EMDR THERAPY
What to expect in an EMDR therapy session
How EMDR sessions are prepared, what happens during the work and why the pace is tailored to you.
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By Elena Krechko · Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC, BCACC), ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC), EMDR Europe Certified Practitioner and accredited clinical psychologist in Russia.
The experiences and feelings we try to avoid can still influence how we respond to life. You may look back and think, “If only I had said something different,” or tell yourself that you ought to be stronger, calmer or more successful. Trying to suppress the parts of yourself you dislike can be exhausting.
In therapy, we can explore these experiences with care rather than treating them as another reason to criticise yourself. The aim is to understand difficult patterns and find more supportive ways of responding to yourself.
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It is a structured therapy used by trained practitioners to work with traumatic memories and related distress. Assessment, preparation and a plan for ending each session safely are part of the process. Suitability, pace and outcomes vary; EMDR is not a promise of rapid change for every concern. Read more from the EMDR Association UK.
In our work, we may explore a pattern: when it began, the beliefs or inner critical messages connected with it, and how it affects your feelings and behaviour. We discuss the proposed approach and its limitations before proceeding, and review how the work is affecting you.
What happens during a session?
My standard session lasts 90 minutes. Please arrange enough time to be present throughout, without trying to work or attend to other tasks at the same time.
Group sessions take place on Zoom. In this format, participants join without video and are not asked to share personal information with the group. This is intended to support privacy; we also discuss the practical limits of confidentiality in an online group.
I guide the session and explain each activity. Depending on the agreed format, you may be invited to bring to mind an image connected with a concern and notice thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations while following guided bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping. These activities are guided within the session rather than offered here as a self-treatment exercise.
Choosing a topic
You can discuss a current concern about your own circumstances or something affecting people close to you. We consider whether the topic and the group format are appropriate before you take part. Not every concern is suitable for group work.
What to prepare
Is a group session suitable for you?
Please contact me before booking if you have a diagnosed mental health condition, including a dissociative disorder, have had a stroke within the past year, or have epilepsy or another seizure condition. These circumstances require an individual discussion of suitability and any additional professional input.
Do not attend a session while intoxicated. A scheduled group is not an emergency service or a suitable substitute for urgent individual support if you are at immediate risk of harming yourself.
Understanding and agreeing to the work
Before individual or group work, we discuss the format, suitability, possible difficulties, privacy and your questions. You can tell me if an activity feels overwhelming and discuss whether to pause or stop. Reading this article or making a booking does not replace that conversation or informed consent.
Request a free introductory conversation · 15–20 minutes
Explore counselling and coaching · Email Elena
By Elena Krechko · Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC, BCACC), ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC), EMDR Europe Certified Practitioner and accredited clinical psychologist in Russia.
The experiences and feelings we try to avoid can still influence how we respond to life. You may look back and think, “If only I had said something different,” or tell yourself that you ought to be stronger, calmer or more successful. Trying to suppress the parts of yourself you dislike can be exhausting.
In therapy, we can explore these experiences with care rather than treating them as another reason to criticise yourself. The aim is to understand difficult patterns and find more supportive ways of responding to yourself.
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It is a structured therapy used by trained practitioners to work with traumatic memories and related distress. Assessment, preparation and a plan for ending each session safely are part of the process. Suitability, pace and outcomes vary; EMDR is not a promise of rapid change for every concern. Read more from the EMDR Association UK.
In our work, we may explore a pattern: when it began, the beliefs or inner critical messages connected with it, and how it affects your feelings and behaviour. We discuss the proposed approach and its limitations before proceeding, and review how the work is affecting you.
What happens during a session?
My standard session lasts 90 minutes. Please arrange enough time to be present throughout, without trying to work or attend to other tasks at the same time.
Group sessions take place on Zoom. In this format, participants join without video and are not asked to share personal information with the group. This is intended to support privacy; we also discuss the practical limits of confidentiality in an online group.
I guide the session and explain each activity. Depending on the agreed format, you may be invited to bring to mind an image connected with a concern and notice thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations while following guided bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping. These activities are guided within the session rather than offered here as a self-treatment exercise.
Choosing a topic
You can discuss a current concern about your own circumstances or something affecting people close to you. We consider whether the topic and the group format are appropriate before you take part. Not every concern is suitable for group work.
What to prepare
- A quiet, private place where you can focus.
- A pen and two sheets of paper, including an A4 sheet.
- Coloured pencils, if you would like to use them.
- Time to arrive promptly and remain for the whole session.
Is a group session suitable for you?
Please contact me before booking if you have a diagnosed mental health condition, including a dissociative disorder, have had a stroke within the past year, or have epilepsy or another seizure condition. These circumstances require an individual discussion of suitability and any additional professional input.
Do not attend a session while intoxicated. A scheduled group is not an emergency service or a suitable substitute for urgent individual support if you are at immediate risk of harming yourself.
Understanding and agreeing to the work
Before individual or group work, we discuss the format, suitability, possible difficulties, privacy and your questions. You can tell me if an activity feels overwhelming and discuss whether to pause or stop. Reading this article or making a booking does not replace that conversation or informed consent.
Request a free introductory conversation · 15–20 minutes
Explore counselling and coaching · Email Elena