EMDR is an 8-phase treatment for trauma, based on the idea that memories of trauma get 'stuck' in an unprocessed form, together with feelings and sensations experienced at the time. Because of this, we get 'triggered' by reminders of the event, and experience all the distress of being back there. EMDR can help kickstart the healthy processing of traumatic memories, so they become more like ordinary recollections of the past.

One of the defining characteristics of EMDR is the use of bilateral left/right stimulation whilst thinking about an aspect of the memory, either (most famously) using left-to-right eye movements, or alternating hand taps on the left/right sides of the body, or alternating auditory tones in headphones. When I treat clients, I tend to use either 'butterfly taps' (with hands crossed across the chest), or a piece of technology called a light bar which provides a stimulus for clients follow with their eyes. In addition, 'tappers' can provide a touch stimulus (in synch with the light bar) to alternating hands. Auditory tones can be used when clients find other forms of stimuli too strong.

Often memories start to change very quickly into a more benign form (more like an ordinary memory). This can lead to clients saying things like, 'I can think about it now!' or 'It's gone!'. At other times, it's a more gradual process of improvement over a number of sessions.