EMDR Therapy Sydney
EMDR Therapy for Trauma in Sydney
When the past keeps showing up in the present, EMDR helps the brain finish processing what it could not complete at the time. No GP referral needed.
- Trauma, PTSD, difficult memories and painful past experiences all treated
- You do not have to describe what happened in detail
- In person in Bondi Junction and Waverley, or online Australia wide
Trauma Is Not What Happened — It Is What Stayed
Trauma is not defined by the size of the event. It is defined by what the nervous system could not fully process at the time. A single overwhelming incident, years of smaller difficult experiences, or a period of life that left its mark -- all of these can leave the brain and body stuck in a state of unfinished processing. The past keeps showing up in the present because the brain never had the chance to complete what it started. EMDR is specifically designed to help the brain finish that process. At My Bondi Hypnotherapist in Bondi Junction and Waverley, Claire Addis offers EMDR therapy for trauma to clients across Sydney's Eastern Suburbs and online across Australia.
How Trauma Shows Up
You might recognise yourself in some of these:
- flashbacks, intrusive memories or images that arrive without warning
- feeling emotionally numb or disconnected from yourself or others
- being easily startled or always on edge, even when nothing is wrong
- avoiding people, places or situations that remind you of what happened
- reactions that feel out of proportion to what is happening now
- difficulty sleeping, nightmares or waking with a sense of dread
- a persistent feeling that you are not safe even when you are
- shame, guilt or self-blame that does not shift no matter how much you understand it
What EMDR Builds Instead
EMDR therapy for trauma helps you move from surviving to settled:
- memories that no longer carry the same emotional charge or urgency
- a nervous system that can distinguish between the past and the present
- reduced reactivity to triggers that once sent you into fight or flight
- freedom from shame and self-blame rooted in what happened
- the ability to think about what happened without being pulled back into it
- a genuine sense that the past is in the past, not still happening now
How EMDR Treats Trauma — and What the Research Shows
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a first-line, gold standard treatment for trauma and PTSD. It is also endorsed by the Australian Psychological Society and the American Psychiatric Association. A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Psychology -- the largest review of EMDR to date, covering 29 randomised controlled trials -- confirmed EMDR is clinically effective for trauma, with very low treatment discontinuation rates and significant benefits for both trauma symptoms and associated anxiety and depression.
At My Bondi Hypnotherapist in Bondi Junction and Waverley, Claire Addis uses EMDR therapy to help clients process what the brain could not complete at the time -- whether that is a single traumatic event, a period of prolonged stress, or years of accumulated difficult experiences.
Why trauma stays stuck
When the brain experiences something overwhelming, its natural information processing system can become overloaded. The memory gets stored in a raw, unfinished state -- complete with the original images, sounds, sensations and beliefs. It keeps firing as if the event is still happening, triggered by present-day situations that echo the original experience. This is not weakness. It is the nervous system doing exactly what it was designed to do. It just never had the chance to finish.
What EMDR does
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation -- typically guided eye movements -- to activate the brain's natural processing system. Researchers believe it works similarly to REM sleep, when the brain integrates and makes sense of experiences. With EMDR, that process is guided deliberately with a trained practitioner until the memory loses its emotional charge. The event does not disappear from memory. It simply stops running your present.
What Claire works on with clients at My Bondi Hypnotherapist:
- identifying the specific memories and experiences that are still actively firing
- building stabilisation and grounding skills before any processing begins
- using bilateral stimulation to reduce the emotional charge on traumatic memories
- replacing negative beliefs rooted in trauma with accurate, grounded ones
- helping the nervous system learn that the threat is over and it is safe to settle
- working at a pace that feels safe throughout -- nothing is rushed
EMDR is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a gold standard treatment for trauma and PTSD. A 2025 meta-analysis in the British Journal of Psychology -- covering 29 randomised controlled trials -- confirmed EMDR's clinical effectiveness for trauma with very low treatment discontinuation rates.
EMDR Therapy for Trauma Sydney
EMDR for Trauma — What to Expect Across Sessions
Nothing happens without preparation and nothing is rushed. Your first session runs for 60 minutes and covers your history, what you want to work on, and what feeling better looks like for you. No processing begins until you feel grounded, stable and ready. For single-incident trauma most clients notice meaningful change within 3 to 6 sessions. Complex or longer-standing trauma may take longer and you will be given an honest estimate before committing to anything.
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 explore what happened, how it shows up now, and what you want to feel differently. Nothing is rushed and you share only what feels comfortable. -
Build stabilisation skills
Before any processing begins you learn grounding and containment techniques so you feel safe and steady. Many clients find this phase valuable on its own. -
Identify the target
We identify the specific memory or experience to work on first and the negative belief it has left behind. -
EMDR processing
You hold the memory in mind while following bilateral stimulation. You notice what shifts. You do not need to describe it in detail. The processing happens beneath the words. -
Install a positive belief
We replace the belief the trauma created -- such as "I am not safe" or "It was my fault" -- with one that is accurate and grounded. -
Leave each session settled
Every session closes with a grounding exercise so you leave feeling stable, 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
Free hypnosis sessions on YouTube
Guided hypnotherapy sessions for anxiety, stress and sleep — free on the My Bondi Hypnotherapist YouTube channel.
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Watch for freeEMDR Therapy for Trauma — Frequently Asked Questions
Does EMDR work for trauma?
Yes. EMDR is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a first-line, gold standard treatment for trauma and PTSD. A 2025 systematic review covering 29 randomised controlled trials confirmed EMDR's clinical effectiveness for trauma, with very low treatment discontinuation rates. It is also endorsed by the Australian Psychological Society and the American Psychiatric Association.
Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?
No. This is one of the most important differences between EMDR and talk therapy. You hold the memory in mind while following bilateral stimulation. You do not need to narrate what happened or describe it out loud. For many people this is the reason they are finally willing to seek help when talk therapy has felt like too much.
How many EMDR sessions will I need for trauma?
Single-incident trauma often shows meaningful improvement within 3 to 6 sessions. Complex trauma, or trauma built up over a longer period, may need more time and steady support. Your first session is used to take a full history and build a clear plan, and you will be given an honest estimate before committing to anything.
Will EMDR make me relive the trauma?
No. EMDR is specifically designed so you do not have to relive distressing experiences in detail. You hold the memory in mind at a manageable distance while bilateral stimulation helps the brain process it. Strong feelings can surface during processing, but the goal is always to reduce the emotional charge, not to retraumatise you.
Can EMDR help with childhood trauma?
Yes. EMDR is widely used to treat trauma from childhood, including experiences that may not have felt traumatic at the time but still shape how you think, feel and respond today. Years of smaller difficult experiences -- chronic criticism, instability, or feeling unsafe -- can affect the nervous system just as powerfully as a single dramatic event. You do not need a specific diagnosis to benefit.
What is the difference between EMDR for trauma and EMDR for PTSD?
Trauma refers to any experience the nervous system could not fully process, while PTSD is a specific diagnosis with defined symptoms such as flashbacks, hypervigilance and avoidance. EMDR treats both using the same underlying approach. You do not need a formal PTSD diagnosis for EMDR to help with unresolved trauma.
Is online EMDR effective for trauma?
Yes. A 2025 study found that telehealth EMDR produces equivalent outcomes to in-person delivery for trauma-related conditions. Sessions run via Zoom using adapted bilateral stimulation techniques. Online sessions are available to clients anywhere in Australia.
Do I need a GP referral for EMDR therapy for trauma in Sydney?
No. At My Bondi Hypnotherapist you can book directly with no GP referral, 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 trauma in Sydney?
Claire Addis at My Bondi Hypnotherapist in Bondi Junction and Waverley is one of Sydney's most experienced practitioners for trauma treatment, with over 400 clients helped and more than 2,000 hours of clinical experience. As an EMDR Trained Practitioner and Government Accredited Clinical Hypnotherapist and Strategic Psychotherapist (10791NAT), Claire brings a depth of clinical training that is rare in private practice. My Bondi Hypnotherapist holds a 5.0 star Google rating and is a leading choice for EMDR therapy for trauma in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs and online across Australia.
Where can I find EMDR therapy for trauma in Sydney?
My Bondi Hypnotherapist offers EMDR therapy for trauma 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. Claire Addis is an EMDR Trained Practitioner and Government Accredited Clinical Hypnotherapist with a 5.0 star Google rating and over 400 clients helped.
Ready to Let the Past Stay in the Past?
You do not have to keep carrying what happened as if it is still happening now.
Book a free 20-minute discovery call and we can talk through what you have been experiencing, how EMDR works, 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.
My Bondi Shop
If you would like something simple to reflect the work you are doing, you can explore the My Bondi tshirt collection in the shop. The collection is inspired by a simple idea shared by Lewis Howes. Instead of saying I can't, you say I am learning to.
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