How EMDR Works in the Brain: The Mechanisms Behind the Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is best known as a therapy for trauma, but many people wonder: what actually happens in the brain during EMDR?
While research is still evolving, studies in neuroscience and psychology give us helpful insights into why EMDR can be such a powerful way of healing.
How EMDR Helps with Trauma
Learn how EMDR therapy helps heal trauma by reprocessing painful memories, easing distress, and restoring calm and resilience.
Understanding Polyvagal Theory: A New Lens on Safety, Connection, and Healing
When we feel anxious, shut down, or overwhelmed, it can be hard to understand why. Often, these responses aren’t just “in our head” - they’re deeply rooted in the body’s nervous system. Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, offers a compassionate and science-based way of understanding how our nervous system shapes our experience of safety, danger, and connection. As a clinical psychologist, I often draw on Polyvagal Theory to help clients make sense of their emotional and physiological responses - especially those shaped by trauma, chronic stress, or early relational wounds. What Is Polyvagal Theory? At its heart, Polyvagal Theory is about how […]
How EMDR can help anxiety
How Can EMDR Help Anxiety? Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns people face. It can show up in many ways—constant worry, difficulty relaxing, panic attacks, fear of failure or judgment, or a lingering sense that something bad might happen. For some, anxiety is linked to specific situations; for others, it can feel like a constant background hum. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy that can offer lasting relief—not just by managing symptoms, but by helping to resolve the underlying causes of anxiety. What Is EMDR? EMDR is a structured, evidence-based therapy originally developed […]
RAIN Approach: A Pathway to Emotional Healing
One powerful, gentle method for managing our thoughts and feelings comes from renowned psychologist and mindfulness teacher Tara Brach. Her approach, known as RAIN, offers a structured yet deeply compassionate way to meet difficult emotions and inner experiences with clarity, presence, and kindness. What is RAIN? RAIN is an acronym for four steps that help us bring mindfulness to emotional suffering: R – Recognise what is happening A – Allow the experience to be there, just as it is I – Investigate with interest and care N – Nurture with self-compassion Let’s explore each step more closely. R – […]
How Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Can Help
In recent years, Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy has gained growing recognition as a compassionate and effective approach for addressing a wide range of psychological difficulties. Rooted in evidence-based practice and grounded in a deep respect for the mind’s natural complexity, IFS offers a unique and empowering way for individuals to understand and heal their internal emotional worlds. But what exactly is IFS, and how can it support people struggling with psychological problems? Understanding Internal Family Systems Developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz in the 1980s, IFS is based on the idea that the mind is made up of different “parts” […]
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