EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured psychotherapy technique used to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences. It involves recalling a distressing memory while a therapist guides you through bilateral stimulation, such as side-to-side eye movements, tapping, or sounds, to help the brain process the memory and reduce its emotional charge. The goal is to help you reprocess the memory so that it is no longer as vivid or upsetting, allowing you to form new, more positive beliefs about the event

How it works

• Processing trauma: Trauma can overwhelm the brain's natural processing capabilities, leaving distressing memories "stuck" and easily triggered. EMDR helps the brain process these memories and resolve the associated negative emotions, beliefs, and sensations.

• Bilateral stimulation: The core of EMDR involves using a back-and-forth, or "bilateral," stimulus while you focus on the memory. This is typically done by following the therapist's finger with your eyes, but can also involve tapping on your hands or legs or auditory tones.

• Brain integration: This process is thought to help the brain's hemispheres work together to reprocess the memory, making it less overwhelming and allowing for normal healing to resume. The experience is still remembered, but the emotional intensity is significantly reduced.

EMDR was originally developed for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but is now used to treat a range of conditions, including:

• Anxiety disorders

• Depression

• Phobias

• Panic disorders

• Eating disorders

• Other mental health conditions related to distressing past events