Trauma-focused therapy for distressing memories, PTSD symptoms, and event-linked anxiety

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a structured therapy approach commonly used for trauma and PTSD, and it can also be helpful when specific memories continue to drive anxiety, hypervigilance, panic, or avoidance in the present.

I offer EMDR therapy in Central London (W1W) and online. In my practice, EMDR is used when clinically indicated, particularly when distress is strongly linked to identifiable events or experiences that remain “unprocessed”.

When EMDR is most helpful

EMDR may be a strong fit if you:

• feel stuck with intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares
• experience hypervigilance, startle responses, or persistent threat alertness
• notice panic, fear, or shutdown that is clearly linked to past events
• avoid places, sensations, or situations that remind you of what happened
• feel that something “gets triggered” and your body reacts before you can think

EMDR can be particularly helpful when symptoms are memory-driven, as if the nervous system keeps reacting as though the past is still happening.

The EMDR view: why symptoms persist

From an EMDR perspective, difficulties can persist when distressing experiences have not been fully processed. Triggers in the present can activate the same emotional and bodily responses as the original experience.

This can show up as:

• sudden surges of fear or panic
• numbness or dissociation
• persistent threat scanning
• avoidance of reminders
• strong bodily reactions to seemingly “small” cues

EMDR aims to reduce the intensity and charge of these responses, so the past has less power in the present.

What EMDR looks like in practice

EMDR is structured and paced carefully. In broad terms, sessions often include:

• identifying the key memories or triggers we will work on
• preparing you with stabilisation strategies where needed
• processing the memory in a contained way, tracking emotional and bodily shifts
• integrating the work so you feel more grounded and less reactive afterwards

You are not asked to “relive” trauma in a forced way. The work is collaborative, and we monitor your capacity throughout.

How EMDR fits within an ISTDP-led approach

EMDR is not a competing identity. It is a tool we use when it best matches the maintaining pattern.

In my practice:

• ISTDP provides the organising formulation (what triggers distress, how anxiety is managed in the body, what defences or avoidance patterns maintain symptoms, how relationship patterns interact with threat)
• EMDR is used when specific memories are central to the current symptoms and avoidance

This integrated approach is often helpful for people who:

• function well day-to-day, but have specific trigger points
• experience both trauma-linked reactions and broader anxiety/relationship patterns
• want trauma-focused work that also connects to current patterns and change in daily life

Best for (common presentations)

EMDR work in my practice is commonly used for:

• PTSD / trauma symptoms (intrusive memories, hypervigilance, nightmares)
• event-linked panic or phobic responses
• distress linked to medical events, accidents, assaults, or sudden losses (where memories remain highly activating)
• trauma-related relationship patterns (e.g., fear of closeness or mistrust linked to experience)

(If trauma is your primary concern, you may also find my PTSD page helpful.)

When EMDR may not be the whole answer

If your distress is driven less by specific memories and more by:

• chronic self-pressure and emotional overcontrol
• longstanding relationship patterns
• persistent anxiety without clear event linkage
• stress-related physical symptoms as the main presentation

…then EMDR alone may not address the full maintaining cycle. In those cases, EMDR can still be useful, but the core work may lean more on ISTDP/psychodynamic approaches to create broader change.

What to expect

Early sessions

• clarify what brings you and what you want to change
• assess whether EMDR is indicated now (and whether preparation work is needed)
• agree a clear focus and pacing

Ongoing work

• structured processing sessions, monitored carefully
• integration and follow-through into daily life
• review of progress so therapy stays focused and safe

Sessions are typically weekly initially and reviewed over time.

Related pages

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Panic Attacks & Agoraphobia
• Anxiety
• Relationship Difficulties
• Persistent Physical Symptoms (PPS)

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to remember everything clearly for EMDR to work?
Not necessarily. We work with what is accessible, including triggers and the way the body responds.

Will EMDR make me worse?
The work is paced carefully. We assess readiness and use preparation strategies where needed.

Is EMDR available online?
Yes. EMDR can be provided online, and suitability is assessed on an individual basis.

Do you offer EMDR in person in Central London?
Yes, I work in Central London (W1W) and online.

Next step

If you feel stuck with trauma-linked distress, triggers, or memories that keep intruding into the present, EMDR may be a good fit.

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