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 UK is not responsible for third party content.
26 June 2022
‘Eye Movements Could be the Missing Link in Our Understanding of Memory’: this article in Neuroscience News is by the authors of a new study published by the Royal Society. It reveals that ‘…the replay of a sequence of eye movements helps boost memory reconstruction.’ They also theorise about the implications of this research for understanding the underlying mechanisms in EMDR therapy.
22 June 2022
This comprehensive ‘what to expect’ article explains how EMDR therapy is different to talking therapies. It can be helpful not only for PTSD but for many issues from panic attacks to depression, and for all age groups.
22 June 2022
A fascinating take on ‘How and Why EMDR Works’ in Psychology Today from philosopher Bence Nanay. Based at Antwerp and Cambridge Universities, he holds a major grant to work on integrating philosophy, psychology and neuroscience.
9 May 2022
A documentary about war reporter Fergal Keane who suffers from PTSD was broadcast on BBC2 on 9th May 2022. He meets with his EMDR therapist to whom he says “I think you helped to save my life,” and broadcasts part of a session, (starting 34:38 into the programme).
9 May 2022
This article to mark Mental Health Awareness Week is about celebrities being open about their mental health issues. Prince Harry had EMDR therapy to help him deal with the trauma of grief.
9 May 2022
The Irish Sun reported on the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and named EMDR as one of the two main treatments.
8 May 2022
This article on website Psychcentral looks at PTSD, and how neuroplasticity and EMDR work to heal childhood trauma.
11 February 2022
On ‘Room 5’, BBC Radio 4, Helena Merriman interviewed journalist Gavanndra Hodge, who supressed traumatic memories of her sister’s death for more than 20 years. She talks in detail about how EMDR helped her process those memories, and her therapist is also interviewed. The part about EMDR therapy begins at 12:59 into the programme. (There are more media links about Gavanndra Hodge and her book The Consequences of Love lower down this page.)
24 January 2022
Dawn of Ashes, an Industrial Mental band from Los Angeles, has released a new single entitled ‘EMDR’ written by lead singer Kristof Bathory, inspired by his experience of having EMDR therapy.
20 December 2021
Sandra Bullock has spoken about having EMDR therapy to help her with extreme anxiety following a series of stressful events: she was bitten by a poisonous spider, her son suffered from a grand mal seizure, and a fixated fan broke into her home. The stress and PTSD also caused her to suffer from alopecia Sandra was interviewed on the US programme Red Table Talk (00:20:08 into podcast) , and there was further coverage in the Daily Mail, Instyle Magazine, Access Online, Page Six , Entertainment Tonight , Insider, Self magazine, and YahooNews.
13 December 2021
The Guardian’s problem page author, Philippa Perry gives advice to a woman whose mother was unable to take responsibility for failing to protect her daughter from the risk of sexual abuse when she was a child. The assaults led the woman to suffer from PTSD. Her mum’s denial of her part, and insistence on having been a good mother, was so painful, her daughter felt she had no alternative but to cut off communication. Philippa advises showing the mother the letter and response. Readers were advised to contact the EMDR Association UK for trauma therapy advice.
20 September 2021
The Body Keeps the Score, a best-seller exploring trauma, became even more popular during the pandemic. Guardian journalist Zoe Williams explores why and interviews the author Dr Bessel van der Kolk. Trained in EMDR, van der Kolk’s book includes a fascinating chapter on the therapy. The links below contain details of traumatic events that some readers may find upsetting. Read the chapter on EMDR in The Body Keeps the Score here
4 September 2021
Writer and former deputy editor of Tatler magazine, Gavanndra Hodge, was interviewed on Radio 4’s Saturday Live about supressing her grief when her younger sister Candy died suddenly at the age of 9 when Cassandra was 14 years old. They’d had an unconventional and chaotic upbringing with a father who was a hairdresser and drug dealer to the Chelsea upper classes. As an adult Gavandra turned to EMDR therapy to help her process her trauma and grief. Her interview begins at 47:47 into the programme.
1 September 2021
Gavanndra was also interviewed by several newspapers when her autobiography ‘The Consequences of Love’ was first published. This article in the Daily Mail includes a description of how EMDR therapy helped her.
17 June 2021
During an interview on Red Table Talk, Paris Jackson talked to Willow Smith about having EMDR for her Post-traumatic stress disorder. Yahoo News includes a link to that interview, and the article also explores EMDR therapy, interviewing three therapists who say it is very positive that Prince Harry and other celebrities are talking about the treatment.
