EMDR Therapy Sydney
EMDR Therapy for PTSD and Trauma in Sydney
EMDR is an evidence-based therapy for PTSD and trauma. Process what happened without having to relive it in detail. No GP referral needed.
- Flashbacks, hypervigilance, nightmares, avoidance and intrusive memories all treated
- You do not have to describe what happened in detail
- In person in Bondi Junction and Waverley, or online Australia wide, including weekends and evenings
PTSD and Trauma Are a Nervous System Stuck on Alert, Not a Character Flaw
PTSD and unresolved trauma develop when the brain's alarm system gets stuck in the "on" position after an overwhelming event. Your body keeps responding as though the danger is still present, even when you are objectively safe. This is not weakness, overreaction, or something wrong with you. It is a nervous system doing exactly what it was built to do, just unable to switch off. EMDR is an evidence-based therapy for PTSD and trauma, specifically designed to help the brain complete the processing it could not finish at the time. At My Bondi Hypnotherapist in Bondi Junction and Waverley, Claire Addis offers EMDR therapy for PTSD and trauma to clients across Sydney's Eastern Suburbs and online across Australia.
How PTSD and Trauma Show Up
You might recognise yourself in some of these:
- flashbacks or intrusive memories that intrude without warning
- nightmares or disturbed sleep related to what happened
- hypervigilance, feeling constantly on guard or easily startled
- avoiding people, places, conversations or situations linked to the event
- emotional numbness or feeling disconnected from yourself and others
- irritability, anger or difficulty regulating strong emotions
- a persistent sense of danger even in safe, everyday situations
- negative beliefs about yourself, others or the world since the event
What EMDR Builds Instead
EMDR therapy for PTSD and trauma helps your nervous system learn the threat has passed:
- a marked reduction in the frequency and intensity of flashbacks
- a nervous system able to register that the danger is over
- improved sleep as nightmares and hypervigilance settle
- the ability to think about what happened without being pulled back into it
- reduced avoidance and a return to activities and places you have been avoiding
- relief from the negative beliefs the trauma created about yourself or the world
How EMDR Treats PTSD and Trauma, and What the Research Shows
EMDR is a structured, evidence-based therapy used internationally to treat PTSD and trauma. It is one of the most researched approaches for helping the brain process traumatic memories that have stayed stuck.
At My Bondi Hypnotherapist in Bondi Junction and Waverley, Claire Addis uses EMDR therapy to help clients with PTSD and trauma reduce flashbacks, hypervigilance and avoidance, and help the nervous system finally register that the danger has passed.
Why PTSD and trauma keep the body on alert
In PTSD and trauma, the brain's natural processing system gets overwhelmed during an overwhelming event and the memory becomes stored in a raw, unprocessed state. It keeps firing in the present, triggered by sounds, situations or sensations that echo the original event. The nervous system stays on high alert because, as far as it knows, the threat has not actually ended. This explains symptoms like hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response and emotional numbing that can feel confusing and out of your control.
What EMDR does
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, usually guided eye movements, to activate the brain's adaptive information processing system. Rather than asking you to repeatedly describe the trauma in detail, EMDR works with brief recollections of the event paired with bilateral stimulation, allowing the brain to reprocess the memory until its emotional intensity decreases.
What Claire works on with clients at My Bondi Hypnotherapist:
- building stabilisation and grounding skills before any processing begins
- identifying the specific memories driving flashbacks and hyperarousal
- using bilateral stimulation to reduce the emotional intensity of those memories
- replacing negative beliefs created by the trauma with accurate, grounded ones
- helping your nervous system learn that the danger has genuinely passed
- working at a pace that always prioritises your sense of safety
EMDR is recognised as an evidence-based therapy for treating PTSD and trauma, with a substantial body of research supporting its effectiveness.
EMDR Therapy for PTSD Sydney
What Happens During EMDR Therapy for PTSD?
Nothing is rushed. Your first session runs for 60 minutes and focuses on understanding your history, what you're experiencing now, and what you want to achieve through therapy. Before any memory processing begins, we'll make sure you feel prepared and have strategies to help you feel calm and in control. Research shows EMDR can be highly effective for PTSD, and many people experience significant improvements over the course of treatment. Every treatment plan is tailored to you and moves at a pace that feels safe and manageable.
Between sessions, it's common to notice your brain continuing to process what was worked on during therapy. Some people experience new thoughts, dreams or emotions over the next day or two, while others notice very little. We'll explain what to expect and how to manage anything that comes up. Sessions are available in person in Bondi Junction and Waverley, or online anywhere in Australia. No GP referral is needed.
What Happens Across Sessions
-
Understand your story
We explore what happened, how PTSD is affecting your life today, and what feeling safe again would look like for you. -
Learn grounding and regulation skills
Before processing begins, you'll learn practical techniques to help you feel calmer, more in control and able to manage difficult emotions if they arise. -
Identify the memories and triggers
Together, we'll identify the memories, situations or triggers that continue to keep your nervous system on high alert, starting with what feels most manageable. -
EMDR processing
You'll briefly bring a memory to mind while following bilateral stimulation. You don't need to describe every detail. As your brain processes the memory differently, it gradually becomes less distressing. -
Strengthen healthier beliefs
As the emotional distress reduces, we'll reinforce beliefs that better reflect your present reality, such as "I am safe now", "I can cope" or "It wasn't my fault." -
Finish feeling supported
Every session finishes with time to help you feel settled before you leave, along with guidance on what to expect before your next appointment.
EMDR Therapy Pricing
Transparent, upfront pricing. Pay as you go or save with a package. No GP referral needed, no Medicare paperwork, no annual session cap. Packages valid for 6 months from purchase.
Pay As You Go
Single Session
One session at a time. No commitment required. Book when it suits you.
Flexible, no lock-in
Most Popular
4 Session Package
4 × 60 min sessions, one preparation session and three processing sessions. Total $620. Valid for 6 months from purchase.
Save $40 per session
Best Value
6 Session Package
6 × 60 min sessions, one preparation session and five processing sessions. Total $900. Valid for 6 months from purchase.
Save $45 per session
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Watch for freeEMDR Therapy for PTSD and Trauma, Frequently Asked Questions
Is EMDR an effective treatment for PTSD and trauma?
Yes. EMDR is recognised as an evidence-based therapy for PTSD and trauma, with a substantial body of research supporting its effectiveness in helping people process traumatic memories and reduce related symptoms.
Do I have to describe my trauma in detail for EMDR to work?
No. EMDR uses brief recollections of the trauma paired with bilateral stimulation, rather than asking you to repeatedly narrate the full event in detail the way some other treatments require. This is one of the reasons many people find EMDR more manageable to begin.
How many EMDR sessions will I need for PTSD or trauma?
For a single-event trauma, processing is typically 3 to 6 sessions. PTSD related to repeated or prolonged trauma may need more time and steady support. Your first session is used to build a clear, honest plan specific to your history.
Can EMDR get rid of flashbacks?
EMDR is specifically designed to reduce the frequency and intensity of flashbacks by helping the brain fully process the memories driving them. Many clients experience a significant reduction in flashbacks as treatment progresses, though the pace and extent of change varies from person to person.
Is EMDR safe for complex PTSD or trauma from childhood?
Yes, with appropriate pacing and preparation. Complex PTSD, often linked to prolonged or repeated trauma, typically requires more stabilisation and grounding work before processing begins. Treatment is always paced to your readiness.
Will I feel worse before I feel better with EMDR?
It is common to experience strong emotions during or shortly after a processing session as the brain works through the memory. This is a normal part of engaging with the trauma safely, and you will be checked in with regularly so the pace can be adjusted to what feels manageable for you.
Is online EMDR effective for PTSD and trauma?
Yes. Telehealth EMDR is a well-established way to deliver treatment and can be as effective as in-person sessions for many clients. Sessions run via Zoom using adapted bilateral stimulation techniques. Online sessions are available to clients anywhere in Australia.
Do I need a GP referral or PTSD diagnosis for EMDR in Sydney?
No formal diagnosis is required and no GP referral is needed. At My Bondi Hypnotherapist you can book directly with no Mental Health Care Plan and no annual session cap. Sessions start from $195 and packages are available from $150 per session.
Where can I find EMDR therapy for PTSD and trauma in Sydney?
My Bondi Hypnotherapist offers EMDR therapy for PTSD and trauma in person at Bondi Junction and Waverley in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, and online across Australia, including weekends and evenings. No GP referral is needed and sessions can be booked directly. Claire Addis is a Certified EMDR Therapist and Government Accredited Clinical Hypnotherapist.
Ready to Help Your Nervous System Feel Safe Again?
You do not have to keep living as though the danger is still happening.
Book a free 20-minute discovery call and we can talk through what you have been experiencing, how EMDR works for PTSD and trauma, and whether this is the right approach for you. No pressure, just an honest conversation.
Sessions are available in person in Bondi Junction and Waverley in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, or online from anywhere in Australia, including weekends and evenings. No GP referral needed.
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