EMDR Therapy - Hobart Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy for Trauma

EMDR therapy for trauma, PTSD, and anxiety treatment using evidence-based eye movement therapy.

EMDR Therapy Hobart Article

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a well-researched treatments available for trauma and PTSD. If you've experienced traumatic events that continue affecting your daily life — through flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, or avoidance — EMDR works directly with how those memories are stored, reducing their emotional charge in a way that talk therapy alone often can't.

EMDR doesn't require you to keep describing your trauma in detail. The processing happens through bilateral stimulation — typically side-to-side eye movements — while you hold the memory in mind. For people who find it difficult or re-traumatising to talk through what happened, this makes a significant difference. Therapists at Hobart Therapy have undertaken training with the Australian Institute of Emotion Focused Therapy.

What is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR is a structured psychotherapy approach developed by Dr Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. It's designed to help people heal from traumatic experiences and distressing life events by targeting how those memories are stored in the brain — not by talking about them in depth, but by reprocessing them neurologically.

Bilateral stimulation — typically eye movements, though tapping or audio tones can be used — appears to activate a natural healing process similar to what occurs during REM sleep, when the brain consolidates and integrates daily experience.

How Does EMDR Work?

Trauma can overwhelm the brain's normal memory processing. Instead of being stored as a regular past memory, the traumatic experience gets frozen — emotions, physical sensations, and negative beliefs intact. That's why trauma memories can feel like they're happening now, even years later.

EMDR helps the brain "unstick" these memories and process them properly. After successful reprocessing, the event becomes something you remember without the intense emotional charge — you know it happened, but it no longer floods you.

Recognised Worldwide

EMDR is endorsed by the World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association, and the Australian Psychological Society as an effective treatment for trauma and PTSD.

Research shows it can produce significant relief from single-trauma PTSD within 6–12 sessions — often faster than traditional therapy approaches. BUT please don't take this guideline as fixed, it can vary and change dependent on how people tolerate therapy and whether it is an effective therapy for you.

The Eight Phases of EMDR

EMDR follows a structured eight-phase protocol that ensures safety and effectiveness throughout treatment. Here's what each phase involves:

History Taking

We map your history, identify the traumatic memories to target, and develop a treatment plan. This phase establishes what we're working with and in what order.

Preparation

Before any trauma processing begins, we build your toolkit — stress-reduction and self-calming techniques you can use during and between sessions. This phase isn't skipped; it's what makes the processing safe.

Assessment

We identify the specific components of the target memory — the image, the negative belief about yourself, the emotions, and body sensations associated with it. This establishes a baseline for measuring progress.

Desensitisation

The core reprocessing phase. Using bilateral stimulation, you hold the target memory in mind while allowing whatever emerges naturally. The emotional intensity of the memory typically reduces significantly during this phase.

Installation

Once distress has reduced, we strengthen the positive belief you want to hold about yourself — replacing something like "I'm powerless" with "I handled it and I'm still here."

Body Scan

We check for any remaining physical tension connected to the memory and use bilateral stimulation to process and release it. The body often holds what the mind has partially let go.

Closure

Some sessions might end with grounding to ensure you leave feeling stable. We cover what to expect between sessions and how to manage any processing that continues.

Reevaluation

Each session opens with a check on the previous target and overall progress — determining whether further processing is needed or whether we're ready to move on. It may take a number of sessions to work on one complete memory.

Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR

Is EMDR safe?

Yes. EMDR is a well-evidenced therapy with built-in safety protocols. You remain in control throughout, and the preparation phase specifically ensures you have the capacity to manage what comes up. Processing trauma can be temporarily uncomfortable — but the protocol is designed to keep that within manageable limits, not to re-traumatise.

How long does EMDR take?

It depends on the complexity of what's being worked with. Single-incident trauma — like a car accident — can often be addressed within 6–12 sessions. Complex or developmental trauma typically requires longer treatment, often 12–24 sessions or more. We'll be upfront about realistic timeframes based on your situation.

Do I have to describe what happened?

No. But as part of the intial preparation we will need to discuss the memories you want to work on. You identify the target memory, but you don't need to narrate it during processing. Brief check-ins about what you're noticing are sufficient. This is one of EMDR's most significant practical advantages for people who find detailed accounts re-traumatising.

Will EMDR make me forget what happened?

No. EMDR doesn't erase memories. You'll still remember what happened — but it will feel different. Less emotionally overwhelming, less present. It becomes something that happened in the past, rather than something that feels like it's still happening now.

Ready to Start EMDR?

EMDR is available now with relatively short wait times. Get in touch to find out whether it's the right fit for you.

Get In Touch

Get in Touch

Phone: 0449 734 441
Email: hobarttherapy@gmail.com
Location: Sandy Bay, Hobart

Contact us today — we typically respond within 24 hours and aim to offer appointments within a relatively short timeframe.