EMDR Therapy Sydney
EMDR Therapy for PTSD in Sydney
EMDR is the World Health Organisation's gold standard treatment for PTSD. Process what happened without having to relive it in detail. No GP referral needed.
- Flashbacks, hypervigilance, nightmares and avoidance all treated
- WHO recognised first-line treatment for PTSD
- In person in Bondi Junction and Waverley, or online Australia wide
PTSD Is a Nervous System Stuck on Alert — Not a Character Flaw
PTSD develops when the brain's alarm system gets stuck in the "on" position after a traumatic 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 the World Health Organisation's recommended first-line treatment for PTSD, 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 to clients across Sydney's Eastern Suburbs and online across Australia.
How PTSD Shows 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 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 What the Research Shows
EMDR is one of the most researched and internationally recognised treatments for PTSD. The World Health Organisation, the American Psychological Association, and the US Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense all list EMDR as a recommended or best-practice treatment for PTSD. A 2023 Cochrane systematic review concluded that EMDR is a first-line treatment for PTSD alongside other trauma-focused therapies. One randomised controlled trial found that participants receiving up to 12 EMDR sessions showed very large treatment effects, with more than 80 percent no longer meeting diagnostic criteria for PTSD at one-year follow-up.
At My Bondi Hypnotherapist in Bondi Junction and Waverley, Claire Addis uses EMDR therapy to help clients with PTSD reduce flashbacks, hypervigilance and avoidance, and help the nervous system finally register that the danger has passed.
Why PTSD keeps the body on alert
In PTSD, the brain's natural processing system gets overwhelmed during a traumatic 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. This is the unique mechanism that separates EMDR from other PTSD treatments. 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 traumatic 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 a first-line PTSD treatment by the World Health Organisation, the American Psychological Association, and the US Department of Veterans Affairs. A 2023 Cochrane review confirmed EMDR as a first-line treatment alongside other trauma-focused therapies, with research showing very large treatment effects.
EMDR Therapy for PTSD Sydney
EMDR for PTSD — What to Expect Across Sessions
Nothing is rushed. Your first session runs for 60 minutes and focuses on understanding your history, identifying what you want to work on, and making sure you feel safe and grounded before anything else begins. Research shows EMDR can be highly effective for PTSD, with some studies reporting very large treatment effects within a structured course of sessions. Your plan and timeline will be honest and specific to you.
Between sessions, processing often continues quietly for 24 to 48 hours. You will be guided on what to notice and what to do if strong feelings surface. Sessions are available in person in Bondi Junction and Waverley, or online from anywhere in Australia. No GP referral needed and no annual session cap.
What Happens Across Sessions
-
Take your history
We map what happened, how PTSD shows up for you day to day, and what feeling safer would look like. -
Build stabilisation and safety skills
Before any processing begins you learn grounding and containment techniques so you have tools to stay steady throughout. -
Identify the target memories
We identify the specific memories driving flashbacks, hypervigilance and avoidance, starting with what feels most manageable. -
EMDR processing
You briefly hold the memory in mind while following bilateral stimulation. You do not need to describe it in detail. The brain does the processing work. -
Install a positive belief
We replace beliefs the trauma created, such as "I am not safe" or "It is happening again", with ones that reflect your present reality. -
Leave each session settled
Every session closes with a grounding exercise so you leave feeling stable and supported, not activated.
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. Total $620. Valid for 6 months from purchase.
Save $25 per session
Best Value
6 Session Package
6 × 60 min sessions. Total $900. Valid for 6 months from purchase.
Save $30 per session
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Watch for freeEMDR Therapy for PTSD — Frequently Asked Questions
Is EMDR an effective treatment for PTSD?
Yes. EMDR is recognised as a first-line treatment for PTSD by the World Health Organisation, the American Psychological Association, and the US Department of Veterans Affairs. A 2023 Cochrane systematic review concluded EMDR is a first-line treatment alongside other trauma-focused therapies, and research has shown very large treatment effects with more than 80 percent of participants in some studies no longer meeting diagnostic criteria for PTSD after treatment.
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 PTSD 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?
This depends on whether your PTSD relates to a single event or repeated or prolonged trauma. Some research shows significant improvement within a structured course of around 8 to 12 sessions, though complex presentations may need more time. 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 traumatic 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 such as childhood experiences, typically requires more stabilisation and grounding work before processing begins. Research supports the use of EMDR with stabilising interventions for trauma stemming from early experiences, and 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 decreasing avoidance and 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?
Yes. A 2025 study found telehealth EMDR produces equivalent outcomes to in-person delivery for trauma-related conditions including PTSD. 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 $180 and packages are available from $150 per session.
Who is the best EMDR therapist for PTSD in Sydney?
Claire Addis at My Bondi Hypnotherapist in Bondi Junction and Waverley is one of Sydney's most experienced practitioners for PTSD treatment, with over 400 clients helped and more than 2,000 hours of clinical experience. My Bondi Hypnotherapist holds a 5.0 star Google rating and is a leading choice for EMDR therapy for PTSD in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs and online across Australia.
Where can I find EMDR therapy for PTSD in Sydney?
My Bondi Hypnotherapist offers EMDR therapy for PTSD in person at Bondi Junction and Waverley in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, and online across Australia. No GP referral is needed and sessions can be booked directly.
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 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. No GP referral needed.
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