After a traumatic experience, most people expect the memory to fade with time. For many it does. For others the memory stays raw — arriving without warning, feeling immediate rather than historical, and carrying the same emotional and physical intensity as the original event. This is not a failure of will or resilience. It is what happens when the brain's natural processing system has been overwhelmed and the memory has not been properly integrated.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is designed to address this directly.

What EMDR Is

EMDR is an evidence-based therapy recommended by NICE for the treatment of PTSD. It uses sets of guided bilateral stimulation — most commonly eye movements — while you hold a traumatic memory briefly in mind. This process appears to engage the brain's natural memory consolidation mechanisms, allowing the memory to be processed and stored in a way that reduces its emotional intensity.

The memory does not disappear. You will still recall what happened. What changes is the way the memory is held — it becomes historical rather than immediate, and the distress it carries diminishes significantly.
EMDR differs from talking therapies in that it does not require detailed verbal description of what happened. Many people find this a significant relief.

What EMDR Can Help With

EMDR has the strongest evidence base for PTSD and trauma, and is used for:

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• Single-incident trauma; accidents, assaults, medical emergencies, sudden bereavement, and other discrete traumatic events.

• Complex and repeated trauma; childhood abuse or neglect, sustained exposure to threatening environments, or multiple traumatic experiences over time. Complex presentations require more preparation before processing begins, but respond well to EMDR.

• Traumatic bereavement; where the circumstances of a death have left intrusive memories that are interfering with the grieving process.

• Distressing memories linked to anxiety, depression, or shame; EMDR is not limited to PTSD presentations. It is used effectively where specific memories are maintaining other difficulties.

 

How Treatment Works

EMDR follows a structured sequence, though the pace is always set by what is clinically appropriate for you.
Assessment. The initial appointment is 90 minutes. We cover your history, the nature and impact of the traumatic material, and whether EMDR is the right approach for your situation. Some presentations require a different approach or a longer preparation phase before processing begins, and the assessment establishes this.

Preparation. Before any processing of traumatic memories begins, we build the stabilisation skills and resources needed to manage what arises during and between sessions. The length of this phase depends on your presentation; for some people it is brief; for others with more complex histories it is a significant part of the work in its own right.

Processing. Working directly with identified memory targets using bilateral stimulation. Most people notice a reduction in the distress associated with a memory within sessions, though the pace varies.
Consolidation. As processing progresses, we work on present-day triggers and on the beliefs about yourself and the world that the trauma has shaped, and plan for maintaining progress after therapy ends.

EMDR Intensives

For people who want to work through traumatic material in a more concentrated format, EMDR intensives are available. These extended sessions can be particularly effective for single-incident trauma and for people whose schedules make weekly appointments difficult to sustain.

[Read more about EMDR Intensives]

Why Work With Me

I'm Christian Hughes, a BABCP-accredited cognitive behavioural psychotherapist with extensive experience across NHS specialist trauma services, military mental health settings, and private practice. EMDR is a core part of my clinical work and I use it regularly across the full range of presentations, from single-incident PTSD to complex trauma with long preparation phases.

I work in person in Stourbridge at St John's Chambers, 11 St John's Road, DY8 1EJ — two minutes from Stourbridge Town station with parking at the nearby Ryemarket. Online EMDR sessions are available across the UK via Zoom.

Fees: Initial assessment: £150 (90 minutes).
Ongoing sessions: £125 (60 minutes) or £150 (90 minutes).
Availability: Daytime and limited early evenings.

Frequently Asked Questions

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• Do I have to describe the trauma in detail?
  No. EMDR does not require you to describe what happened in detail. You hold the memory briefly in mind during processing, but you do not need to narrate it. Many people find this one of the most significant advantages of EMDR over other trauma approaches.

• Will EMDR make me relive the trauma?
  The aim is to process the memory, not to re-experience it. During processing, distress typically rises initially and then reduces within the session as the memory integrates. We work at a pace that is manageable, and stabilisation strategies are established before processing begins so you are not left in a destabilised state

• Is EMDR safe?
  Yes. EMDR is a well-researched and non-invasive therapy. Processing difficult memories can be emotionally taxing, which is why the preparation phase is taken seriously and is not rushed. The goal is engaged, tolerable work rather than endurance.

• Will EMDR erase my memories?
  No. You will still remember what happened. What changes is the way the memory is held — the emotional and physical intensity reduces, and the memory becomes historical rather than intrusive.

• How many sessions will I need?
  It varies considerably. Single-incident trauma often shows strong progress within 8 to 12 sessions. Complex or long-standing trauma, or presentations with multiple targets, typically requires more time, with a proportionally longer preparation phase. We discuss a realistic plan at assessment.

• What if I dissociate or become overwhelmed during processing?
  Pacing and stabilisation strategies are established before processing begins specifically to manage this. If distress becomes too high during a session, we slow down or stop. The aim is always to keep the work within a tolerable range.

• Can I have EMDR alongside another therapy?
  Generally it is preferable to focus on one primary trauma-focused therapy at a time. If you are currently in supportive counselling — not active trauma work — it is usually possible to coordinate. We discuss this at assessment.

 

Next Steps

If you would like to find out whether EMDR is the right approach for you, a free 15-minute call is available to talk through your situation before committing to anything.

[Book a free 15-minute chat] | [Book a session] | [Online EMDR Therapy]