Discovering Inner Peace with Sarah Mckimm Counselling

Helping you process experiences that still feel stuck

Sometimes something happened a long time ago, but your mind and body haven’t quite got the memo that it’s over.

You might know logically that you’re safe now, yet a sound, smell, place, person or situation can suddenly bring a wave of panic, fear, anger or distress.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a therapeutic approach that can help you process distressing experiences and memories that continue to affect how you feel, think and respond in the present.

I offer EMDR therapy in Seacroft, East Leeds and online, as part of my wider integrative counselling practice.

My approach remains person-centred, trauma-informed and collaborative. EMDR isn’t something that is simply “done to you”. We work together, at your pace, and you remain in control throughout.

When the past doesn’t feel like the past

Think of trauma as an uninvited guest.

Something happened, and although you thought you’d dealt with it, the guest keeps popping in when you least expect them.

You hear a horn.

A whistle outside.

A knock at the door.

Suddenly your heart is racing. Your body jumps. Your breathing changes. Panic starts to rise.

Your body is reacting as though there is an immediate, life-threatening threat.

But there isn’t.

It’s just the postman.

Your thinking brain might know that. Your nervous system doesn’t seem to have received the message.

This is one way of understanding what can happen after trauma. Your brain and body can continue to respond to reminders of what happened as though the danger is happening now, rather than recognising it as something that happened then.

You might find yourself thinking:

• “Why am I reacting like this?”
• “I know I’m safe, so why do I feel terrified?”
• “Why can’t I just get over it?”
• “I should be past this by now.”

You aren’t choosing the reaction.

Your nervous system is trying to protect you.

EMDR can help your brain process the experience so that reminders are less likely to set off the same intense response.

What is EMDR?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing.

It is a psychological therapy developed to help people recover from distressing and traumatic experiences. EMDR is best known for treating PTSD, but can also be helpful when difficult experiences contribute to anxiety, depression, phobias, shame, low self-esteem and other emotional difficulties. (EMDR UK Association⁠)

When something overwhelming happens, the memory may not be processed in the same way as an ordinary everyday memory.

Parts of the experience can remain particularly vivid or emotionally charged.

You might remember what happened through an image, a sound, a feeling, a physical sensation or a belief about yourself.

EMDR aims to help you process these experiences so that the memory can become less distressing and less disruptive in your life now. (EMDR UK Association⁠)

EMDR is recognised by NICE as a treatment option for PTSD. (EMDR UK Association⁠)

How does EMDR work?

EMDR uses something called bilateral stimulation (BLS).

This means stimulating both sides of the body alternately. Depending on what feels comfortable for you, this might involve:

• following movements with your eyes
• alternating sounds
• alternating taps or other forms of tactile stimulation

As you bring aspects of an experience to mind while using bilateral stimulation, your brain is supported to process the memory differently. (EMDR UK Association⁠)

You may notice memories, thoughts, emotions, body sensations or new connections appearing.

There is no “right” thing that you should notice.

Your brain may make connections that you weren’t consciously aware of before.

You don’t have to tell me everything

One of the things people sometimes worry about when considering trauma therapy is:

“I’m going to have to tell someone everything that happened.”

You don’t necessarily have to.

EMDR isn’t about forcing you to relive an experience or describe every detail.

We work collaboratively and carefully, taking into account your current circumstances, your ability to manage difficult emotions and what feels safe and appropriate for you.

Before processing memories, we spend time developing resources and strategies to help you manage emotional activation.

We don’t simply open the door to the difficult stuff and hope for the best.

Safety and preparation come first.

What happens during EMDR therapy?

1. We get to know you

Before starting EMDR processing, we spend time understanding your history, what has brought you to counselling and what you would like support with.

The therapeutic relationship matters.

You need to feel comfortable enough to say, “I don’t want to do that today,” or “Can we slow down?”

2. We build safety and resources

We develop strategies to help you regulate and manage difficult emotions.

This can include grounding, breathing, visualisation and creating a safe or calming place that you can return to during and between sessions.

3. We identify what you would like to work on

Together, we explore the experiences, memories, beliefs or current triggers that you would like to address.

Sometimes the thing that brings you to therapy isn’t the original event itself. It may be the way that event continues to affect your sense of safety, relationships, confidence or view of yourself.

4. We begin processing when you’re ready

When we agree that you’re ready, we begin EMDR processing using bilateral stimulation.

I will guide you through the process while you notice what comes up.

You remain awake, aware and in control.

You can pause or stop at any point.

5. We notice what changes

As processing takes place, you may notice shifts in thoughts, emotions, physical sensations or beliefs.

Something that once felt overwhelming may begin to feel more distant.

A belief such as “It’s my fault” may begin to change.

You may begin to recognise:

“It happened to me, but it isn’t happening to me now.”

What can EMDR help with?

EMDR is particularly well known for helping with trauma and PTSD, but it can also be considered where difficult or overwhelming experiences are contributing to other difficulties. (EMDR UK Association⁠)

Depending on your individual circumstances, EMDR may be helpful for:

• Trauma and PTSD
• Distressing or overwhelming experiences
• Anxiety and panic
• Phobias and fears
• Traumatic bereavement and loss
• Shame and guilt
• Low self-esteem
• Difficult experiences within relationships
• Experiences that have affected your sense of safety or trust
• Memories that continue to trigger strong emotional or physical reactions
• Difficult experiences that continue to affect you in the present

EMDR isn’t necessarily the right approach for everyone or every difficulty.

As an integrative counsellor, I will work with you to explore what feels appropriate for you. Sometimes that may be EMDR, sometimes another therapeutic approach, and sometimes a combination.

What might EMDR change?

EMDR doesn’t erase your memories.

It doesn’t change the fact that something happened.

Instead, the aim is to reduce the emotional intensity and distress associated with the memory, so that it can become something you remember rather than something your body continues to experience as an immediate threat.

You may notice:

• memories feel less vivid or distressing
• reminders don’t trigger the same level of panic
• your body feels calmer
• difficult emotions become easier to manage
• negative beliefs about yourself begin to change
• you feel safer in the present
• you have a different perspective on what happened
• you feel less controlled by the past
• you can respond rather than automatically react

Everyone’s experience is different, and processing can continue between sessions. We regularly review how you are feeling and what you are noticing.

EMDR and the nervous system

Trauma isn’t just something that happens in your thoughts.

It can be experienced throughout your body.

Your heart might race.

Your stomach might drop.

Your muscles might tense.

You might feel frozen, shaky, sick, breathless or suddenly desperate to escape.

Sometimes your body reacts before your thinking brain has had time to work out what is happening.

That’s why you can find yourself jumping at a noise or feeling overwhelmed by something that doesn’t appear threatening to anybody else.

Your reaction isn’t ridiculous. Your nervous system is responding to something it has learned to associate with danger.

Part of trauma recovery can involve helping your brain and body learn that the danger has passed.

A person-centred approach to EMDR

Although EMDR provides a structured therapeutic framework, you are still at the centre of the work.

My foundation is person-centred counselling, meaning that the therapeutic relationship is central.

I offer a space based on empathy, acceptance and non-judgement, where you can explore your experiences without having to justify or minimise them.

We don’t work to a stopwatch or force you through a predetermined process.

We work collaboratively, checking in with what you need and what feels manageable.

You remain in the driving seat.

EMDR therapy in Leeds and online

I offer EMDR therapy in Seacroft, East Leeds, from my counselling practice at Prospect Park, as well as online EMDR sessions across the UK.

Online EMDR can be an effective and accessible option for people who feel more comfortable processing from their own home.

I use a secure online setup and will guide you through the bilateral stimulation process.

Sessions are 50 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions about EMDR

Will I have to talk about everything that happened?

No.

EMDR does involve bringing aspects of an experience to mind, but you don’t necessarily have to describe every detail.

We work at a pace that feels manageable and appropriate for you.

Is EMDR like hypnosis?

No.

EMDR is not hypnosis.

You remain awake, aware and in control throughout the session. You can pause or stop the process whenever you want. (EMDR Association UK⁠)

Will EMDR make me relive the trauma?

The aim isn’t to make you relive the experience.

You may notice memories, emotions, images or body sensations as part of processing, but EMDR is structured around helping you process the experience rather than simply repeatedly talking about it.

We also spend time preparing and developing resources before processing particularly distressing memories.

Can EMDR make me feel worse?

Processing difficult experiences can sometimes bring up thoughts, memories or emotions that you haven’t noticed for a while. Some people also notice changes such as more vivid memories or dreams between sessions. (EMDR Association UK⁠)

This is one reason why preparation, pacing and ongoing therapeutic support are important.

We regularly check how you are managing and whether EMDR remains appropriate.

How many EMDR sessions will I need?

There isn’t a fixed number.

Some people may work on a specific event over a relatively small number of sessions, while people with multiple or longstanding traumatic experiences may need longer.

We will review your progress together rather than trying to fit you into a predetermined number of sessions.

Can I have EMDR online?

Yes.

EMDR can be adapted for online therapy, and I offer online sessions alongside face-to-face EMDR in East Leeds.

We will make sure you are comfortable with the technology and understand how the process works before beginning EMDR processing.

Can EMDR help with anxiety?

EMDR is best known for treating PTSD and trauma-related difficulties, but it can also be helpful when anxiety has developed or been maintained following a distressing or overwhelming experience. (EMDR UK Association⁠)

During an initial conversation, we can explore whether EMDR is appropriate for what you’re experiencing.

What if I become overwhelmed during EMDR?

You can stop.

Seriously.

You are not expected to push through something simply because we’ve started processing.

We will develop ways of grounding and regulating before beginning EMDR, and I will continue checking in with you throughout the process.

You remain in control.

Do I need to have PTSD to have EMDR?

No.

A formal PTSD diagnosis isn’t necessarily required to explore whether EMDR could be appropriate.

EMDR may be considered when distressing experiences continue to affect your thoughts, emotions, body or behaviour, even if you don’t identify with the label of PTSD.

We will consider your individual circumstances and whether EMDR is suitable for you.

What if I don’t know what my “trauma” is?

That’s okay.

You don’t have to arrive with a neat label or a perfectly organised timeline of everything that has happened to you.

Sometimes people know exactly which memory they want to work on.

Sometimes they simply know:

“Something isn’t right, and I don’t understand why I react like this.”

That’s something we can explore together.

Is EMDR right for you?

You don’t need to know whether EMDR is definitely what you need before getting in touch.

If you feel that something from your past is still affecting you in the present, we can talk about what you’re experiencing and explore whether EMDR may be appropriate.

You may have spent years trying to understand why you react the way you do.

Perhaps your mind says “I’m safe”, while your body keeps shouting “DANGER!”

EMDR can offer a different way of working with those experiences.

You don’t have to keep fighting with your past.

We can explore whether it’s time to help your brain and body understand that the danger has passed.

If you’d like to find out more about EMDR therapy or arrange an initial conversation, get in touch.