EMDR Therapy in Ireland: How It Works and What to Expect

Aoife is 31 and lives in Galway. A few years ago she was assaulted on a night out. The physical injuries healed long ago, but her mind never quite got the message. She still flinches at sudden movements in crowded pubs, and the smell of a particular aftershave can send her heart racing before she even knows why.

She spent six months in counselling and found it helpful in some ways. She could talk about what happened without crying every time. But the memory still felt alive. It still ambushed her in dreams, in unexpected moments, in the pause before she left the house on a Saturday night. Her therapist mentioned something called EMDR. "You follow my finger with your eyes while we think about the memory," she said. Aoife thought it sounded strange. How could moving your eyes change something that had been lodged inside you for years?

If Aoife’s scepticism sounds familiar, you’re not alone. EMDR is one of the most researched trauma therapies available, yet the name alone — Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing — can make it sound mysterious. Research led by Hyland and colleagues, the first nationally representative study of its kind in the Republic of Ireland, found that approximately one in eight Irish adults meets diagnostic requirements for PTSD or complex PTSD. For many of those people, EMDR can be a powerful part of recovery.

What EMDR Actually Is

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It is a structured, evidence-based therapy developed by American psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. It was originally designed to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and is now recommended for PTSD by the World Health Organisation, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and the HSE.

The HSE describes EMDR as a treatment that "can help to reduce the symptoms of PTSD" by using side-to-side eye movements, taps, or tones while the person recalls a traumatic incident. The goal is not to erase the memory. The memory stays. What changes is the emotional and physical charge that comes with it.

It is also not hypnosis. During EMDR you remain fully awake, fully in control, and able to stop the process at any point. Your therapist is there to guide you, not to implant suggestions or force you to reveal more than you are ready to share.

How EMDR Actually Works

EMDR is built around something called the Adaptive Information Processing model. The idea is that the brain naturally processes and stores memories in a useful way. Most experiences are filed away as part of your personal history. But traumatic memories can get stuck. They remain raw, vivid, and tightly linked to the emotions, body sensations, and beliefs you felt at the time.

When a memory is stuck, everyday reminders can trigger it as though the danger is still present. A smell, a sound, a particular tone of voice, or even a body sensation can pull you back into the past. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation — rhythmic left-right stimulation through eye movements, tapping, or sounds — to help the brain reprocess the stuck memory. The memory moves from being an open wound to being a closed file.

"The goal of EMDR treatment is to rapidly metabolize the dysfunctional residue from the past and transform it into something useful." — Dr. Francine Shapiro, psychologist and developer of EMDR therapy

That "dysfunctional residue" might show up as flashbacks, nightmares, shame, hypervigilance, or the feeling that you are permanently unsafe. As EMDR progresses, many people find that the memory becomes less vivid, less upsetting, and less likely to hijack the present moment.

What to Expect in an EMDR Session

EMDR follows a structured eight-phase approach. It is not a single technique; it is a complete treatment framework. Your therapist will move through the phases at a pace that suits you.

History and planning

Your therapist will begin by taking a detailed history. They will ask about the trauma or difficulties you want to work on, your current symptoms, your physical health, and what you hope to achieve. This helps them create a treatment plan and decide which memories to target first.

Preparation

Before any processing begins, your therapist will explain how EMDR works and teach you grounding techniques. These are tools you can use between sessions if difficult emotions come up. You will also agree a stop signal so you can pause the work whenever you need to.

Assessment

You will identify a specific target memory, the negative belief attached to it (for example, "I am powerless" or "It was my fault"), and the emotions and body sensations that go with it. You will also choose a positive belief you would rather hold, such as "I survived" or "I did the best I could."

Desensitisation

This is the phase most people associate with EMDR. While you hold the memory in mind, your therapist will guide your eyes from side to side, or use tapping or sounds. You simply notice what comes up. The therapist checks in regularly and adjusts the approach based on what you report.

Installation

Once the memory feels less distressing, the therapist helps you strengthen the positive belief you chose earlier. The goal is to replace the old negative belief with something more accurate and compassionate.

Body scan

You will be asked to scan your body for any remaining tension or discomfort linked to the memory. If anything is still stuck, the therapist will process it before the session ends.

Closure

Every session ends by returning you to a stable state. Your therapist will use the grounding techniques you practised earlier and make sure you feel safe before you leave.

Re-evaluation

At the start of the next session, you and your therapist will review how the processed memory feels now. This helps decide what to work on next.

Sessions usually last 60 to 90 minutes. The number of sessions varies. A single-event trauma might be processed in six to twelve sessions. More complex or long-standing trauma can take longer.

Who Is EMDR For?

EMDR is best known for treating PTSD, but it is also used for a wide range of difficulties linked to distressing memories or beliefs. These include complex trauma, phobias, panic attacks, anxiety, depression linked to trauma, complicated grief, and performance anxiety.

It is not the right choice for everyone. Your therapist will assess whether EMDR suits your current situation. If you are in an active crisis, struggling with severe substance misuse, or living in an unsafe environment, your therapist may recommend stabilisation work first. Safety and readiness matter.

If you are unsure whether your experience "counts" as trauma, our guide on what trauma actually is may help. And if you want to understand the signs of PTSD, you can read our article on PTSD symptoms in adults.

Finding an Accredited EMDR Therapist in Ireland

If you are considering EMDR, it is important to work with a therapist who has completed accredited training. In Ireland, the EMDR Association Ireland maintains a directory of accredited practitioners. The Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) also lists therapists with additional EMDR training.

You do not always need a GP referral to start private therapy, but your GP can be a useful first step. They can rule out physical causes for your symptoms, discuss treatment options, and refer you to HSE mental health services if appropriate.

Many Irish therapists now offer EMDR online, which means you can access accredited support from home. Online EMDR uses video calls and bilateral tones or tapping instead of in-person eye movements. Research suggests it can be just as effective as face-to-face work for many people.

You can learn more about EMDR therapy at Feel Better Therapy or get started here to find a therapist who matches your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does EMDR work online?

Yes. Many accredited EMDR therapists in Ireland offer online sessions. The bilateral stimulation is delivered through sounds, tapping, or visual cues on screen. Studies have found online EMDR to be effective for many people.

Will EMDR make me forget the trauma?

No. EMDR does not erase memories. It helps the brain process them so they feel less emotionally overwhelming and less intrusive. You will still remember what happened, but the memory is unlikely to trigger the same intense reaction.

How quickly does EMDR work?

It depends on the person and the nature of the trauma. Some people notice significant relief after a few sessions. Others, especially those with complex or multiple traumas, may need longer. Your therapist will discuss this with you during the planning phase.

Is EMDR painful?

There is no physical pain. However, emotions can feel intense during processing. That is why preparation and grounding techniques are such an important part of the therapy. You are always in control and can stop if it becomes too much.

Can children and teenagers have EMDR?

Yes, EMDR can be adapted for children and young people. The language, pace, and techniques are adjusted to suit the child’s age and developmental stage.

You Don’t Have to Hold It All Inside

Living with unprocessed trauma can feel like carrying something heavy everywhere you go. It affects your sleep, your relationships, your work, and your sense of who you are. But the fact that a memory still hurts does not mean you are broken. It often means the memory has not yet been processed in the way the brain would naturally process it.

EMDR is one way to support that processing. It is structured, evidence-based, and available from accredited therapists across Ireland. If you think it might help, you do not have to figure it all out on your own.

At Feel Better Therapy, we can match you with a therapist trained in EMDR and trauma recovery. You can learn more about EMDR therapy or get started here to take the next step.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you are in crisis, please contact Samaritans Ireland at 116 123 or Pieta House at 1800 247 247.