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Anxiety & worryPanic, phobias, worry Depression & low moodWhen nothing feels worth it Trauma & PTSDEMDR and trauma therapy Stress & burnoutRunning on empty Sleep & insomniaCBT-I Relationships & couplesConflict, distance, repair ADHDAssessment and support OCDExposure-based treatment Grief & lossAfter a death or a loss Anger Pregnancy & new parents All conditions

How we help

Individual therapyOne-to-one or online Couples therapyGottman and EFT-informed TelehealthAustralia-wide, by video
Therapy approachesCBTACTEMDRDBTSchemaAll approaches
Programs & groupsMindfulness-X, P3, EAP AssessmentsADHD, autism, cognitive

Getting started

AppointmentsReply within one business day Fees & rebatesMedicare, NDIS, private Your first sessionWhat happens on the day Find a psychologistBy concern, language, day Urgent helpIf you need support now Free · 5 to 10 minMind Health Check
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The referral pathways guideWhich form, which plan, how long a report takes.Read the guide
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The practice

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Our clinicians

Bülent AdaPrincipal Psychologist & Director Sijal AnsariClinical Psychologist Robert RuaneClinical Neuropsychologist Taline BardakjianConsultant Psychologist Mohan ShankarappaClinical Psychologist Michael L. T. CheungConsultant Psychologist Shahim AhmadClinical Psychologist Steve SuttonCounselling Psychologist Irfan YigitSenior Consultant Psychologist Bill SinghConsultant Psychologist Elizabeth LeeClinical Psychotherapist Shareen BirgesCounselling Social Worker Annette HaggertyConsultant Psychologist

Practical

Your first sessionWhat happens on the day Fees & rebatesMedicare, NDIS, private Questions & answersThe ones we are asked most Contact & locationParramatta, and by video Client portalAppointments, forms, invoices FormsConsent and authority

Find your fit

Meet the cliniciansWarm and down-to-earth. Find the right match for you.Find a psychologist
Visit us:Parramatta clinicTelehealth AU-wideGet directions New clients welcome · no referral needed
EMDR Therapy

Let the past finally become the past.

EMDR helps the brain reprocess memories that still feel raw, so a difficult event loses its charge and stops intruding on the present. Australian guidelines for PTSD list it among the recommended trauma-focused treatments.

Request appointment How it works
What it helps with

What EMDR helps with

Every plan is tailored to you. This is a guide to where this approach is most often used.

Not sure if it's the right fit? That's exactly what your first session is for. We'll recommend the approach (or blend of approaches) that suits you.

How it works

The approach, step by step.

A clear sense of how the work unfolds, always at your pace.

  1. 1

    Prepare and stabilise

    Before any processing, we build safety and coping resources. You're never asked to dive in before you're ready.

    Early sessions
  2. 2

    Reprocess the memory

    Using gentle bilateral stimulation (such as guided eye movements), we help your brain digest the memory so it no longer feels present.

    The sessions that follow
  3. 3

    Integrate and strengthen

    We reinforce calmer, more adaptive beliefs, so the memory becomes something that happened, not something still happening.

    Ongoing

You don't have to describe everything in detail: EMDR works with the memory without requiring you to relive or narrate all of it. Your psychologist keeps you grounded throughout.

A consulting room with a grey armchair, a floor lamp and three framed prints, seen past a grey sofa.
Fees & funding

Know your costs before you start.

With a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, Medicare rebates apply to individual therapy. We'll always be clear about costs before you begin.

See fees
  • Medicare: rebates on up to 10 sessions a year with a Mental Health Treatment Plan.
  • NDIS, DVA, Workers Comp & CTP: usually no out-of-pocket cost when approved.
  • Private health: claim through your extras cover, with no referral needed.
Your clinicians

Practitioners who use this approach.

See all clinicians
Common questions

Things people ask before booking.

Do I have to talk through my trauma in detail?
No. Unlike some approaches, EMDR doesn't require you to describe everything that happened. You stay in control of what you share.
Is EMDR evidence-based?
Yes. EMDR is recommended for PTSD in Australian and international clinical guidelines, and is backed by a large body of research.
What happens in the first EMDR session?
The first sessions are about getting to know you, not jumping straight into memories. Your psychologist will ask about your history and current symptoms, explain how EMDR works, and teach you calming and grounding skills. Memory processing only starts once you both feel you're ready.
Can EMDR be done online?
Yes. EMDR can be delivered over telehealth using on-screen eye movements or self-tapping, and research on online EMDR is growing. Your psychologist will talk with you about whether online or in-person sessions would suit you.
What does EMDR feel like?
During processing you hold part of a memory in mind while following side-to-side movements or taps. People often notice thoughts, images or feelings shift as they go. It can stir up emotion, so your psychologist checks in often and you can pause at any time.
Is EMDR covered by Medicare?
EMDR is one of the trauma therapies psychologists can provide within Medicare's Better Access arrangements. If you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, you may be eligible for Medicare rebates on sessions with a psychologist. Victims Services NSW and workers compensation may also fund sessions in some situations.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book directly with us any time. A referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP is only needed to claim Medicare rebates.
Related
References
  1. Phoenix Australia. (2020). Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Acute Stress Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Complex PTSD. Melbourne: Phoenix Australia. www.phoenixaustralia.org/australian-guidelines-for-ptsd/
  2. Cuijpers P, van Veen SC, Sijbrandij M, Yoder W, Cristea IA. (2020). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for mental health problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 49(3), 165-180. doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2019.1703801
Reading and tools

Further reading and free tools.

From the Journal

All articles

Fact sheets

All fact sheets

Free self-checks

The Mind Health Check
Which approach might suit? A rough guide to what each therapy focuses on most; your psychologist will help you choose, and many people use more than one.

Thinking and behaviour

Emotion and acceptance

Trauma memory

Relationships

Strengths and solutions

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Accepting new clients

Your next step starts here.

Tell us what's going on and we'll match you with the right psychologist, usually after a free triage. No referral needed to begin.

Request appointment Call 1300 084 200
ConfidentialReply within one business dayMedicare rebates may apply
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