Question 1

What does EMDR stand for?

Accepted Answer

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing

Question 2

How does EMDR work?

Accepted Answer

EMDR helps make new connections in the brain to allow information to move more freely, which can help to process events from the past that have previously not been dealt with and are still causing problems now.

Question 3

What is the EMDR procedure?

Accepted Answer

You will receive something called Bilateral Stimulation to help connect the left and right side of the brain. This will allow the connections to form, which helps in the processing of past events.

Question 4

Does it have to involve eye movement?

Accepted Answer

No. In fact very few of my clients opt for the eye movement style. The stimulation is more commonly created by using headphones that deliver alternate beeps to the ears, or hand pulsators that vibrate alternately in each hand.

Question 5

What conditions can EMDR help with?

Accepted Answer

EMDR is considered the most effective treatment for PTSD and other serious trauma. However, it is also extremely effective for many other things such as depression, anxiety and phobias.

Question 6

Am I asleep during EMDR therapy?

Accepted Answer

No. You will be fully awake at all times. Many clients report feeling very relaxed when it is over but you are always awake.

Question 7

Is EMDR therapy the same as counselling?

Accepted Answer

No. EMDR is focused on a specific event or period of time in your past to help you process it so that it no longer has such an effect on your behaviour or thought processes now.
Regular counselling is more about having the space to explore your feeling and emotions surrounding things in your life.

Question 8

Why is EMDR so expensive?

Accepted Answer

Generally speaking EMDR does cost more than regular counselling sessions. However, EMDR is more targeted to a specific issue and results can be seen quite quickly. Sometimes even in a single session.

Those that struggle with the effects of trauma can often be in counselling for months or even years. EMDR therapy is designed to really focus on the cause of the problem and help to change the way it is perceived, which can mean great improvements are seen in a much shorter space of time.

Question 9

How long is an EMDR session?

Accepted Answer

We would have an initial session where I take more detailed information from you before we begin the EMDR therapy. This session can last between 60-90 minutes.
The EMDR therapy sessions where we target specific events are 90 minutes each.

Question 10

How many sessions of EMDR will I need?

Accepted Answer

Obviously, everyone is different and it very much depends on the nature of your particular trauma or unprocessed event.

However, it is not unusual for even a single session of EMDR to make a big difference to a person.

Question 11

Can EMDR help with anxiety?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. If you are anxious then it is likely that there is some sort of fear attached to how you feel. EMDR can help you identify the root cause of that fear and allow you to process and understand it so that situations in the future do not necessarily generate the same anxious responses from you.

Question 12

Is EMDR like being hypnotised?

Accepted Answer

No. Not only are you fully awake and aware of your surroundings, but your sessions do not involve me adding any suggestions or information into your head.
EMDR allows you to use all the information already in there that you may have missed so that your understanding of your past events can be more logical and accurate.

Question 13

Can we start EMDR therapy right away?

Accepted Answer

Our first contact will be to have an initial consultation where I can get an overview of how you are struggling, so we can be sure that EMDR therapy will be a good fit for you.
If that goes well for you, there will then follow a session where I take more detailed information and prepare you for the EMDR therapy.
Only then will you receive the EMDR therapy, so we can feel more confident we are targeting the right things.

Question 14

What happens at the initial consultation and how much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

The initial consultation is free of charge and generally lasts up to 1 hour.
Not only will I be gathering some basic information from you regarding how you are struggling, I can also explain more about how EMDR therapy works.

Question 15

How do I arrange an initial consultation?

Accepted Answer

Fill in the form on the contact page or send an email to nicolas_spooner@outlook.com saying you would like to arrange the consultation, along with a selection of days and times you could be available.
I will reply as soon as I can and we should be able to get you booked in pretty quickly.

Question 16

Can I do EMDR therapy online?

Accepted Answer

Technically, yes you can, however I choose to run my practice so that I only work with clients in person at my therapy room in Ainsdale.

There are therapists that offer EMDR online if that feels better for you.

Question 17

What are the opening hours for Southport EMDR?

Accepted Answer

My practice is open Monday - Friday.
I do offer evening sessions but they tend to get booked up well in advance.

Frequently asked questions