Carrying the weight of a difficult experience can feel exhausting, especially when it seems like no matter how hard you try to move forward, certain memories, feelings, or reactions keep pulling you back. For many young people, trauma does not always look the way it does in films or books. It can show up as anxiety before school, difficulty sleeping, feeling numb or disconnected, or reacting strongly to things that remind you of something painful. If any of this sounds familiar, you are not alone, and there are effective ways to find relief.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, more commonly known as EMDR therapy, is a clinically recognised, evidence-based approach that has helped thousands of people, including adolescents, process traumatic experiences and reduce their emotional impact. In this article, we will explore what EMDR therapy is, how it works, who it can help, and what to expect when seeing a psychologist.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or psychological advice. It is not a substitute for professional assessment, diagnosis, or treatment. If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health concerns, please consult a registered psychologist or qualified healthcare professional. In an emergency, please call 000 or contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy developed by American psychologist Dr Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. Originally designed to help people process traumatic memories, it has since grown into one of the most well-researched therapeutic approaches available today.
At its core, EMDR therapy is based on the idea that the brain has a natural ability to process and make sense of difficult experiences. However, when a trauma or deeply distressing event occurs, that natural processing can get disrupted. The memory becomes “stuck,” stored in a way that keeps it feeling raw and present, even long after the event has passed. EMDR helps to gently restart that processing, allowing the brain to integrate the memory in a healthier way so it no longer carries the same emotional charge.
One of the things that makes EMDR particularly valuable for adolescents is that it does not require you to talk through every detail of what happened. For many young people, the idea of sitting with a psychologist and describing a painful experience in full can feel daunting or even impossible. EMDR offers a different path. While the psychologist guides the process, much of the work happens internally, at your own pace.
EMDR is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress, and it is widely used by registered psychologists across Australia.
How Does EMDR Therapy Actually Work?
EMDR therapy follows a structured eight-phase process. You do not need to memorise all eight phases, but understanding the general flow can help reduce any uncertainty about what to expect. Here is a simplified breakdown:
Getting to Know You
In the early phase of EMDR, your psychologist will take time to understand your background, your current concerns, and what experiences you would like to work through. This is not about diving straight into the hard stuff. It is about building a clear picture of where you are now and where you would like to be. Nothing happens without your understanding and readiness.
Building Safety and Coping Skills
Before any trauma processing begins, your psychologist will make sure you have a solid toolkit of grounding and calming techniques. This phase is especially important for adolescents. You will learn strategies to help you feel settled and safe, both during sessions and in your everyday life. Your comfort and emotional safety are the foundation everything else is built on.
Processing the Memory
This is the phase that most people associate with EMDR. You will be guided to bring a specific distressing memory to mind while engaging in what is called bilateral stimulation. This typically involves following your psychologist’s finger as it moves from side to side, or experiencing gentle taps or tones that alternate between the left and right sides of your body.
Researchers believe this bilateral stimulation mimics the kind of brain activity that naturally occurs during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, the stage of sleep during which the brain processes and consolidates experiences. By activating this process while holding the distressing memory in mind, the emotional intensity of the memory tends to reduce over time. Many people describe it as the memory becoming more distant or less sharp, though it is important to understand that results vary between individuals and sessions.
Closure and Review
Each session wraps up with stabilisation, ensuring you feel grounded before you leave. Over time, your psychologist will check in on progress and adjust the approach as needed. EMDR is always tailored to the individual.
According to experts, trauma-focused therapies such as EMDR have strong evidence for reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress across different age groups, including young people.
What Can EMDR Therapy Help With?
EMDR therapy is perhaps best known for its use with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but its applications extend well beyond that. It is often used to help adolescents and adults process a wide range of distressing experiences, including:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and emotional numbness following a traumatic event
- Anxiety and panic: Persistent worry, physical symptoms of anxiety, or panic attacks that may be linked to past experiences
- Childhood trauma or abuse: Experiences of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse that continue to affect daily life
- Bullying and social trauma: The lasting impact of being targeted, excluded, or humiliated, which can be particularly significant during adolescent years
- Grief and loss: Processing the death of a loved one or other significant losses
- Phobias: Intense fears that may have developed in response to a past experience
- Low self-esteem: Persistent negative beliefs about oneself that stem from difficult past events
It is also worth noting that EMDR is not limited to what some clinicians refer to as “big T” trauma, meaning large-scale, acute events. It can be equally effective in addressing “small t” trauma: repeated, lower-level distressing experiences that, over time, have had a cumulative impact on a person’s wellbeing. For adolescents, this might include years of social difficulties, ongoing criticism, or a persistent sense of not belonging.
You do not have to face difficult experiences alone. A trained psychologist can guide you through each step at your own pace, and there is no pressure to share more than you feel comfortable with.
A qualified psychologist will always conduct a thorough assessment to determine whether EMDR is appropriate before any treatment begins. It is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and the right fit matters.
What Should You Expect When Seeing a Psychologist?
For many young people, the idea of seeing a psychologist for the first time can feel uncertain or even intimidating. That is completely understandable. Here is what the experience is generally like, so you know what to expect.
Your first appointment is largely a conversation. Your psychologist will introduce themselves, explain how the session works, and give you the opportunity to share what has brought you in. There is no pressure to disclose everything straight away. Building a comfortable, trusting relationship with your psychologist comes first, and that takes time.
EMDR sessions typically run between 50 and 90 minutes. In the early stages of treatment, sessions focus on assessment and building coping skills before any memory processing begins. This is a deliberate and important part of the process, not something to rush through.
If attending your first appointment feels easier with a parent, carer, or trusted adult alongside you, that is a completely reasonable request to make. Many adolescents find this helpful, and your psychologist can discuss with you how to structure the involvement of others in a way that supports your comfort and privacy.
All psychologists in Australia are registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), which means they are held to a strict professional and ethical standard of care. You can feel confident that your wellbeing is the priority.
It is also worth knowing that what you share with your psychologist is confidential. This means your conversations are private and are not shared without your consent. There are limited legal exceptions to this, including situations where there may be a risk of harm to yourself or others, in which case your psychologist is required by law to take appropriate action. Your psychologist will explain this clearly at the start of your sessions.
Taking the Next Step
Trauma does not have to define you. Whether you are a young person carrying experiences you have never felt able to talk about, or a parent or carer trying to find the right support for someone you love, understanding that effective, evidence-based help is available is an important first step.
EMDR therapy offers a structured, well-researched pathway to processing difficult memories and reducing their hold on your daily life. It is delivered by trained psychologists in a safe, supported environment, and it is designed to move at a pace that feels right for you. Research continues to affirm its effectiveness, particularly for trauma-related concerns in young people, and it is increasingly available through psychology practices across Australia.
If you would like to find out whether EMDR therapy could be the right next step for you or a young person in your life, the compassionate team at Inner View Psychology is ready to help. Reaching out is a sign of strength, and you do not have to navigate this alone. Get in touch today to book a consultation and take the first step toward feeling better.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or psychological advice. It is not a substitute for professional assessment, diagnosis, or treatment by a registered health professional. Individual results from EMDR therapy may vary. If you or someone you know is in crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, please call 000 or contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
