Specialist trauma therapy for adults, children and young people at Harley Street
Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR))
Trauma can make everyday life feel harder than it should. A moment from years ago can return without warning — through a nightmare, a flashback, a sudden wave of feeling — and leave you or your child feeling stuck. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, or EMDR, is one of the most effective therapies we have for helping the brain and body process difficult experiences and move forward. At Harley Mind Care, our team includes specialists trained in EMDR for both adults and children, and we deliver it with the care and pace that trauma work requires.
What is EMDR?
EMDR is an evidence-based psychological therapy developed specifically for trauma. It’s recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the World Health Organization as a first-line treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Unlike traditional talking therapies, EMDR doesn’t require you to describe what happened in detail. Instead, it uses guided eye movements — or other forms of bilateral stimulation such as tapping — while you bring the difficult memory to mind. This process appears to help the brain reprocess the memory, so it stops feeling so vivid, overwhelming or intrusive. Over time, the memory becomes something that happened to you, rather than something that keeps happening inside you.
It sounds unusual, and that’s a common reaction. What we know is that EMDR works — with decades of research behind it and thousands of clinicians using it worldwide. Our therapists will walk you through exactly what to expect before any processing begins.
What EMDR can help with
EMDR is used to support people experiencing:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Complex trauma from childhood experiences
- Trauma from accidents, medical events, assault or abuse
- Grief and traumatic loss
- Birth trauma and pregnancy loss
- Anxiety disorders that stem from a difficult experience
- Phobias linked to a specific event
- Distressing memories that keep returning even when you'd rather they didn't
- Symptoms in children and young people, including those with attachment or developmental trauma
You do not need a formal PTSD diagnosis for EMDR to help. If a difficult experience is affecting how you or your child live day-to-day, it’s worth talking to us.
What TF-CBT can help with
At Harley Mind Care, we offer both TF-CBT and EMDR — two of the most evidence-based trauma therapies available. Both are recommended by NICE. Both work. But they work in different ways, and some people respond better to one than the other. Your first appointment is designed to explore which is likely to fit best for you or your child.
How TF-CBT works
TF-CBT is a structured talking therapy. You'll learn to understand the impact of trauma, develop coping skills, gradually process the memory of what happened (through talking, writing, or drawing), and rebuild confidence step by step. It's collaborative and skills-based.
How EMDR works
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation — guided eye movements, tapping, or audio tones — while you bring difficult memories to mind. It doesn't require you to describe what happened in detail. It's less about learning skills and more about reprocessing the memory itself.
Which is right for me?
Both work well. Some people prefer TF-CBT because it's structured, gradual, and skills-focused — they know what to expect at each stage. Others prefer EMDR because it doesn't require them to talk about what happened in detail. Sometimes clinicians recommend starting with TF-CBT for the coping skills phase, then adding EMDR for memory processing. Sometimes a course of one is all that's needed. Your therapist will help you decide together.
EMDR for adults
Our adult EMDR service is designed for people who feel ready to work with a difficult memory or set of experiences, and who want to move forward. Sessions are typically weekly or fortnightly, and treatment length depends on what you’re working with — for a single difficult event, EMDR can be relatively brief. For complex or long-standing trauma, it takes more time and is delivered in careful stages.
Before any processing begins, your therapist will spend time understanding what’s happened, how it’s affecting you now, and what resources you have to help you feel steady between sessions. This preparation phase is essential — EMDR is powerful, and going at the right pace matters. You’ll always be in control.
EMDR for children and young people
EMDR works well for children and adolescents because it doesn’t require them to talk in detail about what happened. Younger children may find it easier to draw, tell stories, or work with a symbol of the difficult memory rather than describe it in words. This makes EMDR particularly valuable for children who struggle to put their experience into language.
Our EMDR team includes clinicians with specialist training in Child and Adolescent EMDR — not simply an adaptation of adult protocols, but a distinct approach designed for how children process experiences. Parents and carers are involved throughout, and the pace is always led by what the child can manage.
We work regularly with children affected by medical trauma, family adversity, difficult experiences at school, and developmental trauma — including children who are neurodivergent.
What happens in a session
Your first appointment (90 minutes)
The first appointment gives your therapist time to understand what's brought you to therapy, explore any trauma history, and begin building the trust that trauma work depends on. You will not be asked to process difficult memories in this first appointment — this is about getting to know each other and planning how EMDR would work for you or your child.
The eight-phase EMDR protocol
EMDR follows a structured protocol with eight phases, developed by the therapy’s originator Dr Francine Shapiro. Not every session will look the same — you might spend several sessions on preparation and stabilisation before any memory processing begins. This is not a delay; it’s the therapy working exactly as it should.
01
History-taking and treatment
planning
02
Preparation and building coping resources
03
Identifying and assessing the target memory
04
Desensitisation — the reprocessing itself, using bilateral stimulation
05
Installation of positive
beliefs
06
Body scan — noticing how the body has responded
07
Closure — ensuring you leave each session feeling steady
08
Re-evaluation — checking in at the next session
Psychoeducation — understanding trauma and its effects
Ongoing sessions (50 minutes)
Follow-up sessions are 50 minutes and typically weekly or fortnightly. Sessions include reflective conversation and experiential practices — imagery, breathing, chair work — that help build self-compassion in a felt way, not just as an idea. Your therapist will guide the practices and adapt them to what works for you.
How long does EMDR take?
This varies significantly based on what’s being worked with. Single-incident trauma (such as a road traffic accident, an assault, or a specific medical event) can sometimes be worked through in 6-12 sessions. Complex or long-standing trauma — particularly trauma from childhood — takes longer, often 20 sessions or more, and is delivered in phases with careful attention to stabilisation.
Your therapist will discuss expected length with you at the start, and review together as you progress. There’s no pressure to commit to a fixed course upfront.
How we deliver EMDR
EMDR can be delivered virtually (via secure video) or in person at 10 Harley Street. Virtual EMDR uses on-screen visual bilateral stimulation, and works well for many clients — research shows it can be as effective as in-person EMDR. Your therapist will discuss which format is right for you at your first appointment. Some clients prefer to start in-clinic and move to virtual once the therapeutic relationship is established.
Session Fees
Session type
VIrtual
In-Clinic
Initial appointment (90 minutes)
£230
£280
Ongoing session (50 minutes)
£150
£190
Fees are the same for adults and for children and young people. We accept self-pay clients and are recognised by all major UK health insurers including Vitality, BUPA, AXA, Aviva and Cigna.
FAQ
FAQs
- Can TF-CBT make things worse?
In careful, structured therapy, TF-CBT is very safe. Because it works with difficult memories, feelings can come up between sessions — this is why coping skills come first and why the therapy is delivered in phases. Your therapist will make sure you leave each session feeling steady.
- Do I need a referral from my GP for TF-CBT?
No. You can book directly with us as a self-pay client, or through your health insurance if you have cover.
- Does TF-CBT work for children the same way as adults?
The core principles are the same, but the delivery is very different. For children, TF-CBT includes parents as an active part of treatment, uses play and drawing alongside talking, and paces the work carefully according to the child's age and developmental stage. Our therapists are experienced in working with children and young people across NHS CAMHS and private practice.
- How is TF-CBT different from EMDR?
Both are evidence-based trauma therapies but they work differently. TF-CBT is a structured talking therapy where you build skills, gradually process the trauma through talking or writing, and rebuild confidence in phases. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation and doesn't require detailed talking about what happened. Some people prefer one over the other, and both are effective.
- How is TF-CBT different from regular CBT?
Regular CBT is a general talking therapy for a wide range of difficulties. TF-CBT is a specific adaptation designed for trauma. It has a structured phase-based delivery, a strong focus on safety and stabilisation, and specific techniques for gradually processing traumatic memories. Regular CBT can be used for trauma but TF-CBT is the specialist adaptation.
- Is TF-CBT right for me or my child?
TF-CBT has one of the strongest evidence bases of any trauma therapy, particularly for children and young people. But not everyone responds to it, and some people benefit more from EMDR or other approaches. Your first appointment is designed to explore what will work best.
- Will I have to talk about what happened in detail?
Eventually, yes — but only when you're ready, and only in the way that works for you. TF-CBT is delivered in phases, and the memory-processing work happens after you've built coping skills and feel steady day-to-day. Some people talk. Some write. Children may draw or use play. Your therapist will guide the pace throughout.
Ready to talk to us?
Reaching out about trauma can feel like a big step. Our admin team is used to first conversations that feel tentative, and there’s no pressure to have all the details ready. Whether you’re ready to book, wondering whether TF-CBT or EMDR would suit you better, or want to check whether your insurance covers it, please get in touch.
Our approach to trauma care
Trauma work is at the heart of what we do. Alongside EMDR, we offer Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) — another evidence-based therapy specifically developed for trauma, particularly with children and young people. Our clinicians work together to make sure every client is matched with the therapy that fits them best, and we can switch approaches within a course of treatment if needed.
We believe trauma should never be treated as a checklist. Our clinicians take time to understand the person as well as the experience, and we adapt the therapy accordingly. That includes being thoughtful about pace, being clear about what to expect, and being honest about what will and won’t help.
Related therapies
Depending on your needs, one of these approaches might work alongside or instead of EMDR:
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT)
A structured evidence-based trauma therapy, particularly for children and young people
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
For anxiety, depression and related difficulties that often accompany trauma
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
for the shame and self-criticism that trauma can leave behind
You can explore all our therapies in our Therapies section, or speak to our team who will help you find the right approach.