages the right-brain earlier in the treatment (than for the standard protocol), providing you with imaginal resources to support you throughout.  If EMDR trauma processing (phases 3 to 8) is a metaphorical 'train journey' towards your 'destination' (feeling well), the 'resources' are support figures you accompany and significantly help you on that journey. 

The big advantage is that this maximises safety.  Thus, 'going slow' may actually result in faster more 'expedient' processing in the longer term.  

Other approaches which support A-F EMDR

As an Integrative Psychotherapist working collaboratively, we may also draw on:

• IFS (Internal Family Systems).  I am specially trained to integrate this model, designed to give you more insight and compassion into yourself.
• Music.  Following specialised training, I am able to integrate music into your EMDR journey.  Studies show that music activates many more areas of the brain than with language.  It by-passes the purely cognitive and enhances a holistic processing, which is both emotionally and somatically (in the body) felt.  
• Arts practices.  Whether using sand tray, mark-making, music, these simple accessible practices externalise feeling states creating insight, compassion, embodiment, groundedness.  These calm your system prior to trauma-processing.
• Psycho-education.   Understanding how your brain/nervous system has got impacted by trauma can be extremely reassuring.  Knowing about 'neuroplasticity' (how our brains promote change according to what we focus on) creates hope, and may empower you to make important life style changes.  

To find out more, feel free to book an introductory zoom call or email me on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.