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.
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.
16 June 2021
Referring to Prince Harry’s disclosure that he’d had EMDR to process the death of his mother, writer and teacher Christina Wyman describes her own experience of EMDR. She credits the therapy with saving her life and says she understands, like Prince Harry, the consequences of being parented by those with unresolved traumas of their own.
8 June 2021
EMDR therapist Claire van der Bosch appeared on Channel 4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch together with her client Louise Graham, to talk about the therapy, following the publicity about Prince Harry having EMDR. During the interview Claire also demonstrated with the programme’s presenters and guests how during EMDR therapy clients are taught how to install a safe place in their minds, which involves using a butterfly tap. To access the clip you can register with Channel 4 free of charge. The EMDR interview is on Tuesday 8 June coming at 14.04 into the programme.
31 May 2021
Kate Garraway has had the same EMDR therapy as Prince Harry for ‘traumatic events’
31 May 2021
As part of a new Apple TV series (‘The Me You Can’t See’) exploring mental health issues and treatments, Prince Harry is filmed during the course of an EMDR therapy session.
30 May 2021
A feature in The Daily Telegraph explores EMDR including an interview with EMDR UK President Michael O’Connor and a head teacher who benefitted from the therapy.
30 May 2021
The Independent reports how EMDR changed one woman’s life after the death of her mother.
11 March 2021
The acclaimed travel and nature writer Horatio Clare suffered a mental breakdown in 2018 experiencing psychotic episodes and mania. In his new book ‘Heavy Light’, he describes the experience, how he was able to come off medication and how EMDR helped him in the healing process.
10 March 2021
EMDR Association President Elect Matt Wesson was interviewed by presenter Mariella Frostrup for The Times Radio about EMDR and how it works. The interview starts at 02.05:40 into the programme which was broadcast on 10 March.
