Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured psychological therapy used primarily to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In Australia, it’s become an established, evidence-based treatment for trauma rather than being regarded as a complementary or alternative therapy.
The Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Acute Stress Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD, developed with the involvement of Phoenix Australia, give EMDR a strong recommendation for adults with PTSD. It sits alongside several other strongly recommended trauma-focused treatments, including trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT), prolonged exposure (PE), cognitive therapy and cognitive processing therapy (CPT).
This is important because there’s no single psychological treatment that is considered best for every person with PTSD. Australian guidelines emphasise evidence-based, stepped and collaborative care, meaning treatment should be matched to the severity and complexity of a person’s difficulties, as well as their preferences and circumstances.
How it works
EMDR is an eight-phase, trauma-focused therapy. During treatment, a person is asked to focus on aspects of a distressing memory, including associated thoughts, emotions and physical sensations, while undertaking bilateral stimulation.
This commonly involves following the therapist’s finger movements with the eyes, although alternating sounds or tapping can also be used.
The Australian guidelines describe EMDR as a therapy in which bilateral stimulation is intended to assist the processing of traumatic memories. However, they also acknowledge that the precise mechanism responsible for its effects isn’t completely understood.
This is worth emphasising because claims that the eye movements have a definitively established neurological explanation go beyond what the evidence currently demonstrates.
For Australians experiencing PTSD, EMDR is broadly in the same category as other leading trauma-focused psychological treatments. Phoenix Australia specifically lists EMDR and trauma-focused CBT among the recommended counselling approaches for PTSD and says psychological treatment would generally be preferred to medication as the first and only treatment when appropriate therapy is available.
The guidelines also distinguish treatment of established PTSD from the early period immediately following a traumatic event.
For adults experiencing PTSD symptoms within the first three months after trauma, the Australian guidelines recommend a stepped or collaborative approach. They give conditional recommendations for trauma-focused CBT and brief EMDR, rather than automatically recommending intensive treatment for everyone exposed to trauma.
This reflects an important principle: experiencing a traumatic event doesn’t automatically mean someone has PTSD. Many people experience distress after trauma and recover without developing the disorder. Treatment becomes particularly important when symptoms persist or significantly interfere with everyday life.
Choose a professional
EMDR isn’t simply a matter of ‘watching a therapist move their fingers’. This is a structured form of psychotherapy involving assessment, preparation, processing of traumatic material and consolidation of more adaptive responses.
Because confronting traumatic memories can be emotionally demanding, it should always be conducted by an appropriately trained mental-health professional.
For Australians seeking treatment for PTSD, EMDR can be considered one of the mainstream evidence-based options, alongside trauma-focused CBT, prolonged exposure, cognitive processing therapy and cognitive therapy.
The choice between these approaches will depend on the person’s circumstances, preferences, clinical needs and the availability of appropriately trained practitioners.
