Specialist EMDR Therapy for Trauma and Complex Difficulties

Face-to-face specialist EMDR therapy in a private practice in Notting Hill, London

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based psychotherapy originally developed for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research has consistently shown EMDR to be highly effective, and over time its application has expanded well beyond single-incident trauma.

In my clinical work, EMDR is used to address a broad range of psychological difficulties, including complex and developmental trauma, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, chronic stress, and longstanding relational patterns. It can be particularly helpful where difficulties feel deeply ingrained or where previous therapy has not led to sufficient change.

I have worked with EMDR in various forms since 2015 and am accredited with EMDRIA International, meeting the highest training and practice standards. Ongoing professional development and supervision are central to my work, and I regularly train with internationally recognised EMDR clinicians.

Integrative and specialist EMDR work

EMDR is rarely used in isolation in my practice. I integrate EMDR with Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) and attachment-informed approaches to support deeper emotional processing and lasting change.

This integrative approach allows us to work carefully with:

early and developmental trauma
attachment-related difficulties
deeply held negative self-beliefs
emotional responses that feel automatic or overwhelming

Where appropriate, I also use Attachment-Focused EMDR and The Flash Technique, particularly when working with early trauma or memories that feel inaccessible or intolerable.

The Flash Technique

The Flash Technique is a trauma-processing method that can reduce the emotional disturbance associated with distressing memories without requiring prolonged focus on the traumatic material itself. This makes it a valuable option for individuals who feel easily overwhelmed or who have struggled with exposure-based approaches.

I am an accredited Flash Technique practitioner, trained by Dr Philip Manfield, and use this approach selectively and thoughtfully as part of a wider therapeutic process.

EMDR and relationships

EMDR can also be effective in addressing recurrent relationship difficulties, particularly where patterns are rooted in earlier attachment experiences. Emotional reactions within relationships are often shaped by personal history, and EMDR can help reduce the intensity of these responses.

EMDR may also be used within couples therapy to work with strong emotional triggers that contribute to repeated conflict or disconnection.

EMDR, self-esteem and resilience

For many people, low self-esteem and harsh self-criticism are maintained at a level that feels inaccessible through talking alone. EMDR can help address the underlying emotional memories that sustain these patterns.

In addition to processing distressing experiences, EMDR can be used to strengthen internal resources, support resilience, and increase confidence — particularly in the context of anxiety, avoidance, and the after-effects of trauma.

How EMDR works

EMDR supports the brain’s natural capacity to process experiences that have become “stuck” or insufficiently integrated. Through bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements), the brain is supported to access and reprocess traumatic or distressing material, allowing emotional intensity to reduce and new perspectives to emerge.

Working with early or unclear memories

EMDR does not require a clear or detailed memory. Work can begin with fragments such as body sensations, emotions, images, or a sense of “something having happened”. This makes EMDR particularly suitable for early attachment trauma and experiences that occurred before conscious memory developed.