EMDR Therapy at Nexus
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy for adults impacted by sexual abuse and abusive relationships
EMDR Therapy at Nexus
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy for adults impacted by sexual abuse and abusive relationships
#BreakTheCycle
EMDR Therapy for Adults Impacted by Sexual Abuse and Abusive Relationships
Nexus is pleased to be able to offer EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) therapy to people impacted by sexual abuse and abusive relationships.
This specialist form of therapy is designed to enable people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences through an eight-phase treatment.
One difference between EMDR and many other therapies is that you won’t be asked to discuss a traumatic event in detail, rather to recall the event in your mind whilst concentrating on external stimuli such as your therapist’s moving finger. This allows you to experience the distressing memory while remaining grounded in the present, enabling you to process and reframe the trauma.
Please note: This type of therapy is not covered under our free service and is a paid for service. A paid assessment is required to make sure you are suitable for this type of therapy.
Scroll down to read more about EMDR, the benefits and challenges, the eight-phase process you will go through with your specialist counsellor, and how to make a referral to Nexus.
What is EMDR?
EMDR is a trauma therapy developed by psychologist Dr Francine Shapiro. EMDR therapy works by directly affecting the brain and “unfreezing” traumatic memories, allowing you to resolve them.
EMDR therapy involves attention to three time periods: the past, present, and future. Focus is given to past disturbing memories and related events. Focus is also given to current situations that cause distress, and to developing the skills and attitudes needed for positive future actions.
It has been recognised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
How EMDR works
At the time of a traumatic event, the strong emotions you experience can obstruct your ability to completely process the event, and this one trauma experience moment becomes “frozen in time.”
Recalling the traumatic event may feel as though you are reliving it all over again because the images, smells, sounds, and feelings are still so close to the surface, they can easily be triggered in the present. When triggered, these memories can interfere with your daily functioning, change the way you see yourself and the world around you, and impact how you relate to others.
Through EMDR, over time, you’re able to work through the difficult memories and associated feelings, until you are able to think about the experience without these negative associations. This means the memory will still be there, but it will be less upsetting to recall or think about.
IMPORTANT: When submitting your referral please note in the Additional Information section that you require EMDR services. This way, our team can clearly assign your referral.
Benefits & Challenges of EMDR
Single sessions of EMDR have been shown to produce results, and Dr. Francine Shapiro reports an average treatment time of five sessions to comprehensively treat people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is important to note that EMDR may not be right for everyone – it is specifically designed to help people showing symptoms of PTSD. When you make a referral, our clinical experts will assess your presenting issues and make a recommendation based on your needs.
To help decide if you think EMDR therapy is right for you, consider the following benefits and challenges.
Benefits
- EMDR does not require you to go into detail about the traumatic events of the past. Unlike many “talk” therapies, the trauma isn’t analysed for long periods of time.
- EMDR simultaneously works on your mind, body, and emotions. This may account for its success in taking understanding of the problem e.g. in relation to a road traffic accident (“I know I have guilt, it was my fault, I wasn’t paying attention”) to a resolution where post-traumatic symptoms are reduced.
- The trauma that must be re-experienced during treatment is relatively short-lived. The reprocessing occurs at the same time as the memory recall.
- Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference.
Challenges
- EMDR was created for use as a trauma therapy and as such focuses on intensely stressful subjects.
- Pregnant people or those with heart conditions, eye problems, or other health issues should consult their doctor before beginning this type of therapy as it may not be suitable.
The 8 phases of EMDR
EMDR often helps people feel better very quickly, but it is important to work through the entire 8-phase process with a qualified EMDR therapist to ensure the most beneficial, lasting results. You may progress through one or more phases in one session. Sessions are usually 60-90 minutes in duration (at Nexus sessions are 60 minutes), and the number of sessions required differs from person to person but most people start to notice a difference around sessions six to eight.
What could EMDR look like for you?
Phases 1 to 3: Treatment Planning
(Note: Several phases may be progressed within one session)
Phase 1: History & Treatment Planning
Your first session will involve your therapist taking your history. Your therapist will ask you about the problems, behaviours, and fears that have brought you into therapy.
One difference between EMDR and many other therapies is that you won’t be asked to discuss the traumatic event in detail. The emotions and physical sensations surrounding the event are what’s important, not the details about the event itself.
Once the therapist has developed a treatment plan for you based on this initial assessment, the process of EMDR can begin.
Phase 2: Preparation
The preparation stage involves your therapist teaching you some self-care techniques, so that you can handle strong emotions that may arise during or between sessions.
EMDR places a strong emphasis on self-care; your therapist may teach you a variety of imagery and stress reduction techniques that you can use during and between sessions.
This stage is also important for developing a sense of trust with your therapist. They will explain the theory of EMDR in more detail to you and talk about what you can expect in the following sessions.
Phase 3: Assessment
Phase 3 lays the groundwork for your actual EMDR therapy sessions.
In the assessment phase, your therapist will ask you to identify three things:
- A specific scene or picture (also known as a target) that best represents the traumatic event you’re targeting with this treatment. It’s likely you will have already discussed your ‘target’ in the first session, but at this point you’ll clarify the visual image of the trauma you experienced, including the associated emotions and bodily sensations.
- A negative belief about yourself associated with the traumatic event. For example, your negative belief could be “I am helpless,” “I am worthless”, or “I’m a bad person.”
- A positive belief you would rather have about yourself. This positive belief should reflect what is appropriate in the present. For example, perhaps you survived an assault, with the subsequent negative belief “I’m in danger.” You might replace it with the positive belief “I’m safe now.”
Once the visual image and negative and positive beliefs have been identified, you’ll be asked to rate how strongly you feel the positive thought to be true on the ‘Validity of Cognition’ (VOC) scale of 1-7. 1 equates to being “completely false” while 7 rates as “completely true”.
You’ll also be asked to describe the disturbing emotions you feel when you focus on the visual image of the traumatic event. You’ll then rate the intensity on the 11-point ‘Subjective Units of Disturbance’ (SUD) scale. 0 means the emotion isn’t distressing at all and 10 means it’s the worst feeling you’ve ever had.
Finally, you’ll be asked to identify the locations in the body where you feel physical sensations when you think about the trauma.
Phases 4 to 6: Processing the Trauma
Once you’ve completed the first three phases of EMDR therapy, the work of processing the trauma begins.
In phases 4-6, your therapist will help you recall your ‘target image’ i.e. the (memory causing distress) while leading you through a series of rapid eye movements (or alternating sounds, tactile stimulation, or a combination). With your attention split between the internal image you’re concentrating on and the external stimuli (such as your therapist’s moving finger, a pen, or light bar) you’re able to experience the distressing memory while remaining grounded in the present, enabling you to process and reframe the trauma.
Your EMDR therapist will also monitor the intensity of your symptoms between sessions to ensure that progress is being made and maintained.
Phase 4: Desensitisation
During the desensitisation phase, you’ll pay attention to all the negative beliefs and disturbing emotions and bodily sensations that arise.
As you focus on your ‘target image’ while following your therapist’s finger with your eyes, you’ll be asked to take note of all your reactions to the processing—good, bad, or neutral. You’ll also be asked about any new insights, associations, or emotions you experience.
After each set of rapid eye movements, the therapist will check in with you and assess your level of disturbance regarding the ‘target image’. During this process, you will continue to “digest” or process the feelings, images, and beliefs that occur in relation to the trauma.
The desensitisation phase continues until your distress level, as measured by the ‘Subjective Units of Disturbance’ SUD scale, is reduced to 0 or 1.
Phase 5: Installation
In the installation phase, you’ll be asked to focus on the positive belief you’ve identified to replace your old negative belief about the trauma.
As in phase 4, you’ll concentrate on this ‘target image’ while simultaneously tracking your therapist’s finger with your eyes. The goal is to strengthen the positive belief until you accept it as fully true. After each set of rapid eye movements, the therapist will ask you to rate the positive belief on the 7-point ‘Validity of Cognition’ (VOC) Scale, which gives the therapist concrete measures of how you are progressing. The installation phase is complete once you can accept the positive belief at a level of 7 (“completely true”).
What is unique about EMDR therapy is how rapidly new beliefs about yourself and your interpretations of the trauma can replace old beliefs. On average, people start to notice differences after 6-8 sessions, however the length of time varies from person to person so you could notice changes in fewer or more sessions. New possibilities often emerge that you have never considered. These new insights can be used as the starting points for the next set of eye movements, continually helping you to process the trauma in healthier, more manageable ways.
Phase 6: Body Scan
After replacing negative beliefs surrounding the trauma with healthier, positive beliefs, the next phase is to focus on any lingering physical sensations.
Your therapist will guide you to focus on your original target image while scanning your body from head to toe, identifying any residual tension or discomfort. These sensations are then addressed using therapeutic techniques until they subside. For example, if nervousness is felt in the stomach area, your therapist will use stimulation such as eye movements or alternating sounds until the sensation diminishes.
According to the EMDR Network, “positive self-beliefs are important, but they have to be believed on more than just an intellectual level.”
Phase 6 is considered successful when you can think or talk about the original target without feeling any tension in your body or any other unpleasant physical sensations.
Phases 7 and 8: Therapy Completion
Phase 7: Closure
One of the goals of an EMDR therapy session is for you to leave feeling better than you did when you got there.
If you haven’t been able to finish working through the target trauma in a particular session, your therapist will lead you through a variety of relaxation techniques. These draw from what you were taught in Phase 2 and are designed to bring you back into emotional balance.
Phase 8: Re-evaluation
Each new session begins with a re-evaluation of your progress. First, you will be asked to focus on any target images you’ve already reprocessed. Your therapist will review your responses, checking if you’ve maintained the positive results.
Your therapist may also ask how you feel about the previously treated target images and review any negative emotions that came up between sessions.
Based on this re-evaluation, your therapist will decide whether to move on to new targets or to revisit old targets for additional reprocessing and integration.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We understand that you may have some questions about EMDR at Nexus. Click the button below to take a look through our Frequently Asked Questions and answers. If you have any further questions, please contact EMDR@nexusni.org and one of our team will be in touch.
Make a referral for EMDR at Nexus
To make a referral for EMDR Therapy at Nexus please complete our secure online referral form. We ask all clients to complete this form so we can identify what the best support is for you. If you need any support completing this form, please reach out to our Administration Team on 028 9032 6803.
When submitting your referral please note in the Additional Information section that you require EMDR services. This way, our team can clearly assign your referral.
Our policies and procedures
We have a range of policies relating to our services to ensure the quality of service is as high as possible and individuals in receipt of our services are aware of their rights and the procedures in place to support them.
Click the button below to view our policies, including the EMDR Client Engagement Policy.
More information about EMDR
If you’d like to learn more about EMDR before referring yourself to us, we suggest watching the videos from the EMDR Association UK, which you can access via the links below.
Explaining EMDR therapy and trauma to adults
How EMDR can help bad memories
Example of some EMDR techniques in action
If you have any other questions, please contact us on EMDR@nexusni.org
The cost for an initial EMDR Therapy assessment is £60. We require 50% of this (£30) to be paid at point of booking and the other 50% (£30) to be paid three days prior to your assessment appointment.
When you make a referral, our clinical experts will assess your presenting issues and make a recommendation based on your needs. If you are recommended for EMDR, each session will cost £80, which is payable in advance in blocks of 4 sessions (£320). The average amount of sessions required is between 6 and 8, however you could need more or less than this. After your 4th session, you and your counsellor will agree if any more sessions are needed.
We are pleased to be able to provide evidence of payment to clients who wish to claim the cost back through health insurance providers or other healthcare services as appropriate. However, we cannot submit these claims on behalf of clients.
EMDR involves recalling a stressful past event and “reprogramming” the memory in the light of a new, positive belief, using rapid eye movements to facilitate the process. It incorporates elements of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) with bilateral eye movements (meaning from left to right) or other forms of rhythmic, left-right stimulation.
Using rapid eye movements relieves the anxiety associated with the trauma so that the original event can be viewed from a more detached perspective, like you’re watching a movie of what happened. This enables you to reframe the original trauma (reprocessing), and to release the body’s stored negative emotional charges around it (desensitisation).
One of the key elements of EMDR is “dual stimulation.” e.g. thinking whilst focussing on a finger/sound/lightbar etc. During EMDR treatment, you are asked to think or talk about memories, triggers, and painful emotions related to your trauma or other condition (one difference between EMDR and many other therapies is that you won’t be asked to discuss the traumatic event in detail).
At the same time, you may focus on your therapist’s finger with your eyes as it moves back and forth across your field of vision. With your attention split between the internal image you’re concentrating on and the external stimuli of your therapist’s moving finger, you’re able to experience the distressing memory while remaining grounded in the present, enabling you to process and reframe the trauma.
Some people believe this process reactivates parts of the brain that were “shut down” as a coping mechanism during the traumatic event. In this way, your brain reconsiders the experience, allowing the negative, painful emotions to give way to more resolved, empowered feelings.
Some experts have noted that the eye movements involved in EMDR might be like what occurs naturally during dreaming or REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, allowing you to see experiences in a new and less distressing way.
Is EMDR therapy at Nexus free?
Unfortunately, Nexus does not receive any funding to cover EMDR specialist support therefore cannot be offered free of charge at this stage. The initial assessment for EMDR at Nexus will cost £60, and you will be required to pay 50% of this (£30) three days before the assessment appointment takes place. If you are then recommended for this type of therapy, each 60 minute session will cost £80.
Sessions are required to be paid in advance in blocks of 4 sessions, so you will pay £60 initially for your assessment, then £320 for each block ahead of the four sessions taking place.
We are supported to offer to offer up to 12 sessions of specialist talking therapy and clinical assessment free of charge to those impacted by sexual abuse, however this differs from EMDR. You will be informed after your assessment whether our clinical team recommends you undertake EMDR; if you are not recommended for this therapy you may be given the option to join our ongoing waiting list for talking therapies, which is currently offered free of charge due to funding from the DoH.
How can I pay?
Payments from individuals should be made upfront via bank transfer or card payment. Unfortunately we cannot accept cheques or cash.
If your therapy is being sponsored by a Health Trust, payment must still be made upfront. If the Health Trust requires an invoice to be sent we will arrange this before you start your therapy.
How can I register for EMDR at Nexus?
To make a referral for EMDR please click here to complete our secure online referral form. Our Referral Agents will then review your referral. We require this referral form to be completed so we can be sure you are ready to process your trauma through specialised counselling. You will then go through our triage process, which is a tool we use when we are processing your referral to gain further insight into your needs and to determine the most appropriate response and support for you based on your current circumstances.
If I register, will I definitely receive EMDR?
Once you have made a referral you will go through our triage process which will help our clinical experts establish what the most appropriate support is for you at this time based on your circumstances and presenting issues. Following triage, you will move on to your initial assessment. It is at this stage one of our specialist trained counsellors will explore your circumstances in more detail and then may recommend you for EMDR therapy if this is what is considered best for you.
Depending on the outcomes of this assessment, you may be progressed onto ongoing EMDR sessions, or we may recommend that you undertake specialist talking therapy first or instead. If this is the case, you will undertake a further assessment to be added to our talking therapies waiting list. In some circumstances, our services may not be suitable for you and we may refer or signpost you to a more suitable service delivered by another agency.
Some reasons why EMDR may not be appropriate are: ongoing self-harm, suicidal ideation, uncontrolled flashbacks, physical/terminal illness, need for adjustment to medication, and dual diagnosis such as schizophrenia or active substance abuse.
What's the difference between EMDR at Nexus and other Nexus counselling?
EMDR is offered solely for clients presenting with PTSD, whereas our other specialist counselling is offered to clients who have been impacted by sexual abuse and abusive relationships regardless of if you have PTSD symptoms. Our EMDR therapy is not currently funded, whereas our other counselling – which consists of talking therapies – is currently fully funded through the Department of Health so can be offered to clients free of charge.
Is there a minimum age to receive EMDR at Nexus?
At present we are only offering EMDR to individuals aged 18 and over. You do not have to have experienced abuse as an adult, however you must be an adult to receive this type of therapy with Nexus.
If I am eligible for EMDR, when can I start?
As with our talking therapies, we will operate a waiting list for services. Since this is a new service offered by Nexus, we currently cannot disclose how long you might have to wait for EMDR, however this can be affected by a range of things such as your own availability, our counsellors’ availability, and how many other referrals we have received before you. We prioritise our referrals based on the date they are received. When we contact you about your referral we will aim to give you information about how long you might have to wait before and between each stage of the EMDR process.
How many sessions will I need?
The number of sessions you will need depends on the specific problem and your history. In short, the number of sessions can vary from person to person but it is likely to be within a ratio or six to eight sessions.
Will sessions be in person?
We have greater availability for in-person EMDR sessions, however virtual appointments may be available depending on when you make your referral. We will discuss your options with you when you make your referral.
Can I take a break in my therapy?
Like with our talking therapies, you may take breaks of no longer than 4 weeks in between sessions. If you have a break longer than 4 weeks, we will have to close your file and you will have to re-refer at a later date. This is because a break longer than this can cause severe disruption in your recovery and may have adverse affects. If you have any concerns about your recovery process, we would always encourage you to speak directly to your counsellor who, as the clinical expert, will be able to offer advice about how you can progress.
What happens if I cancel a session?
Under our Client Engagement Policy for Paid Counselling, which we encourage you to familiarise yourself with, if you cancel your session less than 24 hours before it is due to take place, you will ‘lose’ that session, meaning that you will not be refunded for that session. However, if you postpone your session and give us more than 24 hours’ notice, the payment for that session can be reallocated to a future session so you will not lose money.
Refunds may be offered under exceptional circumstances if there is a clinical reason established by your therapist for stopping EMDR part-way through your sessions i.e. where you have prepaid for a block of sessions and need to stop before completing them all. If this happens, a refund form will need to be completed and processed internally at Nexus.
Will EMDR help with PTSD?
Yes, EMDR can help with PTSD. It was developed and is best known as a therapy for treating trauma or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It has been recognised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a treatment for PTSD
It is recognised as an effective trauma treatment and has been recommended worldwide and can be used to help with a range of mental health difficulties including anxiety, depression, addictions, behavioural difficulties, relationship issues and more serious mental illnesses such as psychosis and personality disorders.
Are eye movements essential?
Although eye movements are often considered its most distinctive element, EMDR therapy is not a simple procedure dominated by the use of eye movements. It is a complex psychotherapy, containing numerous components that are considered to contribute to treatment effects.
Eye movements are used to engage the client’s attention to an external stimulus, while the client is simultaneously focusing on internal distressing material. Therapist directed eye movements are the most commonly used dual attention stimulus, but a variety of other stimuli including hand-tapping and auditory stimulation are often used.
Are there any potential side effects?
Yes, as with any form of therapy, there may be a temporary increase in distress, for example distressing and unresolved memories may emerge.
Some clients may experience reactions during a treatment session that neither they nor the therapist may have anticipated, including a high level of emotion or physical sensations. This is why there is a strong emphasis on self-care within EMDR therapy to help manage any distress that may arise.
After the session, the processing of incidents/material may continue, and other dreams, memories feelings, etc., may also emerge.
How many sessions will I need before I get to the assessment stage (Phase 3) of EMDR?
The amount of preparation needed will vary from client to client. Your therapist should teach you techniques such as grounding during the preparation phase. In most cases the active processing of memories should begin after one or two sessions.
Is EMDR the same as hypnosis?
EMDR and hypnosis are both therapeutic techniques that can be used to address psychological issues, but they differ significantly in their approaches, goals, and the states of consciousness they induce in clients.
While both involve guided sessions with a therapist, they differ fundamentally in the client’s state of consciousness, the therapeutic process, and the mechanisms by which they aim to achieve healing and behavioural change. EMDR keeps clients alert and engaged, focusing on reprocessing memories, while hypnosis involves inducing a relaxed, trance-like state to access and influence the subconscious mind.
Will EMDR increase the likelihood of experiencing seizures?
There is no indication that EMDR therapy will increase the frequency of seizures nor is there evidence to suggest that it can cause seizures in people who haven’t experienced seizures before, however becuase of the focus on eye movement and use of light by some practitioners, this might be something you should consider if you are worried about seizures.
