All you need to know about EMDR for CPTSD and relationship issues

EMDR for early and recent trauma, PTSD, relationship problems, blockages, anxiety, OCD, panic and anxiety

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy originally used for PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), where it has proved highly effective—often within just a handful of sessions.

Increasingly, research and clinical practice show EMDR can also be helpful for:

• Complex trauma (CPTSD) and trauma-related relationship patterns

• Anxiety (panic, social anxiety, phobias, health anxiety)

• Chronic pain and insomnia

• Blocks and performance anxiety

• Depression and attachment-related difficulties (trust, fear of abandonment)

• Personality disorders such as BPD

My Approach at Emotion Clinic Notting Hill:

I have used various forms of EMDR for many years and often combine it with EFT (Emotion Focused Therapy) to create rapid, safe access to emotional processing. I also offer Attachment-Focused EMDR, a powerful way to address the roots of presentations like OCD, depression, and deep-rooted anxiety.

EMDR for improving relationships:

Many unhelpful relationship patterns are linked to attachment styles and earlier experiences. EMDR can help shift automatic responses so you can relate from a calmer, more secure place.

I also use the Flash Technique, a quick, gentle EMDR-compatible method for targeting trauma memories. I am a registered Flash Technique practitioner.

Improving low self-esteem and self-criticism with EMDR:

Addressing that critical inner voice that undermines your self-esteem only with talk therapy often seems pointless. EMDR techniques can be much more effective in getting through to that place, where those devastating beliefs are held.

Becoming more resilient with EMDR:

Besides traumatic or upsetting memories and blockages, EMDR also focusses on activating and building up your strengths and your believe in yourself.

This is particularly helpful for overcoming social anxiety, fears around OCD and the avoidance that comes with PTSD and complex trauma.

EMDR for couples:

Couples conflicts are often relationship problems that get fuelled by each partner's personal history, such as unhelpful auto-pilot responses, stemming from much earlier experiences. EMDR can be used in couples therapy to work on strong emotional responses.

How does EMDR work?

EMDR targets the brain’s natural processing system. Bilateral stimulation (e.g., rapid eye movements, taps) is similar to REM sleep and helps the brain enter a processing mode where associations activate and the sense of being stuck or frozen can dissolve.

What is The Flash Technique?

The Flash Technique (FT) is a newer, evidence-based intervention that reduces disturbance linked to traumatic or distressing memories. Unlike many conventional approaches, FT is minimally intrusive and does not require conscious engagement with the memory, allowing processing without overwhelming distress. As part of EMDR preparation or alongside exposure-based work, FT can help process memories that might otherwise feel intolerable.

I am an accredited Flash Technique practitioner, trained by Dr. Philip Manfield.

Can EMDR Help with Blurred or Very Early Memories?

Yes. EMDR can work with fragments—a sound, smell, body sensation, or an image. It can also use your representation of very early (pre-verbal) experiences such as separation, parental mental health difficulties, hospital stays, or physical abuse. Attachment-Focused EMDR offers effective protocols for early trauma.

Ready to Begin EMDR in West London?

If you’d like to explore EMDR therapy in Notting Hill / West London, I’m happy to answer questions and discuss next steps.

📍 Emotion Clinic Notting Hill — serving Notting Hill, Kensington, Holland Park, Bayswater, and nearby areas🌐 www.emotionclinic.co.uk📩 Get in touch