EMDR


What is EMDR?
EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing - is a powerful psychological therapy used to treat the effects of trauma. We can suffer trauma from a variety of overwhelming life events that may have occurred at any point in our lives. This can leave us with psychological injuries that result in challenges in maintaining our mental health.
 
These challenges can manifest in many ways leaving us feeling tired, unmotivated, lacking joy in our lives, with excessive worry, lack of focus. Worse still we can suffer from intrusive thoughts, flashbacks and nightmares – intolerable symptoms that can stop us in our tracks.
 
Trauma
Trauma comes in many forms and is not only limited to major events. Trauma has been defined as any event having lasting negative effect. Triggers are often related to causes from earlier life experiences.
 
Healing trauma
The body has an inbuilt system for processing trauma so that we can learn from these experiences. Due to the nature of some traumas this processing can become stuck leaving us in negative states.
 
EMDR Therapy
EMDR Therapy works on a physiological level allowing new insights, associations and emotions to emerge spontaneously, facilitating the inbuilt processing system to free up and function. Traumas can then be processed no matter how long ago they occurred.
 
Further details, costs etc at EMDRBristol.org
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EMDR featured on BBC Radio 4s programme iPM. The programme tells the story of a woman revisiting intense experiences of being bullied very early in life. Listen here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04jyv3y
If you are interested in this therapy please get in touch by phone 07790505748 or email ashley@ashleyrussell.org.uk
I am member of the EMDR Association UK and Ireland and registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
"Ashley created a safe space where I felt comfortable enough to revisit my past trauma. 
Over the years I had developed some ritualistic behaviour's as a coping mechanism - these behaviour's were having a negative impact on my life and in particular my current relationship. 
After a few sessions with Ashley my rituals were happening less and less and I can now say they have stopped completely. 
I feel so much stronger after having EMDR with Ashley and have developed the skills to accept what had happened in my past and no longer blame myself.
I kept my trauma hidden for many years and I now feel so much lighter and able to let go. 
Ashley was professional throughout and I will forever be grateful.​"
- Jennifer
"I met Ashley when I decided to try EMDR. I suffer from panic attacks and I had heard that EMDR can be extremely effective in treating them. Right from the start I found Ashley to be extremely clear, informative, well - paced and thorough. I always felt he had my best interests in mind and I felt totally safe and supported at all times. He also took time to help me develop practical tools to be able to deal with my panic which have proven to be very effective and which I continue to use. His approach is attentive, empowering  and professional and I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending him."
​ - Leonora