Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy in Melbourne and Online
Support for trauma, distressing experiences and memories that continue to affect the present
Sometimes an experience may be over, but its emotional impact can continue.
You may notice that certain memories, situations, sensations or relationships still trigger fear, anxiety, shame, sadness or a sense of being overwhelmed — even when you know that the experience is in the past.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy approach, with particularly strong evidence for the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and trauma-related difficulties.
EMDR aims to support the processing of distressing memories so that they may become less emotionally intense and have less influence on present-day thoughts, emotions, physical reactions and behaviour.
Phuong Tran is an experienced Clinical Psychotherapist, Clinical Counsellor and EMDR Therapist with more than 16 years of clinical experience across public mental health, hospitals, schools, community mental health, Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), aged care, cancer and palliative care, and private practice.
PACFA Registered Clinical Counsellor | ACA Level 4 Registered Counsellor | EMDRAA Full Member
EMDR Therapy is available face-to-face in St Albans, Melbourne, and online where clinically appropriate.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing.
It is a structured psychotherapy approach developed to help people process traumatic or distressing experiences that may continue to influence emotions, beliefs, physical reactions and behaviour.
During EMDR processing, you may be invited to briefly bring aspects of a distressing memory to mind while engaging in bilateral stimulation — often guided eye movements, but sometimes other alternating forms of stimulation.
The purpose is not to erase the memory.
Instead, therapy aims to help the memory become more fully processed so that recalling it may feel less intense, less immediate and less disruptive to your present life.
You remain awake, aware and in control throughout the process.
What Can EMDR Help With?
EMDR is particularly well established as a treatment for PTSD and trauma-related difficulties.
It may be considered for people experiencing:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Childhood or developmental trauma
Abuse, neglect or interpersonal trauma
Accidents or medical trauma
Distressing or intrusive memories
Grief or traumatic loss
Anxiety connected with past experiences
Fear, shame or negative beliefs linked to difficult events
Bullying or significant relational experiences
Reactions to illness, medical treatment or other overwhelming experiences
EMDR may also be incorporated into therapy for other concerns when clinically appropriate.
Not every difficulty is caused by unresolved trauma, and EMDR is not necessarily the best treatment for every person. Suitability is considered carefully before trauma processing begins.
You Do Not Have to Tell Every Detail
One concern people sometimes have about trauma therapy is:
“Will I have to tell the whole story again?”
Not necessarily.
EMDR does not require you to describe every detail of a distressing experience aloud.
Enough information is discussed for Phuong to understand the clinical context, assess safety and work collaboratively with you, but the emphasis is on helping you process the experience rather than repeatedly retelling it.
You can also let Phuong know when something feels too difficult to discuss in detail.
EMDR Is More Than Eye Movements
EMDR is a phased and structured therapy.
Trauma processing does not automatically begin in the first appointment.
Your work may include:
1. Assessment & Understanding
Phuong will take time to understand what is bringing you to therapy, your history, current difficulties, strengths and goals.
Together, you will consider whether EMDR is appropriate for your needs.
2. Preparation
Before processing difficult memories, time may be spent developing emotional regulation, grounding and other resources to help you remain within a manageable level of distress.
For some people this preparation is relatively brief. Others may benefit from more time before beginning trauma processing.
3. Identifying Relevant Memories
When appropriate, you and Phuong identify experiences or memories that may be connected to your present symptoms or difficulties.
4. Reprocessing
During processing, Phuong guides you through the EMDR protocol while using bilateral stimulation such as eye movements.
You remain in control and can pause at any time.
5. Review & Integration
Progress is reviewed between sessions and treatment is adjusted according to your responses, needs and goals.
EMDR is not something that is done to you. It is a collaborative therapeutic process.
What Might Change Through EMDR?
After successful processing, the memory is still there, but it may feel different.
People may notice that:
The memory feels less emotionally intense
Intrusive thoughts, images or physical reactions reduce
Triggers feel easier to manage
The experience feels more clearly located in the past rather than happening again in the present
Every person’s response is different.
The number of sessions required depends on the nature and complexity of the experiences, current circumstances, treatment goals and individual readiness. There is no fixed number of sessions and no guarantee of a particular outcome.
Is EMDR Right for Me?
EMDR may be worth considering if:
A past experience continues to feel emotionally present
You experience intrusive memories, nightmares or strong triggers
You understand what happened but still feel emotionally stuck
Talking about the experience alone has not brought the change you hoped for
You experience strong emotional or physical reactions linked to certain memories
You would like to explore trauma-focused therapy with an experienced clinician
EMDR may not be the most appropriate starting point for everyone.
Phuong will consider factors such as current safety, emotional stability, coping capacity, medical and mental health needs, dissociation, available support and treatment goals before beginning trauma processing.
Where EMDR is not appropriate at that time, other therapeutic approaches may be discussed.
EMDR for Complex Trauma
When someone has experienced repeated, prolonged or developmental trauma, therapy may require a different pace from treatment focused on a single traumatic event.
The work may place greater emphasis on:
Safety and stabilisation
Emotional regulation
Building internal and external resources
Understanding trauma responses
Strengthening trust and therapeutic safety
Carefully paced processing
There is no need to rush into difficult memories.
The pace of therapy is guided by your needs, readiness and capacity to remain safely engaged in the work.
EMDR Therapy with Phuong
Phuong’s approach to EMDR is trauma-informed, collaborative and carefully paced.
Rather than focusing only on a technique, therapy considers the whole person — including your experiences, relationships, culture, strengths, current circumstances and readiness for trauma processing.
Phuong brings more than 16 years of clinical experience across mental health, healthcare, community services and private practice, with particular experience in trauma, complex mental health concerns, grief and loss, chronic illness, cancer and palliative care.
PACFA Registered Clinical Counsellor | ACA Level 4 Registered Counsellor | EMDRAA Full Member
English & Vietnamese | Face-to-Face & Online where clinically appropriate
EMDR Therapy may be appropriate for some people experiencing trauma-related difficulties, particularly PTSD. Suitability is considered through assessment, taking into account your history, current circumstances, preferences and treatment goals. As with other therapeutic approaches, individual experiences and outcomes vary.
