EMDR Therapy Perth.

EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a highly effective psychological treatment. It helps people heal from trauma, distressing memories, and other negative experiences. If you're searching for EMDR therapy in Perth, Mindstate Psychology offers experienced, accredited EMDR psychologists who can help you process traumatic experiences and reduce their emotional impact.

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing EMDR has been used successfully for over 20 years. It's recognised as a gold-standard treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Our EMDR therapists in Perth also use this evidence-based approach to treat anxiety, panic, grief, phobias, eating disorders, and addictions.

Movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy works by helping your brain reprocess disturbing memories. This reduces negative thoughts and emotional distress associated with past experiences. Whether you're dealing with a single traumatic event or complex, long-standing trauma, EMDR therapy near our South Perth practice can help you find relief and move forward.

Why EMDR?

EMDR has many advantages over other treatment approaches, but we believe the biggest advantage is that EMDR shows comparable results to other trauma-focused therapies (such as Prolonged Exposure), but over a much shorter time frame.

​"Often disturbing events happen in our lives that stay with us. The brain cannot process information as it ordinarily does. One moment can become ‘frozen in time’ and remembering the trauma may feel as bad as going through it for the first time. This is because the images, sounds, smells and feelings still seem to be there – they haven’t changed. Such memories have a lasting negative effect that interferes with the way a person sees the world and the way that they relate to other people.
EMDR has a positive effect on how the brain processes information. Following an EMDR session, the person no longer relives the trauma. They still recall that an incident happened, but it no longer feels upsetting."

The exert above is from the EMDR Association of Australia's (EMDRAA) website. For a complete list of their EMDR FAQ, please visit their website at https://emdraa.org/what-is-emdr. You can find out more about trauma and why it occurs on our dedicated trauma page.

Who can benefit from EMDR therapy in Perth?

EMDR therapy in Perth is suitable for anyone struggling with the effects of traumatic or distressing experiences. Many people seek an EMDR therapist in Perth after trying other forms of therapy for trauma without achieving the relief they hoped for. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing offers a different approach. It often works faster and requires less verbal processing than traditional talk therapy.

You might benefit from EMDR therapy if you're experiencing:

  • ‍Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Whether from a single traumatic incident or ongoing trauma, EMDR is highly effective at reducing PTSD symptoms. These include flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and emotional numbness. Desensitisation and reprocessing helps your brain process these traumatic memories differently. This reduces their power to trigger intense reactions.
  • ‍Complex Trauma: If you experienced repeated trauma during childhood or adulthood—such as abuse, neglect, or domestic violence—EMDR can help. Movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy processes these layered experiences. It reduces their ongoing impact on your life and helps replace negative thoughts with more balanced perspectives.
  • ‍Anxiety and Panic: EMDR therapy helps identify and reprocess the underlying memories or experiences that contribute to anxiety disorders and panic attacks. By targeting these root causes, eye movement desensitisation often provides relief when other treatments haven't worked. Many clients find that their negative thoughts about themselves and the world begin to shift.
  • ‍Phobias: Specific phobias often stem from a traumatic or frightening experience. EMDR can target these root memories and significantly reduce or eliminate phobic responses. The desensitisation process helps your brain recognise that the threat is no longer present.
  • ‍Grief and Loss: When grief becomes complicated or overwhelming, EMDR can help process the loss and associated memories. This allows you to remember your loved one without intense distress. Movement desensitisation and reprocessing helps separate the pain of loss from the positive memories you want to keep.
  • ‍Disturbing Life Events: Not all traumatic experiences meet the clinical definition of "trauma." EMDR therapy near you can help process distressing events like humiliation, rejection, accidents, medical procedures, or witnessing disturbing events. These experiences can create negative thoughts and beliefs that limit your life.
  • ‍Performance Issues: EMDR can address performance anxiety in work, sports, or creative pursuits. It targets memories of past failures or criticism that continue to impact current performance. By reprocessing these experiences, you can develop positive beliefs about your abilities.
  • ‍Low Self-Esteem and Negative Beliefs: Often rooted in past experiences, negative thoughts about yourself can be transformed through EMDR therapy. Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing helps you develop more positive beliefs and realistic self-perceptions. Many clients report significant improvements in self-confidence after EMDR treatment.

EMDR therapy in Perth is effective for people of all ages. This includes children, adolescents, and adults. Our EMDR psychologists have experience working with diverse populations and can adapt the therapy to meet your individual needs.

Evidence for EMDR

EMDR has been noted as a Level 1 treatment for PTSD by the Australian Psychological Society (APS). This is the highest level of endorsement. It is also a recommended treatment in the practice guidelines of well-renowned Australian and international bodies, such as:

What happens during EMDR?

If you research the EMDR treatment processes, you will probably find Francine Shapiro's eight-phase treatment model for EMDR. These phases include history taking, client preparation, assessment, desensitisation, installation, body scan, closure and reevaluation. While it is helpful for psychologists to structure EMDR sessions, these phases can be difficult to understand. Instead, we find it helpful to consider EMDR in three simpler phases.

Like any therapy, the first phase of EMDR includes history-taking and treatment planning. During this phase, your psychologist will get to know you and your reasons for seeking EMDR therapy. Your psychologist will also discuss specific techniques to help you cope with any emotions that may arise during therapy.

After the initial phase, your psychologist will work with you to identify a particular traumatic memory to target with EMDR. Emotions and physical sensations associated with memory will be noted down. Once a target memory is chosen, the desensitisation process can begin. This involves the client focusing on the memory while the therapist provides some form of bilateral stimulation.

Bilateral stimulation refers to the process of alternately stimulating the left and right sides of your brain. Imagine it as a ping-pong game where the ball moves back and forth, stimulating one side of the table—or your brain—and then the other. Typically, this is side-to-side eye movement but may include sounds or tactile feedback.
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At the end of each session, your psychologist will help you return to a state of calm. Your psychologist will also evaluate the session, whether any changes have occurred and decide how best to structure future sessions.

How does EMDR work?

This short animated video may help you get an understanding of EMDR and how it works:

Our EMDR Psychologists in Perth

When you're looking for an EMDR therapist in Perth, you want experienced professionals with proper training. At Mindstate Psychology, our team includes registered psychologists and clinical psychologists. All have completed specialised eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing training through the EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA).

Why Choose Mindstate Psychology for EMDR Therapy in Perth?

  • ‍Specialist Training and Experience: All our EMDR therapists have completed intensive training in desensitisation and reprocessing EMDR. They maintain ongoing professional development in trauma treatment. Our psychologists regularly participate in consultation groups and advanced EMDR training. This ensures they're providing the most effective, evidence-based care.
  • ‍Trauma-Informed Approach: We understand that discussing and processing trauma requires safety, trust, and sensitivity. Our approach to movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy prioritises your emotional safety. You progress at a pace that feels manageable. You're always in control of the process. Our psychologists are skilled at helping you manage negative thoughts and emotions that arise during treatment. They'll teach you coping strategies before beginning EMDR. They'll ensure you develop positive beliefs about your ability to heal.
  • ‍Integrated Treatment: While eye movement desensitisation is highly effective, comprehensive treatment sometimes requires multiple approaches. Our psychologists are skilled in various evidence-based therapies. They can integrate EMDR with other approaches when appropriate for your specific needs. This means if negative thoughts persist in certain areas, or if you need additional support between EMDR sessions, your psychologist can draw on other therapeutic tools. The goal is always to help you develop lasting positive beliefs and coping strategies.
  • ‍Convenient South Perth Location: Our practice is easily accessible from across Perth's southern and northern suburbs. We offer convenient parking and comfortable, private therapy rooms. These are designed to help you feel at ease during your desensitisation and reprocessing EMDR sessions.
  • ‍Flexible Appointment Options: We offer a range of appointment times to fit your schedule. This includes evening and Saturday appointments. While EMDR therapy is most effective when conducted in person, we can also offer movement desensitisation and reprocessing via telehealth when necessary. However, we recommend in-person sessions when possible for optimal results.

Depending on your psychological needs, your practitioner may recommend using EMDR during your therapy sessions. This helps overcome negative experiences and beliefs associated with trauma. Your practitioner will always explain what they're doing and what to expect before starting.

If you believe eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing might be beneficial for you, you can discuss this with your practitioner. You can also contact us to book a session with one of our EMDR-trained psychologists.

Meet our team of Perth Clinical psychologists, who advocate for your mental health
Annette Paul
Clinical Psychologist
Meet our team of Perth Clinical psychologists, who advocate for your mental health
Theunis Vorster
Clinical Psychologist Registrar
Meet our team of Perth Clinical psychologists, who advocate for your mental health
Dr Nigel Chen
Clinical Psychologist
Meet our team of Perth Clinical psychologists, who advocate for your mental health
Jaqueline Chari
Clinical Psychologist
Meet our team of Perth Clinical psychologists, who advocate for your mental health
Rachel Webb
Psychologist
Meet our team of Perth Clinical psychologists, who advocate for your mental health
Hannah Raggett
Forensic Psychologist
Meet our team of Perth Clinical psychologists, who advocate for your mental health
Nynke Vlietstra
Psychologist
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Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR in Perth

Here are some frequently asked questions about getting EMDR Therapy in in Perth.

What is EMDR and how does it work?

EMDR, or eye movement desensitisation reprocessing is a psychological therapy that is used to help individuals reprocess process traumatic events in a way that reduces distressing memories and ongoing distress from trauma. It was pioneered in the late 1980s, and is currently used worldwide.

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to target trauma memory networks, reducing their somatic and emotional charge and ultimately leading to a reduction in PTSD symptoms. EMDR can reduce negative memories, body sensations, and emotional distress associated with traumatic symptoms.

What should I expect in my first EMDR session?

Your first session with an EMDR therapist in Perth will focus on assessment and preparation rather than immediately beginning the eye movement component. Your psychologist will take time to understand your history, discuss your reasons for seeking EMDR, and explain how the process works. You'll also learn coping techniques to help you manage any emotions that arise during treatment. The actual EMDR processing typically begins in subsequent sessions once you and your psychologist have established a treatment plan and you feel prepared and safe to proceed.

How much does EMDR cost in Perth?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a type of psychological therapy and is not necessarily a standalone service. There is no additional charge for a psychologist to use EMDR during a therapy session, and you can discover the fees for therapy here.

EMDR therapy sessions typically last for 50 minuets and are eligible for rebate by Medicare or other private health services.

Is EMDR covered by Medicare?

Yes, EMDR is a recognised treatment for trauma and other psychological conditions by Medicare. Medicare will provide a rebate for up to 10 sessions of psychological therapy per calendar year. EMDR is also covered by private insurers, such as HBF and BUPA, and other government insurers, such as DVA. You can find out more about fees and rebates for therapy here.

How many EMDR sessions will I need?

It is difficult to determine how many EMDR sessions you will need until you have had an initial consultation and developed a treatment plan with your psychologist. Some clients may completely resolve their trauma memory in as little as one EMDR session, however most clients require more than one session (dependent upon the level and complexity of their disturbing memories). Sometimes, your psychologist may recommend incorporating additional therapeutic approaches with EMDR.

Is EMDR therapy safe?

EMDR is a safe, well-researched therapy when conducted by a properly trained professional. While processing traumatic memories can temporarily bring up uncomfortable emotions, your EMDR therapist in Perth will teach you coping strategies before beginning and will ensure you feel emotionally stable at the end of each session. You're always in control and can pause or stop the process at any time. Some clients experience vivid dreams or heightened emotions between sessions, which is a normal part of processing and typically subsides.

How is EMDR different from other trauma therapies?

Unlike many traditional talk therapies, EMDR doesn't require you to describe traumatic events in detail or complete homework assignments. The bilateral stimulation used in EMDR appears to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories more quickly than talk therapy alone. While therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or Prolonged Exposure are also effective for treating trauma, many clients find EMDR faster and less emotionally exhausting because it works with your brain's natural processing capabilities.

What evidence exists to support the use of EMDR?

There is a wide range of evidence, including randomised controlled trials, suggesting that EMDR is an effective approach for the treatment of trauma, such as reducing distressing memories and emotional distress. It is such an effective treatment that it is recommended by the Australian Psychological Society, the World Health Organisation, and many other leading experts in mental health and trauma.

More recently, EMDR has been proven as an effective component in treating other mental health issues, such as anxiety disorders, grief, eating disorders, phobias and addictions, when used in conjunction with other evidence-based therapies.

Can any practitioner provide EMDR treatment?

EMDR is an advanced psychotherapy that requires a high level of skill and only experienced mental health professionals who are fully registered with a professional association can apply to undertake EMDR therapy training. You should only receive EMDR therapy from EMDR-trained psychologists, clinical psychologists, or psychiatrists.

Mindstate Psychology’s clinical psychologists have extensive experience and training in the use of EMDR as a form of treatment for a broad range of psychological conditions, including traumatic experiences and general psychological issues.

How do I find a qualified EMDR therapist in Perth?

When looking for EMDR therapy in Perth, it's important to choose a therapist with proper training and credentials. Look for psychologists who have completed EMDR training through the EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA) and who are registered with the Psychology Board of Australia. At Mindstate Psychology, all our EMDR therapists meet these qualifications and have extensive experience in trauma treatment. You can contact us to discuss which of our EMDR-trained psychologists might be the best fit for your needs.

Ready to start EMDR?

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