EMDR Therapy at Lakeside Rooms — **Trauma and emotional distress can linger in the mind and body long after an event has passed.**
For many, traditional talk therapy alone isn’t always enough. That’s where EMDR therapy — Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing — can offer a unique and alternative treatment pathway.

What Is EMDR Therapy?

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy approach that helps people recover from traumatic experiences and distressing life events. Unlike traditional therapies, EMDR doesn’t require clients to talk in detail about their trauma. Instead, it focuses on reprocessing unprocessed memories through guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation.

This method can help to reduce the intensity of painful memories by supporting the brain’s natural ability to heal. With the guidance of your treating psychologist, you can be led to briefly revisit a disturbing memory while engaging in eye movements guided by a therapist, which helps the brain reprocess the memory in a healthier way. Another approach involves resource installation, which involves working together with your psychologist, thinking of ways you want to see yourself managing future situations.

How Does EMDR Work?

When we experience trauma, our brain’s natural processing system can become overwhelmed, leaving us “stuck” in the moment — emotionally and physically. EMDR stimulates communication between key parts of the brain:

Amygdala, which signals danger
Hippocampus, which helps us understand context
Prefrontal cortex, which manages decision-making and emotional regulation

Through EMDR, distressing memories are reprocessed so they no longer trigger intense emotional or physical responses. The memory remains, but the emotional charge is reduced, allowing the person to move forward.

What Can EMDR Help With?

EMDR was originally developed to treat PTSD but is now used to address a broad range of challenges, including:

Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias
Depression and bipolar disorder
Chronic pain and medical issues
Grief and loss
Eating disorders
Sleep disturbance
Addiction and substance abuse
Sexual and physical abuse
Performance anxiety and more

EMDR can be suitable for children, teens, and adults, and is adapted to meet the needs of each individual.

How Is EMDR Different from Other Therapies?

Unlike many therapies, EMDR doesn’t focus on changing thoughts or reshaping behaviours through discussion or homework activities. EMDR works by jump-starting the brain's natural healing mechanisms. This means EDMR can be helpful for people who struggle to talk about their trauma or who haven’t found success with other methods.

Recognised by the World Health Organization

EMDR therapy is endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the recommended treatments for PTSD in both adults and children. In its 2013 guidelines, WHO stated that trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and EMDR are the only psychotherapies recommended for treating PTSD across all age groups.

Medicare Coverage in Australia

In Australia, EMDR is covered under Medicare when delivered by a registered clinical psychologist or other eligible mental health professional as part of a Mental Health Treatment Plan. This means you may be able to access EMDR therapy with rebates under Medicare, making it more accessible and affordable.

Supported by Evidence-Based Research

Numerous studies have supported the effectiveness of EMDR. Research by Maxfield (2019) and Van der Kolk et al. (2007) highlights its powerful results, including superior outcomes to medications like Prozac in some cases. Ongoing research continues to support its use for a broad range of psychological conditions.

Lakeside Rooms has practitioners who provide EMDR treatment.

Contact us today to learn more.