Exploring EMDR

It’s been a while since I last posted, and I’m glad to finally share an update. During my time away from the blog, I’m pleased to share that I’ve completed my ADI-R (Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised) training as well as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) Part One training. EMDR is a powerful, evidence-based approach for helping individuals process and move through difficult or traumatic memories.

Going through the training was both intellectually stimulating and personally meaningful. I’ve come away with a much deeper understanding of how trauma can be stored in the body and how EMDR can support clients in accessing and reprocessing these experiences in a safe and structured way.

One of the most striking things I learned during training is that EMDR doesn’t always feel dramatic or immediate. From my own experience as a participant during training, the shifts are often subtle. You may not walk away from a session feeling an overwhelming sense of relief or change, but over time, something begins to move. Memories that once felt stuck or emotionally charged start to lose their intensity. The process allows the brain and body to do what they were meant to do: heal.

EMDR also encourages a deepened connection to the body. Clients are invited to tune in to physical sensations, emotions, and thoughts as part of the process. This mindfulness-like awareness is one of the keys to unlocking where distress is held and how it can be transformed.

As I begin integrating EMDR with suitable clients in my clinical work, I’m aware that this is a new skill set, which will evolve with time and practice. Like with any therapeutic approach, there will be a learning curve. Sessions may feel a little clunky at first, but I’m committed to continuing my growth and offering this method responsibly and thoughtfully to suitable clients.

My hope is that this modality will assist clients who have been carrying unresolved pain, particularly those who have that haven’t responded to more traditional talk therapy. EMDR offers a way to reprocess painful memories into more adaptive, manageable ones, allowing for relief, insight, and forward movement.

(p.s. I've just completed the Part One training today and am already planning on completing Part 2 either by the end of this year or early next year to be a fully certified EMDR therapist! Can you hear my excitement ? There is so much more to learn! )

And one more note, to keep up with the times, I wrote this blog post with the assistance of an AI tool. It’s part of my ongoing effort to engage creatively and transparently with the tools available to us.

Cheers,

Shannon