Our guiding therapies

EMDR Therapy

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based trauma therapy that helps the brain reprocess distressing experiences, reducing their emotional intensity and impact. Trauma is not just a single event—it can be a collection of overwhelming experiences stored in the nervous system in ways we may or may not consciously remember.

Unprocessed trauma can show up in many forms, including:

Intrusive memories – vivid flashbacks, nightmares, or distressing thoughts
Emotional patterns – persistent anxiety, depression, shame, or self-doubt
Physical sensations – chronic pain, tension, fatigue, or unexplained symptoms
Triggers – strong emotional reactions to specific sounds, smells, places, or interactions

Even when the conscious mind forgets, the body and nervous system remember. Unprocessed trauma can influence how we think, feel, and behave—sometimes in ways that don’t seem directly connected to the original experience.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR works with the brain’s natural ability to heal by using bilateral stimulation (BLS)—such as eye movements, taps, or sounds—to help the nervous system reprocess distressing experiences. This reduces their intensity, allowing them to feel less overwhelming and disruptive. EMDR does not erase memories but helps the brain integrate them in a way that feels safer and more manageable.

Recognising the Impact of Ongoing Trauma

The Free EMDR Project acknowledges that for many people, trauma isn’t just in the past—it’s ongoing. Some may not have reached a “post-trauma” window of safety because they continue to experience structural oppression, discrimination, violence, or instability.

EMDR can be adapted to help people build stability, resilience, and nervous system regulation even while navigating ongoing challenges. The Free EMDR Project provides a space for processing distress safely, recognising that healing isn’t about erasing what happened but finding ways to reclaim a sense of control, agency, and connection in the present.

How Does EMDR Work?

EMDR is based on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, which suggests that the brain is wired to heal—just as the body naturally recovers from wounds. However, when trauma isn’t fully processed, distressing memories can become “stuck,” causing the nervous system to stay in a state of alertness, shutdown, or dysregulation.

This can show up as:

Emotional dysregulation – panic, numbness, shutdown, or hypervigilance
Negative self-beliefs – shame, self-blame, or feelings of worthlessness
A persistent sense of danger – even in safe environments.

Using BLS, EMDR helps the brain reprocess trauma by linking distressing memories to adaptive memory networks—previous experiences that provide more accurate, supportive perspectives. Through this process, individuals can:

✔ Recognise that the danger has passed (when applicable)
✔ Shift self-blame and shame into self-compassion
✔ Reduce emotional distress and build long-term resilience

Group EMDR Therapy

Traditionally, EMDR is delivered one-on-one. Group EMDR adapts this approach, allowing multiple people to participate simultaneously while still following the core EMDR framework. It provides a structured, guided process where participants engage in their own healing without sharing their trauma memories with anyone.

Group EMDR is designed to feel safe and contained. The focus remains on individual processing, with the added benefit of shared support and connection.

Where Is Group EMDR Used?

Disaster recovery – supporting communities after crisis and conflict
Humanitarian aid programs – providing trauma care in high-need areas
Community mental health initiatives – increasing access to effective trauma support

Does Group EMDR Work?

Yes—research shows group EMDR significantly reduces PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and emotional distress (Kaptan et al., 2021). Many participants also find that the shared experience reduces isolation and strengthens resilience.

Resource Therapy

What is Resource Therapy?

Resource Therapy (RT), also known as Advanced Ego States Therapy, is an attachment-informed parts therapy based on the understanding that the mind is made up of multiple internal parts, known as Resources. Each part has its own thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, shaped by life experiences.

Distressing emotions, unhelpful behaviours, and relational challenges often arise from the beliefs and coping patterns of these internal parts. Resource Therapy works by directly engaging with the part of the personality experiencing distress, offering a highly targeted approach that creates deeper and more lasting change.

Resource Therapy in The Free EMDR Project

In The Free EMDR Project, RT-based group EMDR sessions focus on building strengths rather than processing trauma.

These sessions aim to:

Increase self-awareness of internal parts and their roles
Develop internal resources for emotional support beyond sessions
Enhance resilience and self-regulation in daily life
Support EMDR processing by addressing parts that may block memory reprocessing

By integrating Resource Therapy techniques, participants can develop a stronger connection with their internal system and learn to navigate emotional challenges more effectively.