EMDR Therapy Brisbane

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing

(EMDR Therapy)

EMDR support from a Professional EMDR Therapist

What is EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy helps you to process traumatic memories and events and reduce your stress levels and make the memory more distant. The Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy process will assist to change any emotional, psychological and behavioural problems that relate to any unprocessed or stuck memories and decrease the memories emotion. The Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) process enables you to process the memories without having to talk about the details of the experience. EMDR techniques assists people with conditions of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

When a distressing or traumatic overwhelming event occurs, the memory of that event is stored in the brain differently from a normal memory, because of the high level of distressing emotions at the time of the event. Trauma memories are often frozen in time and locked in the nervous system. Since the memory is locked there, it continues to be triggered when a reminder comes along. Strong emotions or feelings connected to the old memory come up and we are unable to cope with our emotions or settle our emotions to a calm level. Triggers may be emotional or physical responses and other responses that may activate images, physical sensations, tastes, smells, sounds and beliefs is though it is the day it originally happened.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based practice that was founded by Francine Shapiro in 1989a, 1989b.The adaptive information processing model (AIP) suggests that dysfunctional stored memories and memories that have not been processed are the cause of many mental health disorders. These mental health disorders may be Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, psychosis, addictions or chronic pain

EMDR Professional Association

The EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA) is a professional association where EMDR practitioners and researchers set standards for the clinical use of EMDR therapy for its members. EMDR is designated as an effective treatment by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Australian Phoenix Australia – Centre for Post-traumatic Mental Health, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and many other international health agencies. This powerful psychotherapy approach has helped over an estimated two million people of all ages relieve many types of psychological distress. This website provides information to the greater EMDR community including clinicians, researchers, and the public that our members serve.

What can EMDR help with

NDIS Psychosocial Disabilities
Mental Health Illness
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Veterans Affairs members and Australian Defence Force
Anxiety and panic attacks
Depression
Eating Disorders
Alcohol and other drug
Addictions
Schizophrenia
Borderline Personality Disorders
Agoraphobia
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Grief and Loss

Happy Peeps therapists provide a ‘safe space’ that is calm for our clients to share traumatic memories and life experiences. We will hold you though the complete EMDR process.

If you would like to discuss further, please call us 1300 915 271

How does EMDR help people?

EMDR may assist with reductions in paranoid thinking, auditory, visual or somatic hallucinations or delusional and negative symptoms of psychosis

Auditory Hallucinations the false perception of sound, music, noises or voices

Someone could hear voices that are telling them what to do or they might hear repeated sound in the home or in the community.

Visual Hallucinations: the false perception of visual object or event

A person may see things that are not here or could see someone being in the room or flashing lights or patterns.

Tactile Hallucinations

The false perception that bugs are crawling on the skin

Somatic Tactile Hallucination

The false perception or sensation of touch or something happening in or on the body

Gustatory Hallucination

The false perception of taste

Someone may taste unpleasant or strange things that aren’t there. They may experience the taste of metallic or other strong tastes

Olfactory Hallucinations:

The false perception of smell

The belief that they’re smelling a foul or pungent odour or thinking that something or someone smells bad.

EMDR PROCESS

We start EMDR by bringing the memory you have chosen to work with into the working memory, focus on the memory, its associated thoughts emotions and body sensations.
Aiming to tax your working memory through bilateral stimulation you will follow my finger with your eyes.
The natural healing process will occur in your brain and as the memory unlocks the brains natural processing system will begin to work
The processing of the brain and the memory unfolds the memory becomes more distant and thoughts and emotions begin to change. As you observe what unfolds your brain is in a process of healing.
As the process unfolds other memories or thoughts may arise and emotions and body sensations may change.
You will be encouraged to observe and notice throughout the EMDR process as things keep changing.
As a professionally trained EMDR therapist I will support you throughout the process and support you if you have strong emotions by assisting you to return to grounded and calm. Emotions may be like a wave that peaks and then subsides.
If at any time you would like to stop you simply raise your hand, however it is best to continue as best you can. I will be with you the whole time and support you to the end of processing the memory.
Kiessling’s Variation is that sometimes I may begin slowing down the eye movements before I stop the set. If I begin slowing down and you want to keep processing, just give me the “keep going” signal (rotating finger signal.) and I’ll keep going until you are ready to stop. You let me know when to stop.
After a set of eye movements I will ask you “What do you notice now”
You will tell me what you notice without judging whether you think it should happen or not. It is important that you let whatever happens happen.

What is the outcome of EMDR

Process to develop new brain associations to result in complete information processing, new learning, elimination of emotional distress and development of cognitive insights.
Processing the past events that have caused dysfunction
Processing and developing new connections and links which form new adaptive neural pathway information
Processing the current situations and targeting the triggers that cause distress and desensitising internal and external triggers.
Processing what is needed for the future to assist you to acquire the skills that are necessary for adaptive functioning and to help you get through the day.

What skills may we develop in the EMDR Process

Processing to improve our skills of communication with others
Expressing thoughts and emotions to others
Comprehend what others say to us
Manage written content and language
Coping skills to get through the day
Care for own health and hygiene
Completing home based tasks at an age appropriate level
Go to work or school
Preparing a healthy meal
Developing Social skills
Develop good relationships that benefits both people
Increase our access to the community and participate in social activities

EMDR is an Eight Phase Treatment

Phase 1

History and Suitability

Presenting Issue
Goals of therapy
Identifying current triggers
Memory/Image
Mapping Questions to understand your history, meaning about yourself, your emotions and behaviours
Negative beliefs about yourself
Positive Beliefs about yourself
How true is the positive belief
Suitability for EMDR

Phase 2

Procedural Preparation

Attachment Styles
Calm strategies
Breathing techniques
Butterfly hugs
Imagery
Light stream
Spiral technique
Container imagery
Flash technique

Phase 3

Target Assessment

Key memory and negative belief to activate emotions
Subject of Units of Distress (SUDS) to check how distressed you feel
Emotions and Feelings and locating body sensations

Phase 4

Desensitisation or Processing

EMDR bilateral stimulation to process memories

Phase 5

Integrating the Positive Belief

EMDR bilateral stimulation linking the positive belief with the original memory

Phase 6

Body Scan

Therapist guides a body scan to check on body sensations to strengthen positive feelings

Phase 7

Closure and Debrief

Discussion about the session and what you notice

Phase 8

Re-Evaluation

Next session discuss other memories, other associations, behavioural, cognitive and affective changes

Happy Peeps Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) professionally trained practitioners are committed to providing a safe and comfortable environment for you to process your traumatic memories If you would like to book an appointment please call the Happy Peeps team 1300 915 271 to make a confidential appointment.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Acknowledgement to Country

Happy Peeps would like to acknowledge Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation and acknowledge the traditional custodians of the Yuggera land on which we work and conduct our business. We value the cultures, identities and continuing spiritual connection to country, waters and seas, kin and community and the rich contribution to society. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and are committed to making a positive contribution to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, by providing services that are welcoming, safe, culturally appropriate and inclusive.

Inclusive Practice

Happy Peeps is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of mental health services. We welcome all people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Areas we Service

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Bowen Hills – Brisbane – East Brisbane – Fortitude Valley – Herston – Highgate Hill – Kangaroo Point – Kelvin Grove – New Farm – Newstead – Paddington – Petrie Terrace – Red Hill – South Brisbane – Spring Hill – Teneriffe – West End – Woolloongabba

Northern suburbs
Albion – Alderley – Ascot – Aspley – Bald Hills – Banyo – Boondall – Bracken Ridge – Bridgeman Downs – Brighton – Brisbane Airport – Carseldine – Chermside – Chermside West – Clayfield – Deagon – Eagle Farm – Everton Park – Ferny Grove – Fitzgibbon – Gaythorne – Geebung – Gordon Park – Grange – Hamilton – Hendra – Kalinga – Kedron – Keperra – Lutwyche – McDowall – Mitchelton – Myrtletown – Newmarket – Northgate – Nudgee – Nudgee Beach – Nundah – Pinkenba – Sandgate – Shorncliffe – Stafford – Stafford Heights – Taigum – Virginia – Wavell Heights – Wilston – Windsor – Wooloowin – Zillmere

Southern suburbs
Acacia Ridge – Algester – Annerley – Archerfield – Burbank – Calamvale – Coopers Plains – Darra – Doolandella – Drewvale – Durack – Dutton Park – Eight Mile Plains – Ellen Grove – Fairfield – Forest Lake – Greenslopes – Heathwood – Holland Park – Holland Park West – Inala – Karawatha – Kuraby – Larapinta – MacGregor – Mackenzie – Mansfield – Moorooka – Mount Gravatt – Mount Gravatt East – Nathan – Pallara – Parkinson – Richlands – Robertson – Rochedale – Rocklea – Runcorn – Salisbury – Seventeen Mile Rocks – Sinnamon Park – Stones Corner – Stretton – Sumner – Sunnybank – Sunnybank Hills – Tarragindi – Tennyson – Upper Mount Gravatt – Wacol – Willawong – Wishart – Yeerongpilly – Yeronga

Eastern suburbs
Balmoral – Belmont – Bulimba – Camp Hill – Cannon Hill – Carina – Carina Heights -Carindale – Chandler – Coorparoo – Gumdale – Hawthorne – Hemmant – Lota – Lytton – Manly – Manly West – Moreton Island – Morningside – Murarrie – Norman Park – Port of Brisbane – Ransome – Seven Hills – Tingalpa – Wakerley – Wynnum – Wynnum West

Western suburbs
Anstead – Ashgrove – Auchenflower – Bardon – Bellbowrie – Brookfield – Chapel Hill – Chelmer – Chuwar – Corinda – Enoggera – Enoggera Reservoir – Fig Tree Pocket – Graceville – Indooroopilly – Jamboree Heights – Jindalee – Karana Downs – Kenmore – Kenmore Hills – Kholo – Lake Manchester – Middle Park – Milton – Moggill – Mount Coot-tha – Mount Crosby – Mount Ommaney – Oxley – Pinjarra Hills – Pullenvale – Riverhills – Seventeen Mile Rocks – Sherwood – Sinnamon Park – St Lucia – Taringa – The Gap – Toowong – Upper Brookfield – Upper Kedron – Westlake

City of Ipswich
Augustine Heights – Barellan Point – Basin Pocket – Bellbird Park – Blacksoil – Blackstone – Booval – Brassall – Brookwater – Bundamba – Camira – Carole Park – Churchill – Chuwar – Coalfalls – Collingwood Park – Dinmore – East Ipswich – Eastern Heights – Ebbw Vale – Flinders View – Gailes – Goodna – Ipswich – Karalee – Karrabin – Leichhardt – Moores Pocket – Muirlea – New Chum – Newtown – North Booval – North Ipswich – North Tivoli – One Mile – Raceview – Redbank – Redbank Plains – Riverview – Sadliers Crossing – Silkstone – Springfield – Springfield Central – Springfield Lakes – Tivoli – West Ipswich – Woodend – Wulkuraka – Yamanto – Amberley – Ashwell – Calvert – Deebing Heights – Ebenezer – Goolman – Grandchester – Haigslea – Ironbark – Jeebropilly – Lanefield – Marburg – Mount Forbes – Mount Marrow – Mutdapilly – Pine Mountain – Purga – Ripley – Rosewood – South Ripley – Spring Mountain – Swanbank – Tallegalla – Thagoona – The Bluff – Walloon – White Rock – Willowbank – Woolshed

Logan City
Bahrs Scrub – Bannockburn – Beenleigh – Belivah – Berrinba – Bethania – Boronia Heights – Browns Plains – Buccan – Carbrook – Cedar Creek – Cedar Grove – Cedar Vale – Chambers Flat – Cornubia – Crestmead – Daisy Hill – Eagleby – Edens Landing – Forestdale – Greenbank – Heritage Park – Hillcrest – Holmview – Jimboomba – Kagaru – Kingston – Logan Central – Logan Reserve – Logan Village – Loganholme – Loganlea – Lyons – Marsden – Meadowbrook – Mount Warren Park – Mundoolun – Munruben – New Beith – North Maclean – Park Ridge South – Park Ridge – Priestdale – Regents Park – Rochedale South – Shailer Park – Slacks Creek – South Maclean – Springwood – Stockleigh – Tamborine – Tanah Merah – Underwood – Undullah – Veresdale Scrub – Veresdale – Waterford West – Waterford – Windaroo – Wolffdene – Woodhill – Woodridge – Yarrabilba

Redland City
Alexandra Hills – Amity Point – Birkdale – Capalaba – Cleveland – Coochiemudlo Island – Dunwich – Karragarra Island – Lamb Island – Macleay Island – Mount Cotton – North Stradbroke Island – Ormiston – Point Lookout – Redland Bay – Russell Island – Sheldon – Thorneside – Thornlands – Victoria Point – Wellington Point

Moreton Bay Region
Albany Creek – Arana Hills – Banksia Beach – Beachmere – Bellara – Bongaree – Bray Park – Brendale – Bunya – Burpengary – Caboolture – Caboolture South – Cashmere – Clontarf – Dakabin – Deception Bay – Eatons Hill – Elimbah – Everton Hills – Ferny Hills – Godwin Beach – Griffin – Joyner – Kallangur – Kippa-Ring – Kurwongbah – Lawnton – Mango Hill – Margate – Moodlu – Morayfield – Murrumba Downs – Narangba – Newport – Ningi – North Lakes – Petrie – Redcliffe – Rothwell – Sandstone Point – Scarborough – Strathpine – Upper Caboolture – Warner – Whiteside – Woody Point – Woorim – Armstrong Creek – Bellmere – Bellthorpe – Booroobin – Bracalba – Camp Mountain – Campbells Pocket – Cedar Creek – Cedarton – Clear Mountain – Closeburn – Commissioners Flat – D’Aguilar – Dayboro – Delaneys Creek – Donnybrook – Draper – Highvale – Jollys Lookout – King Scrub – Kobble Creek – Laceys Creek – Meldale – Moorina – Mount Delaney – Mount Glorious – Mount Mee – Mount Nebo – Mount Pleasant – Mount Samson – Neurum – Ocean View – Rocksberg – Rush Creek – Samford Valley – Samford Village – Samsonvale – Stanmore – Stony Creek – Toorbul – Wamuran Basin – Wamuran – Welsby – White Patch – Wights Mountain – Woodford – Yugar

Sunshine coast

Aroona – Bald Knob – Balmoral Ridge – Battery Hill – Beerburrum – Beerwah – Bells Creek – Birtinya – Bokarina – Booroobin – Bribie Island – North Buddina – Caloundra – Caloundra West – Cambroon – Conondale – Coochin Creek – Crohamhurst – Curramore – Currimundi – Diamond Valley – Dicky Beach – Elaman Creek – Glass House Mountains – Glenview – Golden Beach – Harper Creek – Kings Beach – Landsborough – Little Mountain – Maleny – Meridan Plains – Minyama – Moffat Beach – Mooloolah Valley – Mount Mellum – North Maleny – Palmview – Parrearra – Peachester – Pelican Waters – Reesville – Shelly Beach – Warana – Witta – Wootha – Wurtulla – Maroochy area – Alexandra Headland – Belli Park – Bli Bli – Bridges – Buderim – Burnside – Chevallum – Coes Creek – Coolabine – Cooloolabin – Coolum Beach – Cotton Tree – Diddillibah – Doonan – Dulong – Eerwah Vale – Eudlo – Eumundi – Flaxton – Forest Glen – Gheerulla – Highworth – Hunchy – Ilkley – Image Flat – Kenilworth – Kiamba – Kidaman Creek – Kiels Mountain – Kulangoor – Kuluin – Kunda Park – Kureelpa – Landers Shoot – Mapleton – Marcoola – Maroochy River – Maroochydore – Mons – Montville – Mooloolaba – Mount Coolum – Mountain Creek – Mudjimba – Nambour – Ninderry – North Arm – Obi Obi – Pacific Paradise – Palmwoods – Parklands – Peregian Beach – Peregian Springs – Perwillowen Point – Arkwright – Rosemount – Sippy Downs – Tanawha – Towen Mountain – Twin Waters – Valdora – Verrierdale – West Woombye – Weyba Downs – Woombye – Yandina Creek – Yandina – Yaroomba

Gold Coast

Advancetown – Alberton – Andrews – Arundel – Ashmore – Austinville –
Beechmont – Benobble – Benowa – Biddaddaba – Biggera Waters – Bilinga – Birnam – Bonogin – Boyland – Broadbeach – Bundall – Burleigh Heads – Burleigh Waters – Canungra – Carrara – Cedar Creek – Chevron Island – Clagiraba – Clear Island Waters – Coolangatta – Coombabah – Currumbin – Currumbin Waters – Currumbin Valley – Eagle Heights – Elanora – Gaven – Gilberton – Gilston – Guanaba – Helensvale – Highland Park – Hollywell – Hope Island – Illanbah – Isle of Capri – Jacobs Well – Kingsholme – Kirra – Labrador – Lamington – Lower Beechmont – Luscombe – Main Beach – Maudsland – Mermaid Beach – Mermaid Waters – Merrimac – Miami – Molendinar – Mount Nathan – Mount Tamborine – Mudgeeraba – Natural Bridge – Nerang – Neranwood – Nobbys Beach – Norwell – Numinbah Valley – Ormeau – Oxenford – Pacific Pines – Palm Beach – Paradise Point – Parkwood – Pimpama – Reedy Creek – Robina – Runaway B ay – Sanctuary Cove – Southport – Springbrook – Stephens – Surfers Paradise – Tabragalba – Tallai – Tallebudgera – The Spit – Tugun – Varsity Lakes – Willowvale – Witheren – Wongawallan – Wonglepong – Worongary – Yatala

Call: 1300 915 271