EMDR therapy.

Some experiences do not stay in the past. They arrive whole, with the heartbeat and the dread still attached, or they sit underneath anxiety, low mood or a belief about yourself that will not shift. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured way of helping those experiences finish being filed. It is used for trauma, and for a range of other conditions too. Here it is one part of a whole course of therapy, not a treatment on its own. Our EMDR psychologist sees people in person in Prahran, Melbourne, and online.

tl;dr

At a glance.

What it is: A structured, evidence-based approach to processing distressing memories so they carry less charge day to day
How we use it: As one tool within integrated therapy, alongside other approaches. We do not offer EMDR on its own
Who it is for: Adults living with trauma, and with other conditions where past experiences keep a hold, such as anxiety and panic, phobias, grief, depression and low self-worth
Who delivers it: Brydan Xavier, our Principal Psychologist, trained in EMDR and EMDR 2.0 and a member of the EMDR Association of Australia
Availability: Brydan has limited capacity. He is accepting applications now for places in 2027. Our Client Experience Officers (our CEOs) can take yours
Before EMDR: An intake and assessment, then enough stability that processing helps rather than floods. That comes first, every time
Sessions: Usually a standard session. Sometimes up to ninety minutes, when processing needs longer to settle
Where: We see adults in person at our Prahran clinic in Melbourne, and online anywhere in Australia
Referral: You can contact us to start the process. You need a GP referral before your first appointment. A Mental Health Treatment Plan is a separate document, and it is what brings the Medicare rebate
Funded care: Under WorkSafe, TAC or Victims of Crime, EMDR needs the insurer's pre-approval first. We arrange that with you

What it is

What EMDR actually is.

Most distressing memories fade into ordinary history on their own. Some do not. They stay raw, stored with the fear, the smell, the body's alarm, and they come back uninvited whenever something nearby resembles them.

EMDR works directly with those memories. You bring one to mind, briefly, while something else also holds your attention. That might be following a moving light or hand with your eyes, taps on alternating sides, or tones in each ear. This is called bilateral stimulation. It is done in short sets, with a pause after each one to notice what has shifted.

Over a session the memory usually changes. Not erased, and not forgotten, but quieter. The picture blurs or moves further away. The body stops bracing. A belief that came with it, such as *I am not safe* or *it was my fault*, often loosens, and a truer one takes its place.

Part of the therapy, not all of it

People sometimes arrive expecting EMDR as a stand-alone treatment: a set number of sessions, straight to the memory. That is not how we work. EMDR is one of several tools we use, woven into therapy alongside Schema Therapy, ACT, CBT and others, and chosen when it fits.

Every course of therapy here starts with an intake and assessment, so we understand the whole picture rather than one memory. And before any processing, we make sure there is enough stability in place: sleep, day-to-day safety, ways to settle yourself, and support around you. For some people that takes a few sessions. For others it takes longer. Either way, it is what makes EMDR work, and skipping it is how trauma therapy goes wrong.

The evidence

EMDR is one of the most researched therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Australian and international treatment guidelines for PTSD, including Phoenix Australia's guidelines and the World Health Organization's, recommend it alongside trauma-focused cognitive behaviour therapy. It is also used for anxiety and panic, phobias, complicated grief, depression and other conditions where distressing experiences keep a hold on the present. The research is strongest for PTSD and growing for the others, and we will be straight with you about where it fits.

EMDR 2.0

EMDR 2.0 is a newer way of running the same process. It adds extra demands on your attention during each set, with the aim of taking more of the charge out of a memory in less time. It is still being studied. We use it where it suits, and we will explain the choice rather than make it for you.

What it is not

It is not hypnosis. You stay awake, aware and in charge the whole time, and you can stop any set with a word or a hand signal. It does not need you to describe the memory in detail. For some people, that is the reason they choose it.

Who it can help

What EMDR can help with.

EMDR is best known for trauma, and it is used for much more. You do not need to know which of these you are.

Trauma

A single event

An accident, an assault, a medical emergency, a birth that went wrong, a sudden death. Single events often respond in fewer sessions than people expect.

Things that went on for years

Childhood harm, family violence, bullying, or a relationship that wore you down. This takes longer, and the preparation matters more. It is often combined with Schema Therapy.

Harm because of who you are

Homophobic, transphobic, racist or ableist violence and abuse, including the smaller repeated incidents that add up. These are real trauma, and they are treated as such here.

Beyond trauma

Anxiety and panic

When the fear keeps its shape because of what happened the first time, or the worst time.

Depression and low self-worth

When a belief like "I am not good enough" traces back to particular experiences, and working on those experiences loosens it.

Memories that are not "big" enough

Humiliation, betrayal, being shamed or disbelieved. If it still hits you in the body, it counts.

Specific fears

Fears that started with something that happened, such as a fear of driving after a crash or of hospitals after a hard stay.

Grief that has stayed stuck

When a loss keeps replaying through one moment, like a phone call, a hospital room or a last conversation.

In the room

What a course of EMDR is like.

EMDR follows a set sequence. Knowing it in advance takes a lot of the uncertainty out.

First: history and planning

We talk about what is happening now and what you want to change. Together we decide which memories to work on, and in what order. You do not have to give the full story of any of them.

Then: preparation

Before any processing, we make sure you have ways to settle yourself when something stirs up. These include grounding, a calm or safe place you can return to in your mind, and a clear signal for stopping. For some people this takes one session. For people with long or complex histories, it can take many, and that is time well spent rather than time wasted.

Processing

You bring up the memory briefly, notice what you feel and where, and then follow the bilateral stimulation for a short set. After each set we pause and check what came up. We keep going until the memory has lost its charge, then strengthen the new belief that goes with it.

Closing each session

We never send you out mid-memory. Every session ends with time to settle, whatever state the work is in. You may notice more dreams or thoughts about it over the next few days. That is a normal sign that processing is carrying on, and we talk about it at the start of the next session.

Online

EMDR works by video. For some people home is the safer room. We check that you have a private space, and we agree a plan in case a session gets difficult.

Words you will hear

A short glossary.

Terms that come up in EMDR sessions and in reading about it.

Bilateral stimulation

Anything that alternates left and right, such as eye movements, taps on the hands or knees, or tones in each ear. It is what holds part of your attention while the memory is processed.

Target memory

The specific memory, image or moment chosen to work on in a session.

Negative and positive cognition

The belief about yourself that came with the memory, such as "I am powerless", and the one you would rather hold, such as "I got through it".

SUD scale

Subjective Units of Disturbance. A 0 to 10 rating of how upsetting the memory feels right now, used to track change.

VoC scale

Validity of Cognition. A 1 to 7 rating of how true the positive belief feels.

Resourcing

The preparation work: building the skills and inner places that help you stay steady during processing.

Window of tolerance

The range in which you can feel something without being overwhelmed or shutting down. Processing stays inside it.

Adaptive Information Processing

The model EMDR is built on: the idea that distressing memories get stuck unprocessed, and that the mind can finish the job with the right conditions.

Timing

When EMDR is not the right first step.

EMDR is powerful, which is exactly why timing matters. We will say so if now is not the moment.

If the danger is still happening. If you are living with violence or the situation is ongoing, safety and practical support come first. Processing a memory while the threat is still current does not work, and can make things harder.
If you dissociate a lot. Losing time, feeling unreal or far away. EMDR is still possible, but the preparation phase will be longer, and we go carefully.
If a legal process is under way. If you are giving a statement or evidence, tell us early. We can time the work around it so therapy does not complicate the process.
If eye movements do not suit you. Some eye conditions, some seizure histories, or simple preference. We use taps or tones instead, and they work too.

Getting started

How to start EMDR therapy with us.

Places are limited, and we will be straight with you about timing. Nothing here commits you to anything.

01 Talk to a Client Experience Officer
Fill in the enquiry form. One of our Client Experience Officers will take your application for a 2027 place, give you an honest sense of timing, and talk through other support in the meantime.
02 Your GP
You can contact us to start the process. You need a GP referral before your first appointment. If you want the Medicare rebate, ask about a Mental Health Treatment Plan too. If an insurer is funding your care, we sort the approvals with you.
03 Intake and assessment
Understanding what you are carrying, what you have tried, and what you want to change. Not just the memory, the whole picture.
04 Stability first
Building the ground to stand on. No processing until that ground holds, however long that takes.
05 EMDR, when you are ready
Woven into your therapy alongside other approaches, at a pace you set. Usually in standard sessions, sometimes up to ninety minutes.
06 Reviewing
We check what has changed, what is left, and what comes next. Endings are planned, not abrupt.

Questions

Questions people ask about EMDR.

Can I just have EMDR?

No. We do not offer EMDR on its own. It is one part of integrated therapy, and it comes after an intake, an assessment and enough stability to make it safe and useful. If you are looking for a stand-alone EMDR course, we are probably not the right fit. Our Client Experience Officers can help you think about where might be.

Why would I start in 2027?

EMDR here is delivered by one psychologist, Brydan Xavier, who has limited capacity. He is accepting applications now for places in 2027, and we contact people in order as places open. Our Client Experience Officers can tell you roughly where things stand.

Can I get support while I wait?

Yes. Our Client Experience Officers can talk through other options with you, and our crisis support page lists services that answer around the clock. Waiting for EMDR should not mean waiting for any help at all.

Do I have to talk about what happened?

Not in detail. You need to be able to bring the memory to mind, but you do not have to describe it out loud. Many people find this the most important difference from other trauma therapies.

How many sessions will I need?

It varies more than anything else here. A single-event memory can shift in a handful of processing sessions. Long histories take longer, mostly because the preparation takes longer. We review progress with you rather than leaving it open-ended.

Is EMDR only for trauma?

No. It is best known for trauma and PTSD. It is also used for anxiety and panic, phobias, grief, depression and low self-worth: anywhere past experiences keep a hold on the present. The research is strongest for PTSD and growing for the others. We will tell you honestly where it fits for you, and when another approach would suit you better.

Will I feel worse before I feel better?

You may feel tired or stirred up for a day or so after a processing session. Being knocked sideways for a week is a sign we went too fast, and we would change the plan.

Does EMDR work online?

Yes. Online EMDR uses eye movements following a moving target on screen, or taps you do yourself. We make sure you have a private space and a plan before we start.

Is it covered by Medicare?

EMDR is given in psychology sessions, so the Medicare rebate under a Mental Health Treatment Plan applies in the usual way. The rebate is paid per session, not per minute, so a longer session has a larger gap. Our Client Experience Officers will give you the exact figure before you start.

Can I have EMDR through WorkSafe, TAC or Victims of Crime?

Often, yes. The insurer needs to approve EMDR specifically before it starts. We make the request with you.

Is EMDR hypnosis?

No. You are awake, aware and in control the whole time, and you can stop at any moment.

Where can I see an EMDR psychologist in Melbourne?

Here, in person at our Prahran clinic or online anywhere in Australia. EMDR is offered as part of integrated therapy, not on its own, and Brydan is accepting applications for 2027. Our Client Experience Officers can take yours.

Beyond us