Discover EMDR

Overcoming the effects of trauma

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It is a unique, powerful therapy that helps people recover from problems triggered by traumatic events in their lives. It stops difficult memories causing so much distress by helping the brain to reprocess them properly, working with memory to heal the legacy of past pain.

EMDR therapy is best known for treating PTSD but can help with a range of mental health conditions in people of all ages including depression and anxiety.

Internationally recognised, EMDR therapy is endorsed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; the World Health Organisation; The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies; the NHS (in the UK); and many other bodies. There are more than 10,000 trained EMDR therapists in the UK alone, and it has helped millions of people worldwide.

It is very important to see a properly qualified therapist. For information see Find a therapist.

EMDR in the media

Please note, various media coverage is shown here in order to share with you many different people’s experiences of EMDR treatment. For authoritative descriptions and definitions of the therapy please return to this site as the EMDR Association is not responsible for third party content.

13 March 2024

There has been widespread media coverage on how Earl Spencer, the brother of Princess Diana, suffered physical, emotional and sexual abuse as a child. In this podcast with psychotherapist Julia Samuels, the EMDR therapy which has helped him on his healing journey, is particularly well explored and described (at around 35 seconds into the interview).

Watch on YouTube

21 February 2024

In this article for Oprah Daily, a writer shares her experience of EMDR therapy which relieved her PTSD symptoms following a sexual assault.  

Read Oprah Daily article

5 December 2023

Exploring EMDR and its benefits, this article includes an interview with EMDR UK’s President, Matt Wesson, presenting the case for greater access to the therapy. Democratizing Mental Health: EMDR Therapy in the UK EMDR, the therapy spotlighted by celebrities like Prince Harry, Jameela Jamil and Miley Cyrus for its remarkable success, has been gaining momentum in the UK.

Read Matthew Wesson article

27 October 2023

A therapist describes why her initial scepticism about EMDR changed to conviction, and gives readers five key pointers about the therapy in Psychology Today:

Read piece in Psychology Today

13 October 2023

This Attitude Magazine article by leading therapist Rebecca Case provides a simple description of EMDR therapy and who it can help:

Read Attitude Magazine article

6 July 2023

In this Radio 4 Series ‘The Madness’, journalist Fergal Keane reads from his memoir about his struggle with PTSD, haunted by the horrors he bore witness to in Rwanda in 2008. In this episode he talks about his experience of having EMDR therapy (at 05:40 minutes):

Listen now (limited time)

14 June 2023

Men’s Health magazine takes up the theme of trauma, and describes a range of trauma therapies including EMDR:

Read article

19 May 2023

As Miley Cyrus says EMDR helped her heal from traumatic experiences, EMDR UK member Sanja Oakley answers questions about the therapy in this article for British Vogue.

Read article

26 April 2023

Comedian and performer Ruby Wax recently diarised her experience of having EMDR therapy as part of her treatment as an inpatient, in her new book ‘I’m not as Well as I thought I Was’. You can read an extract here:

Read extract

10 April 2023

This article in Health News provides a simple description of the different phases of EMDR therapy:

Read article