Therapy & Counselling in Islington, London | City Road Therapy
EMDR Therapy
in Islington, London
EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing — is one of the most powerful and well-researched treatments available for trauma, PTSD, and a range of other difficulties. If you’ve been living with the effects of a traumatic experience, and other approaches haven’t fully resolved it, EMDR may be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
At City Road Therapy, our EMDR-trained therapists in Islington offer this specialist treatment in person at our Angel therapy rooms and via online therapy across London and the UK.
Book a free 15-minute consultation
You can either choose the therapist yourself or you can let us help you find a good match.
What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It was developed in the late 1980s by American psychologist Francine Shapiro, who noticed that certain eye movements appeared to reduce the intensity of disturbing thoughts. Since then, EMDR has been extensively researched and developed into a structured, evidence-based therapy used worldwide for trauma and beyond.
The core idea behind EMDR is that traumatic memories can become “stuck” — stored in the brain in a way that means they continue to trigger distress, as if the event were still happening. Unlike ordinary memories, which are processed and stored in a way that allows us to recall them without being overwhelmed, traumatic memories can remain raw and dysregulating for years or decades after the original event.
EMDR works by helping the brain reprocess these stuck memories. Using bilateral stimulation — typically guided eye movements, although tapping or auditory tones can also be used — EMDR appears to activate the brain’s natural information processing system, allowing traumatic memories to be processed and stored in a way that no longer triggers overwhelming distress.
Crucially, EMDR does not require you to talk through your trauma in detail. Many people find this a profound relief — particularly those who have struggled with approaches that required repeated verbal recounting of traumatic events.
EMDR is recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a first-line treatment for PTSD.
What EMDR can help with
EMDR was originally developed for trauma and PTSD, but its application has expanded significantly as research has grown. At City Road Therapy, our EMDR therapists work with:
Trauma and PTSD
EMDR is the treatment of choice for post-traumatic stress disorder — both single-incident trauma (accidents, assault, medical trauma) and complex, long-standing trauma (childhood abuse, prolonged domestic abuse, repeated adverse experiences). It is often faster than trauma-focused CBT for single-incident PTSD, with research showing significant improvement in 6–12 sessions for many clients. → Trauma Therapy in Islington
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)
For people with complex trauma histories — childhood abuse, developmental trauma, prolonged exposure to frightening circumstances — EMDR is used as part of a phased treatment approach, typically alongside stabilisation and relational work. It is particularly effective for processing specific traumatic memories within a broader therapeutic framework.
Anxiety and phobias
EMDR can be highly effective for anxiety rooted in specific past experiences — a traumatic event that triggered a phobia, a humiliating experience that drove social anxiety, or a series of events that created a pattern of hypervigilance. → Anxiety Therapy in Islington
Depression rooted in trauma
Where depression is connected to unprocessed past experiences — loss, abuse, significant relational failures — EMDR can address the underlying memories directly, often producing change that CBT or medication alone hasn’t achieved. → Depression Therapy in Islington
Eating disorders and body image
Where eating difficulties are connected to traumatic experiences — abuse, bullying, medical trauma, or other distressing experiences involving the body — EMDR can be a powerful part of the therapeutic work. → Eating Disorders Therapy in Islington
Grief and loss
For grief complicated by traumatic elements — a sudden death, a suicide loss, or a death witnessed — EMDR can help process the traumatic aspects of the loss that are preventing natural grieving from occurring. → Grief Counselling in Islington
If you’re not sure whether EMDR is appropriate for your specific situation, get in touch — our therapists are happy to advise.
What to expect from EMDR — how it actually works
EMDR follows a structured eight-phase protocol. At City Road Therapy, your therapist will always explain the process clearly before beginning, and will work at your pace throughout.
Phase 1 — History and assessment
Your therapist will take a detailed history and identify the specific memories and experiences that are the focus of treatment. This phase also involves identifying your current symptoms, resources, and goals.
Phase 2 — Preparation and stabilisation
Before any processing begins, your therapist will ensure you have the internal resources and coping skills to manage the material that will be worked on. This includes teaching grounding and containment techniques. This phase is never rushed — building stability is the foundation of safe EMDR work.
Phases 3–6 — Processing
The core processing phases. You will bring a specific target memory to mind — holding it with the associated image, negative belief, emotion, and body sensation — while following the therapist’s bilateral stimulation (typically guided eye movements). Sets of bilateral stimulation alternate with brief check-ins. Over time, the disturbance level of the memory reduces and a more adaptive perspective naturally emerges.
Phases 7–8 — Closure and re-evaluation
Each session ends with a closure phase to ensure you leave feeling stable. At the beginning of subsequent sessions, your therapist will review what has shifted and adjust the plan accordingly.
Typical duration
For single-incident trauma, significant improvement is often achieved in 6–12 sessions. Complex trauma typically requires a longer course of treatment, often 20 or more sessions. Your therapist will give you a realistic picture in your first session.
Important note: EMDR can sometimes feel emotionally intense during processing phases — memories and emotions may surface more vividly before they begin to lose their charge. A skilled EMDR therapist anticipates this and paces the work carefully. You are always in control of the pace.
EMDR versus other trauma therapies — which is right for you?
EMDR may be the better choice if:
- You have specific traumatic memories that remain vivid, distressing, or intrusive
- You’ve tried talking therapies and found that discussing the trauma in detail felt retraumatising
- You want an approach that doesn’t require extensive verbal recounting of traumatic events
- You have a single-incident trauma and want effective treatment in a relatively contained timeframe
Trauma-focused CBT may suit you better if:
- You prefer a more structured, cognitive approach that gives you explicit tools
- Your trauma is closely linked to specific unhelpful beliefs you want to examine and challenge
- You find structured between-session exercises useful
For complex trauma, both are often used together — alongside stabilisation, somatic approaches, and relational work. Many of our therapists integrate EMDR into a broader therapeutic framework rather than using it in isolation.
→ Psychodynamic Therapy in Islington
Find out more about all the therapeutic approaches available at City Road Therapy on our services page.
Our EMDR therapists in Islington
City Road Therapy has several therapists trained in EMDR, available for sessions in person at our Islington therapy rooms and online across London and the UK.
Dr Marianna York-Smith
Clinical Psychologist, HCPC
Jacqui Jameson
Cognitive Hypnotherapist & EMDR Practitioner, NCH
Yuliana Perez
Integrative Psychotherapist & EMDR Therapist, BACP
Hulya Karabulut
Psychodynamic Psychotherapist; EMDR Practitioner, BACP
Teresa Cannon
Existential Psychotherapist & EMDR Practitioner, UKCP
→ Browse the full therapist directory and filter by approach to find an EMDR-trained therapist.
Not sure who to approach? Let us help you find the right match — we’ll consider your specific situation, therapeutic needs, and availability.
EMDR therapy in Islington — specialist trauma support at City Road Therapy
City Road Therapy is based at 335 City Road, Angel, Islington, London EC1V 1LJ — a short walk from Angel tube station (Northern line), and easily accessible from Old Street and Highbury & Islington. We serve clients from across North London and beyond — and offer online EMDR therapy via secure video for clients across London and the UK.
Our EMDR therapists have completed specialist post-qualification training in accordance with EMDR UK & EMDR Europe training standards. Their practice is grounded in Francine Shapiro’s Adaptive Information Processing model and established EMDR protocols, adapted where clinically appropriate to the needs and presentation of each individual client.
All our therapists are registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), HCPC, or other recognised professional bodies.
Common questions about EMDR therapy in Islington
Does EMDR actually work? What does the research say?
Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail during EMDR?
Is EMDR available on the NHS in Islington?
Can EMDR be done online?
How is EMDR different from hypnotherapy?
Take the first step towards processing trauma
Living with unprocessed trauma takes an enormous toll — on your wellbeing, your relationships, and your sense of who you are. EMDR offers a well-evidenced, effective path through it. You don’t have to keep carrying this.
The first step is a free, no-obligation 15-minute consultation — a chance to ask questions and find the right therapist for you.
📍 City Road Therapy, 335 City Road, Angel, Islington, London EC1V 1LJ
In-person EMDR sessions in Islington. Online EMDR available across London and the UK.
If you are currently in crisis, please contact the Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24 hours) or go to your nearest A&E.
Please note: Our building at 335 City Road is a period property and is not currently wheelchair accessible. Online therapy via Zoom or Teams is available to all clients and works just as well as in-person work for most presentations.