Some experiences don’t settle on their own. They stay close to the surface — intrusive, raw, easily triggered — as if the mind never got to finish making sense of them.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) helps the brain do that unfinished processing. During a session you briefly bring a difficult memory to mind while following a gentle, guided movement. That dual attention helps the brain reprocess the experience so it settles into the past and carries less emotional charge. A useful way to picture it: giving the mind the chance to finish a piece of processing it couldn’t complete at the time.
EMDR is a structured, well-researched therapy with a strong evidence base for post-traumatic stress. It can also help with:
- Complex trauma and PTSD
- Anxiety and panic
- Phobias
- Grief and loss
- Distress tied to specific memories
It isn’t about reliving the worst moments in detail, and it isn’t a quick fix — but for many people it brings meaningful relief. We’ll go at your pace, with grounding and stabilisation first, and only move into reprocessing when you’re ready.
Dr Atanas Janackovski is an EMDRAA Accredited Practitioner (EMDR Association of Australia) and also provides EMDR consultation and supervision to other practitioners. Sessions are available in person in Wollongong or by secure video (telehealth) anywhere in Australia.