EMDR Therapy
EMDR Therapy in Petersfield, Hampshire
Evidence-Based EMDR Therapy for Trauma, PTSD, Anxiety, Panic, Childhood Trauma, and Low Self-Esteem
Traumatic and emotionally overwhelming experiences can continue to affect us long after the event itself has passed. You may logically know that you are safe, yet still find yourself struggling with anxiety, panic, intrusive memories, emotional overwhelm, low self-worth, or a persistent sense of being constantly on edge. For many people, the problem is not a lack of insight. They understand why they feel the way they do. The difficulty is that their nervous system continues to respond as though the threat is still present.
Research suggests that when overwhelming experiences occur, the brain may store memories in a fragmented and emotionally frozen form, together with the original emotions, body sensations, images, and beliefs. Rather than becoming part of the past, these memories continue to be triggered in the present, contributing to symptoms such as anxiety, flashbacks, hypervigilance, shame, chronic self-criticism, or a persistent sense of danger.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychological therapy developed by Dr Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. It helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they no longer carry the same emotional intensity. Rather than simply helping you manage symptoms, EMDR aims to resolve the underlying memories and emotional patterns that continue to influence your life today. Many people describe EMDR as helping them remember what happened without feeling as though they are reliving it.
As a Chartered Clinical Psychologist, I provide EMDR Therapy in Petersfield, Hampshire, alongside secure online EMDR therapy for adults across the UK. I work with people experiencing trauma, PTSD, anxiety, panic attacks, childhood emotional neglect, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, and the lasting effects of painful life experiences.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy approach developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. Originally developed to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), EMDR is now recognised internationally as an effective treatment for a wide range of psychological difficulties associated with traumatic or emotionally distressing experiences.
Unlike traditional talking therapies, EMDR does not rely solely on discussing experiences or analysing thoughts. Instead, it helps the brain process memories that have become stuck and continue to trigger emotional distress. The therapy uses bilateral stimulation, typically eye movements, gentle tapping, or alternating sounds, to activate the brain’s natural information-processing system. As memories are reprocessed, they become integrated into normal memory networks, allowing them to be remembered without provoking the same emotional or physical distress.
How Does EMDR Work?
Under normal circumstances, the brain naturally processes experiences and stores them in a way that allows us to learn from them and move forward. However, when experiences are overwhelming or occur during periods of intense stress, the brain’s natural processing system can become disrupted. Instead of being fully processed, memories may remain stored together with the original emotions, body sensations, images, and negative beliefs experienced at the time. As a result, reminders of the experience may continue to trigger emotional and physical distress long after the event has ended. This can contribute to symptoms such as:
- Intrusive memories
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Hypervigilance
- Emotional overwhelm
- Shame and self-criticism
- Avoidance
- Relationship difficulties
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, often through eye movements, tapping, or alternating sounds, to help the brain reprocess these memories. Over time, the memories become integrated in a healthier way and lose much of their emotional intensity, allowing the nervous system to respond to the present rather than remaining stuck in the past.
Why Do Some Memories Become Stuck?
One of the biggest misconceptions about trauma is that it only results from catastrophic events. Many people seek EMDR not because of one major traumatic incident but because of repeated experiences that gradually shaped how they see themselves, other people, and the world around them. These experiences may include childhood emotional neglect, ongoing criticism or rejection, bullying, difficult family relationships, medical procedures, workplace bullying, relationship betrayal, accidents, distressing life events, or feeling different, excluded, or unsafe.
Over time, these experiences can teach the nervous system that the world is dangerous or that something is fundamentally wrong with us. They may contribute to deeply held beliefs such as being not good enough, being unlovable, not mattering, expecting people to leave, or being unable to trust others. Rather than remaining in the past, these experiences continue to influence present-day emotions, relationships, confidence, and behaviour. EMDR helps the brain reprocess these experiences, so they become integrated memories rather than continuing to drive emotional reactions in everyday life. As this happens, many people notice they can remember difficult experiences without feeling overwhelmed by them.
What Can EMDR Help With?
Although EMDR is best known for treating trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), research and clinical experience suggest it can also be effective for a wide range of psychological difficulties where distressing memories, emotional learning, or nervous system responses continue to influence present-day functioning.
Trauma and PTSD
EMDR has one of the strongest evidence bases for the treatment of PTSD and is recommended by organisations such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Trauma can result from many different experiences, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, accidents, medical trauma, military experiences, workplace trauma, natural disasters, or witnessing distressing events. Many individuals continue to experience intrusive memories, nightmares, avoidance, heightened anxiety, and a persistent sense of threat long after the event itself has passed. EMDR helps the brain reprocess these experiences, so they no longer trigger the same level of emotional and physiological distress.
Complex Trauma and Childhood Emotional Wounds
Many adults seek EMDR not because of a single traumatic event but because of years of emotional neglect, criticism, rejection, bullying, inconsistent caregiving, or difficult family relationships. Repeated childhood experiences can shape the way we view ourselves and other people, contributing to deeply rooted beliefs about being not good enough, unlovable, or unable to trust others. These beliefs often continue to influence relationships, confidence, emotional wellbeing, and coping strategies throughout adult life. EMDR helps process the experiences that contributed to these beliefs, reducing their emotional impact and creating space for healthier and more compassionate ways of relating to yourself and others.
Anxiety Disorders
Research suggests EMDR may be beneficial for a range of anxiety difficulties, particularly when anxiety is linked to unresolved experiences or emotional memories that continue to activate the nervous system. This may include Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), health anxiety, social anxiety, performance anxiety, excessive worry, and anxiety following stressful life events. For many people, anxiety is not simply a present-day problem but reflects earlier experiences that taught the nervous system to remain alert to danger. By processing these underlying experiences, EMDR can reduce the intensity and frequency of anxiety responses.
Panic Attacks and Phobias
Panic attacks can feel frightening and unpredictable, and many people begin avoiding situations because they fear another attack. EMDR may help reduce panic symptoms by targeting the experiences, memories, or triggers that contribute to fear-based responses. EMDR has also been used successfully to treat a variety of specific phobias, particularly when the fear can be linked to a distressing or emotionally significant experience, including fear of flying, fear of needles, dental phobia, driving anxiety, or medical fears. As the underlying memories are reprocessed, the emotional intensity associated with the feared situation often reduces.
Low Self-Esteem, Relationships and Grief
Sometimes low self-esteem is not simply a thinking problem but the result of painful experiences that continue to influence how we see ourselves. EMDR can help process memories associated with criticism, rejection, bullying, humiliation, failure, or feeling different, helping many people develop a more balanced and compassionate view of themselves. Because our earliest relationships shape how safe we feel with others, EMDR may also help with fear of abandonment, trust difficulties, difficulty setting boundaries, and repetitive relationship patterns. While grief is a natural response that does not need to be fixed, EMDR can be helpful when aspects of a loss remain especially distressing or traumatic.
Depression and Performance Anxiety
When depression is associated with unresolved trauma, significant loss, chronic shame, self-criticism, or painful life experiences, EMDR may form an important part of a broader psychological treatment plan by helping to process the experiences that continue to maintain emotional distress. EMDR is also increasingly used with professionals, performers, and executives to address experiences that interfere with confidence, including public speaking anxiety, fear of failure, perfectionism, and imposter syndrome.
EMDR Is About More Than Symptom Reduction
EMDR is not simply about reducing symptoms. At its best, EMDR helps people process the experiences that have shaped how they see themselves, others, and the world around them. Whether difficulties present as trauma, anxiety, panic, low self-worth, relationship struggles, grief, or persistent emotional distress, the aim is to help the nervous system move from survival towards greater flexibility, resilience, and emotional freedom. Many clients describe not only feeling less distressed but also feeling more confident, more connected to themselves and others, and better able to engage fully in their lives without the past continuing to dictate the present.
EMDR and Schema Therapy
One of the unique aspects of my work is that I integrate EMDR with Schema Therapy and Compassion-Focused Therapy where appropriate. Many people seeking therapy are not only struggling with traumatic memories but also with long-standing emotional patterns that developed through repeated life experiences. These patterns often influence how we think, feel, relate to others, and respond to stress. Common schemas include defectiveness, emotional deprivation, abandonment, mistrust and abuse, social isolation, failure, self-sacrifice, and unrelenting standards.
By combining EMDR with Schema Therapy and Compassion-Focused Therapy, treatment addresses not only distressing memories but also the long-standing emotional patterns, coping styles, and negative beliefs that often develop through early life experiences. This integrative approach can lead to deeper and more enduring psychological change than focusing on traumatic memories alone. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, therapy is tailored to your individual needs, ensuring that treatment progresses at a pace that feels safe, collaborative, and appropriate for your circumstances.
What Happens During EMDR Therapy?
EMDR follows a structured, evidence-based process known as the Eight-Phase Protocol. Although the therapy is carefully organised, every person’s journey is unique and progresses at a pace that feels safe and manageable.
1. Assessment and Preparation
We begin by exploring your history, current difficulties, goals, and readiness for EMDR. Trauma processing only begins when you feel emotionally safe, sufficiently resourced, and your nervous system has developed the stability needed for this work. For many people, the initial stages involve developing emotional regulation skills, grounding techniques, nervous system stabilisation, internal resources, compassion-focused imagery, and a greater sense of emotional safety.
2. Identifying Target Memories
Together we identify the experiences that appear to be contributing to your current difficulties. These may include significant traumatic events, childhood experiences, relationship experiences, medical experiences, and distressing life events. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, EMDR aims to understand the experiences that continue to drive emotional distress beneath the surface.
3. Reprocessing
Using bilateral stimulation, we help the brain naturally process the selected memory. During this stage, many people notice reduced emotional intensity, new perspectives, increased understanding, and less distress when recalling the event. You remain fully awake, aware, and in control throughout the session. You are never asked to relive your experiences, and we can pause or slow the process whenever needed.
4. Integration
The final stages focus on strengthening healthier beliefs, consolidating the work completed, and ensuring that the changes feel integrated into everyday life. As treatment progresses, memories that once felt vivid and emotionally overwhelming often become more distant and easier to recall. The goal is not to erase memories but to reduce their emotional impact so they no longer dictate how you feel, think, or respond in everyday life.
Is EMDR Right for Me?
EMDR may be an appropriate therapy if you feel stuck despite understanding your difficulties intellectually, experience intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares, notice that anxiety feels linked to past experiences, find that certain situations trigger strong emotional or physical reactions, notice recurring patterns in relationships, struggle with shame or persistent self-criticism, or feel held back by experiences from the past. During an initial consultation, we can discuss your concerns, answer any questions you may have, and consider whether EMDR is likely to be the most appropriate approach for your needs.
Why Work With Me?
Choosing a therapist is an important decision, particularly when working with trauma and emotionally significant life experiences. I am a Chartered Clinical Psychologist with a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and more than 15 years of experience supporting adults experiencing trauma, anxiety, relationship difficulties, emotional distress, and complex psychological difficulties. I am an HCPC Registered Clinical Psychologist, a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society (BPS), an ISST Certified Advanced Schema Therapist, and an EMDR Europe Trained Therapist.
My approach integrates EMDR Therapy, Schema Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), DBT-informed approaches, and a polyvagal-informed understanding of the nervous system. I work exclusively with adults and tailor therapy to your individual needs, goals, strengths, and experiences rather than relying on a standardised treatment model. Above all, I aim to provide a calm, collaborative, and compassionate therapeutic space where you feel understood, emotionally safe, and supported throughout the process. EMDR is never rushed.
EMDR Therapy in Petersfield, Hampshire and Online
If you are looking for EMDR therapy in Petersfield, Hampshire, you may be seeking support with trauma, PTSD, anxiety, panic attacks, low self-esteem, childhood emotional neglect, relationship difficulties, or the lasting impact of painful life experiences. I offer a calm, confidential, and compassionate therapeutic space where we can explore your experiences together and develop a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs and goals. I provide in-person EMDR therapy in Petersfield, Hampshire, and secure online EMDR therapy for adults across the UK. Research suggests that online EMDR can be highly effective for many individuals while offering the flexibility and comfort of attending therapy from home. You can also explore my wider therapeutic approaches and the difficulties I support.
What Working With Me Looks Like
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. EMDR is one of the most extensively researched psychological therapies for trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is recommended by organisations including the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Psychological Association (APA), and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) as an evidence-based treatment for trauma-related difficulties.
Not necessarily. Unlike some traditional trauma therapies, EMDR often requires less detailed discussion of traumatic experiences. While we will identify the memories we are working with, there is no expectation that you repeatedly describe every detail of what happened. Many people find this makes EMDR feel less overwhelming while still allowing meaningful psychological change to occur.
No. You remain fully awake, aware, and in control throughout every EMDR session. You are able to stop, pause, or slow the process at any point if needed. EMDR is a collaborative therapy, and we work together at a pace that feels safe and manageable for you.
It is common to experience temporary increases in thoughts, emotions, dreams, or memories between sessions as the brain continues processing information. These experiences are usually short-lived and form part of the natural processing process. This is why I place considerable emphasis on preparation, stabilisation, and pacing, so that we only begin trauma processing when you feel emotionally ready.
This depends on your goals, personal history, and the nature of the difficulties you are experiencing. Single-event trauma may respond within a relatively small number of sessions, whereas complex childhood trauma or longstanding emotional difficulties often require a longer course of therapy. During your initial consultation, we will discuss your goals and develop a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs.
Yes. EMDR is frequently used to help adults process childhood experiences that continue to affect self-esteem, relationships, emotional wellbeing, anxiety, shame, and mental health. Many people find that although childhood events occurred years ago, the emotional impact continues to influence their present-day lives.
Absolutely. Many people who benefit from EMDR have never been diagnosed with PTSD. EMDR can be helpful for a wide range of difficulties where distressing experiences continue to influence current emotions, behaviours, relationships, or self-beliefs, including anxiety, panic attacks, low self-esteem, complicated grief, relationship difficulties, phobias, or childhood emotional neglect.
Yes. Research suggests that online EMDR can be highly effective for many individuals and provides a flexible way of accessing therapy from home. I offer secure online EMDR therapy for adults throughout the UK, using adapted EMDR techniques that maintain the core principles of treatment while ensuring sessions remain safe, effective, and collaborative.
Arrange a Free Initial Consultation
If you are considering EMDR therapy and would like to explore whether it may be the right approach for you, I offer a free 15-minute initial consultation. This provides an opportunity for us to discuss your current difficulties, answer any questions you may have, and consider whether EMDR or another therapeutic approach is likely to be most helpful for your needs.
Whether you are struggling with trauma, anxiety, panic attacks, childhood emotional wounds, low self-esteem, or the lasting effects of difficult life experiences, together we can develop a treatment plan that supports meaningful and lasting psychological change.
Dr Sonney Gullu-McPhee, PsyD, MSc, MA, BSc (Hons)
Chartered Clinical Psychologist | HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist
Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society (BPS)
ISST Certified Advanced Schema Therapist | EMDR Europe Trained Therapist
In-person appointments in Petersfield, Hampshire. Secure online therapy for adults throughout the UK. If you would like to arrange an initial consultation, please get in touch.
Book a free 15-minute consultation to explore whether EMDR is the right approach for you.
References
References
Bisson, J. I., Roberts, N. P., Andrew, M., Cooper, R., & Lewis, C. (2013). Psychological therapies for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 12, CD003388.
de Jongh, A., Amann, B. L., Hofmann, A., Farrell, D., Lee, C. W., & Brand, B. (2019). The status of EMDR therapy in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder 30 years after its introduction. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 13(4), 261-269.
Lee, C. W., & Cuijpers, P. (2013). A meta-analysis of the contribution of eye movements in processing emotional memories. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 44(2), 231-239.
Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.
World Health Organization. (2013). Guidelines for the Management of Conditions Specifically Related to Stress.