What to know before starting EMDR therapy
EMDR therapy can be delivered in a range of ways, and finding a therapist who is a good fit can feel overwhelming, especially when you're already carrying a lot. I've put together a few points to help you make the most of your EMDR therapy experience, based on my perspective as a psychologist practising in Coffs Harbour.
Consider an EMDRAA accredited therapist
Finding a well-trained EMDR therapist means your experience is more likely to be helpful.
In Australia, the EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA) is the professional peak body representing EMDR practitioners and researchers. EMDRAA Accreditation recognises clinicians who have completed additional supervision and practice hours, demonstrated through Practitioner or Consultant Accreditation.
If you'd like to find an EMDRAA-accredited therapist in your area, you can use the search tool here.
Choose a therapist you trust and feel comfortable with
A felt sense of safety with a therapist is crucial to good therapeutic care. There's a therapist for everyone out there, so it's okay if it takes time to find one who feels like a good fit.
Some things that can help during this process: a therapist who is transparent and explains what's happening and why as you go, and one who checks in on pace and intensity throughout, guided by your needs rather than a fixed script.
Ask whether a somatic or body-based approach might help
Some people find it useful to bring in a somatic or body-based approach alongside EMDR, especially if you notice you tend to feel distressed, dissociated, or overwhelmed by your nervous system during sessions. This isn't necessary for everyone, but it's worth raising with your therapist if it sounds relevant to you.
Consider your goals for therapy
Rather than focusing only on symptom reduction, it can help to think about what you’re hoping to want after a round of EMDR therapy. What would you be doing differently? What do you want more of in your life, and what do you want less of? Having a clear sense of why you're doing this work gives you something to hold onto when therapy gets difficult to move through.
Take time before and after your sessions
For some people, EMDR reprocessing sessions can lead to feeling more sensitive days after a session. If it works for you, it can help to arrive 5-10 minutes early to settle in, and to keep the afternoon after your session a little slower. Something like a walk, a quiet drive home, whatever helps you resettle. Building in this space before and after your session means you're actively supporting the resourcing and grounding skills your nervous system is needing.
Learn about EMDR in your own time
If you find yourself wanting to understand more about EMDR before starting with a therapist, it's worth doing a little reading beforehand. Getting Past Your Past by Francine Shapiro, the founder of EMDR therapy, explains how EMDR works, gives examples of how it has supported others, and includes some self-use techniques that may be appropriate for certain clients to explore in their own time.
Know that pausing or slowing down is part of the process
EMDR isn't a straight line, and needing to slow down, take a break between phases, is often a typical part of the work. A good EMDR therapist will treat this as part of safely pacing the work.
Consider whether an EMDR Intensive might suit you
For some people, particularly those with limited availability for weekly sessions or who are already familiar with EMDR, an EMDR Intensive can be a helpful alternative to the traditional weekly model. It isn't the right fit for everyone, and readiness matters, but it's worth knowing the option exists if you're weighing up your approach to EMDR.
If you're still deciding whether EMDR is the right therapy for you, it's worth starting with the basics of how it works and who it tends to suit before thinking about the format.
I'm Maejoy Obach, a Clinical Psychologist and Accredited EMDR Practitioner. My work is grounded in kapwa - the belief that healing happens in connection, not in isolation. I offer trauma informed, relational therapy in Coffs Harbour and via telehealth across Australia, including EMDR Intensives for people wanting more focused, concentrated work. If anything here resonates, I'd love to hear from you.
