EMDR — a proven path through trauma
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is one of the most extensively researched and effective treatments for trauma and PTSD. As an EMDR practitioner, I offer this powerful therapy online to clients throughout New Zealand.
What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy developed in the late 1980s and now recognised by the World Health Organisation, ACC, and health authorities worldwide as a first-line treatment for PTSD and trauma.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR works directly with the way traumatic memories are stored in the brain. Distressing experiences — particularly overwhelming ones — can become “stuck” in the nervous system, causing them to be re-experienced with the same intensity as when they first happened.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (typically guided eye movements, tapping, or sounds alternating between left and right) to help the brain process and integrate these stuck memories. The distressing event doesn't disappear — but it loses its power to overwhelm, and you can remember it without being hijacked by it.
The results are often profound and can come more quickly than with traditional therapies. Many people experience significant relief within a relatively small number of sessions.
How the brain processes trauma
When we experience something traumatic, the brain's normal processing system can become overwhelmed. Rather than being stored as a past memory, the experience remains active — causing flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, and hypervigilance. EMDR helps to “unstick” these memories so they can be fully processed and laid to rest.
Endorsed by leading health bodies
EMDR is recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), ACC New Zealand, and the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). It has decades of rigorous research supporting its effectiveness.
Safe and carefully paced
You are never pushed beyond what you're ready for. EMDR begins with thorough preparation — building your resourcing and coping skills before any trauma processing begins. I pace every step carefully to ensure you always feel safe and in control.
The EMDR process
EMDR follows a structured eight-phase protocol, ensuring thorough preparation and safe, effective processing.
History & Planning
Understanding your history, identifying targets for processing, and setting goals for treatment.
Preparation
Building coping strategies and resourcing skills so you feel grounded and safe throughout the process.
Assessment
Identifying the specific memory to process, including the images, beliefs, emotions, and body sensations linked to it.
Desensitisation
Using bilateral stimulation (eye movements or tapping) to process the distressing memory and reduce its emotional charge.
Installation
Strengthening positive, adaptive beliefs to replace the negative ones connected to the trauma.
Body Scan
Checking for any residual physical tension or discomfort associated with the memory.
Closure
Ensuring you feel stable and settled before the session ends, with grounding tools if needed.
Re-evaluation
Reviewing progress at the start of subsequent sessions to ensure processing has held and is complete.
Who can EMDR help?
EMDR was originally developed for PTSD but has since been shown to be effective for a wide range of difficulties, including:
Nicole's approach to EMDR
I bring both rigorous EMDR training and a deeply compassionate, person-centred approach to trauma work. I understand that discussing or re-visiting painful experiences takes enormous courage, and I hold that space with the utmost care and respect.
My background in somatic therapy and yoga means I can integrate body-based awareness into EMDR work — helping you notice and release the physical effects of trauma stored in the body.
Crucially, as an ACC approved provider, I can offer EMDR as part of a funded treatment plan for survivors of abuse and trauma who qualify for ACC sensitive claims support.
You are never alone in this process. I walk every step with you — at whatever pace feels right.
EMDR works beautifully online
You might wonder whether EMDR can be as effective through a screen. The answer is a clear yes. Research confirms that online EMDR produces outcomes equivalent to in-person treatment. I use specialist techniques — including screen-based bilateral stimulation and remote tapping guidance — to deliver a full, effective EMDR experience via video.
Being in your own safe, familiar environment during EMDR processing can actually be an advantage — many clients find it easier to regulate and settle when they're at home.
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