If past experiences are still affecting your thoughts, emotions, or daily life, you don’t have to face it alone. At our trusted, trauma-informed clinic on the Sunshine Coast, we offer EMDR therapy delivered by experienced, 5-star rated clinicians who specialise in helping people heal and move forward.

We are a trauma-informed, client-centred clinic committed to safety, trust, and choice. EMDR is never rushed. Your therapist will first help you build coping skills and emotional stability before beginning trauma processing. You remain in control at every stage.

EMDR Therapy on the Sunshine Coast

What Is EMDR Therapy?

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is the gold standard treatment that helps people recover from the emotional impact of distressing or traumatic experiences. When something overwhelming happens, the brain may not fully process it at the time. Instead, the memory can become “stuck,” continuing to trigger strong emotions, anxiety, or negative beliefs long after the event has passed.

Rather than reliving the past in detail, EMDR helps your nervous system safely reprocess experiences while removing the distress from your body.

Research shows EMDR can support meaningful recovery, often more efficiently than traditional talk therapy for many people. It is widely used to assist with trauma, anxiety, and distressing life experiences.

EMDR helps the brain do what it naturally wants to do — recover.

How EMDR Supports Recovery

Just like the body has an inbuilt ability to recover from physical injury, the brain has a natural system for processing emotional experiences.

When that system is disrupted by trauma, emotional wounds can remain raw and distressing. EMDR works by gently reactivating the brain’s processing system so unresolved memories can be stored in a healthier way.

As this happens, distress reduces and the memory loses its emotional intensity.

EMDR therapy can support people who experience:

Trauma and PTSD
Anxiety and panic
Childhood or complex trauma
Phobias and fears
Distressing memories or triggers
Negative self-beliefs and low self-worth

Clients often report the feeling calmer, more grounded, and better able to live in the present — not controlled by the past.

Everyday experiences are usually processed, stored, and integrated into our long-term memory without difficulty.

When a traumatic event occurs, however, the memory may not be processed in the same way. Instead, it can become stored in the brain’s emotional centre. Because of this, the memory can feel as though it is still happening in the present and can be easily triggered by reminders.

Trauma can disrupt our sense of safety and self. Because the experience feels overwhelming or unacceptable, the brain struggles to make sense of it, leaving the memory “stuck” and emotionally charged.

In EMDR therapy, clinicians gently bring the memory into awareness while stimulating both sides of the brain using eye movements or tapping. This helps engage working memory and allows the experience to be reprocessed — including the thoughts, meanings, emotions, and physical sensations connected to it.

Once reprocessed, the brain recognises the memory as resolved and stores it in long-term memory. It becomes part of your life story, rather than the event that defines you or continues to cause distress.

What happens during EMDR Therapy

8 Phases of EMDR Therapy

Phase 1 The first phase is a history-taking session(s). The therapist assesses the client’s readiness and develops a treatment plan. Client and therapist identify possible targets for EMDR processing. These include distressing memories and current situations that cause emotional distress. Other targets may include related incidents in the past. Emphasis is placed on the development of specific skills and behaviors that will be needed by the client in future situations.

Phase 2 During the second phase of treatment, the therapist ensures that the client has several different ways of handling emotional distress. The therapist may teach the client a variety of imagery and stress reduction techniques the client can use during and between sessions. A goal of EMDR therapy is to produce rapid and effective change while the client maintains equilibrium during and between sessions.

Phase 3-6 Processing Target Memories

In these phases, the focus is on processing specific memories that are causing distress. Your therapist will guide you to notice three key aspects of the memory:

A vivid image related to the event
A negative belief about yourself
Emotions and body sensations connected to the memory

You will also identify a positive belief you would like to feel instead. Your therapist will help you rate both the intensity of the negative emotions and the strength of the positive belief.

During EMDR processing, you focus on the memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, tapping, or sounds. The timing and type of stimulation are tailored to your needs.

As this happens, you simply notice whatever thoughts, images, or sensations arise. After each set of stimulation, your mind is allowed to go blank, and your therapist will guide the next focus based on what comes up. This process is repeated multiple times in a session until the memory no longer causes distress.

Once the memory is no longer distressing, you focus on the positive belief to strengthen it and integrate it into your experience. This helps you approach past memories and future situations with a greater sense of confidence and resilience.

Phase 7 In phase seven, closure, the therapist asks the client to keep a log during the week. The log should document any related material that may arise. It serves to remind the client of the self-calming activities that were mastered in phase two. Phase 8 The next session begins with phase eight.

Phase 8 consists of examining the progress made thus far. The EMDR treatment processes all related historical events, current incidents that elicit distress, and future events that will require different responses

You don’t have to keep carrying the weight of the past. With the right support, you can feel more connected, confident, and in control of your life again.

Next Step: Book Your EMDR Therapy Session Today

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FAQs

There’s no fixed number of sessions. Some people notice meaningful change in just a few sessions, while others may take longer, depending on the number and complexity of memories being processed.
No — EMDR doesn’t erase memories. Instead, it helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they no longer trigger strong emotional reactions.
No. Unlike some traditional therapies, you don’t need to repeatedly describe your experience in detail during processing. EMDR focuses on how the memory affects you now rather than reliving every detail.
After identifying a target memory, you’ll focus briefly on thoughts, feelings, or sensations while your therapist uses bilateral stimulation (like guided eye movements, tapping, or tones). You then notice what arises without trying to control it.
No — EMDR doesn’t rely on homework like many other therapies. Any skills you learn (such as calming techniques) are for your use between sessions but aren’t formal assignments.
No. Eye movements are one form of bilateral stimulation, but therapists may also use gentle tapping or auditory tones. The true focus is on helping your brain reprocess distressing material.
Yes — EMDR is recognised internationally as an effective treatment for trauma and distressing memories, with many studies showing significant improvements for clients.
EMDR sometimes brings up emotions during processing, but trained clinicians are focused on keeping you safe and supported. Preparation and stabilisation skills are built early in treatment to manage distress.
While EMDR was developed for traumatic memories, it can also support recovery from related distressing experiences and beliefs that stem from significant life events.
In EMDR, change comes from your own processing during bilateral stimulation rather than from lengthy analysis or interpretation by the therapist. This can lead to shifts in the emotional impact of memories without prolonged discussion of details.