EMDR Therapy
Trauma Processing & Nervous System Integration

Not in the way you might expect. EMDR does not require a detailed verbal account of what happened. You do not need to describe events at length or recount them chronologically. The work is more focused on how the experience sits in your body and the emotions and beliefs attached to it, rather than the narrative itself. Many people find this is one of the things that makes EMDR feel different from other approaches.

This is something many people ask, particularly after years of trying to understand an experience through insight and conversation. EMDR works differently because it is not primarily a talking therapy. It targets how the memory is stored in the nervous system, not just how it is understood. Insight can be present — you may know intellectually that something is in the past — while the body continues to respond as though it is not. EMDR works at that level, which is why it can be useful when understanding alone has not been enough.

Pacing and containment are central to how this work is approached. A significant amount of time in early sessions is spent on stabilisation — building the internal resources and regulation skills that allow processing to happen safely. During processing, the approach is to stay within what is sometimes called the "window of tolerance": enough activation to work with the material, without so much that the system is overwhelmed. You remain in control throughout, and sessions close with grounding and settling before they end.

Both approaches take the body seriously, and both recognise that trauma is held somatically, not just cognitively. The main difference is structure. EMDR follows a defined protocol with distinct phases — preparation, assessment, desensitisation, installation, body scan, closure, and re-evaluation. Somatic therapy tends to be more exploratory and relational, following the body's signals in a less prescribed sequence. EMDR also uses bilateral stimulation to actively facilitate memory reprocessing, which is not part of most somatic approaches. In practice, the two are not opposites — body tracking and somatic awareness are often integrated into EMDR work, particularly in stabilisation and when the system becomes activated during processing.

The honest answer is that researchers are still exploring the precise mechanism. The most widely discussed theory is that bilateral stimulation — the left-right alternation of eye movements, tapping, or sound — mimics something similar to what happens during REM sleep, when the brain consolidates and integrates experience. This may help the brain access and reprocess memories that are stored in a fragmented or highly activated state. What tends to be noticed in practice is a reduction in the emotional charge attached to a memory, a shift in associated beliefs, and a change in how the body holds the experience.

This varies considerably depending on what is being worked with, how complex the trauma history is, and how the nervous system responds. For a single, clearly defined incident with a relatively stable history, some people notice significant shifts within a smaller number of sessions. For more complex or developmental trauma — particularly where the roots are relational or span a long period — the work tends to take longer. Stabilisation alone may take several sessions before processing begins. We would discuss this together as the work develops, and the pace is always led by what feels supportive and manageable.

Yes. Online EMDR is well-established and has been used widely since 2020. Bilateral stimulation is adapted for the online setting — typically through tapping that you guide yourself, following hand movements on screen, or audio tones through headphones. Many people find online sessions work well for them, particularly those who prefer the familiarity and privacy of their own space. Sessions are available online across Ireland.