Supportive Tools and Training for Trauma-Informed Practice

EMDR is a form of psychotherapy that uses left/right brain stimulation to heal trauma. It is recommended by the UK's NICE for treating PTSD and has also shown benefits in treating depression, chronic pain, and other anxiety-related conditions.

Traumatic experiences can become 'frozen in time' in the brain, replaying as intrusive memories. EMDR helps the brain reprocess these events, reducing distress. It mimics the brain’s natural processing during REM sleep and restores adaptive functioning.

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (e.g., guided eye movements) while clients recall traumatic memories. This helps reprocess the experience and reduces emotional charge. It is a structured, evidence-based approach used by trained professionals.

EMDR is supported by more controlled studies for PTSD than any other therapy. It is often shorter in duration than other treatments and preferred by clients. Therapists also find it brings changes not achieved with other approaches.

Art Therapy is a psychotherapy that uses creative expression to explore and process emotions. It is useful when verbal communication is difficult and supports emotional wellbeing by externalising feelings through art making.

Clients create art as part of the therapy, using it as a ‘visual diary’ of their inner experience. Speech is also used, and the process is guided collaboratively between client and therapist, focusing on meaning rather than artistic skill.

No. Art Therapy is not about making ‘good’ or technical art. It’s a way to communicate feelings when words are not enough. The materials are used freely and interpretation happens gently, over time, in a safe therapeutic setting.