Eye Movement, Desensitisation and Reprocessing - Gold Coast
"These last few days, I felt absolutely free, I feel like I'm able to care for more people rather than just worried about myself and in my own head." - Jackson
What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a psychological treatment that enables people to heal from the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic attacks, depression, bad memories and severe anxiety.
When something traumatic happens, it can sometimes get locked in the nervous system with the original picture, sounds, thoughts, feelings, and therefore it is not processed and stored properly. Since the experience is locked there, it continues to be triggered (Fight, Flight, Freeze or Fawn reponse) whenever a reminder comes up and we can't seem to control it. These are really the emotions connected with the old experience that are being triggered.
Trauma or Trigger?
A trauma can be thought of as a negative event in our lives which is outside of our normal experience in everyday living. It can be a big 'T' trauma, like a car accident or a small 'T' trauma, like a bad experience of public speaking at high school.
A trigger might be like something (or someone) similar to a past event causing a response in us that we don't want. For example anger, repulsion, defensiveness, aggression, etc.
Is EMDR Right for my Situation?
EMDR is generally not recommended for individuals who lack emotional regulation skills, have psychological issues which hinder concentration (paranoia, extreme personality disorders etc.), have unstable living situations, or are experiencing acute crises or substance addiction.
During EMDR sessions, you will be asked to briefly focus on a specific memory, belief, or feeling while following guided eye movements or with bilateral stimulation. (Don't worry, it doesn't hurt.) You are not required to go into extensive detail about experiences, and you remain fully aware and in control throughout. As the brain processes the material, clients notice the emotional intensity goes down and their perspective begins to shift in more balanced and helpful direction.
Your therapist Ghita will regularly pause to check in, ensuring you feel supported and comfortable at every stage of the process.
The Process:
The first two hour session is to test whether EMDR is right for you.
The client is asked to identify 3 things:
EMDR and Bilateral Stimulation
The brain is activated on alternating left - right - left sides by various means via the body. This can be by moving the eyes from right to left (finger exercise), or with a device (Healy Frequency Generator) tapping on alternating ears.
After successful treatment with EMDR therapy, affective distress is relieved, negative beliefs are reformulated and the fight or flight response is reduced.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a psychological treatment that enables people to heal from the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic attacks, depression, bad memories and severe anxiety.
When something traumatic happens, it can sometimes get locked in the nervous system with the original picture, sounds, thoughts, feelings, and therefore it is not processed and stored properly. Since the experience is locked there, it continues to be triggered (Fight, Flight, Freeze or Fawn reponse) whenever a reminder comes up and we can't seem to control it. These are really the emotions connected with the old experience that are being triggered.
Trauma or Trigger?
A trauma can be thought of as a negative event in our lives which is outside of our normal experience in everyday living. It can be a big 'T' trauma, like a car accident or a small 'T' trauma, like a bad experience of public speaking at high school.
A trigger might be like something (or someone) similar to a past event causing a response in us that we don't want. For example anger, repulsion, defensiveness, aggression, etc.
Is EMDR Right for my Situation?
EMDR is generally not recommended for individuals who lack emotional regulation skills, have psychological issues which hinder concentration (paranoia, extreme personality disorders etc.), have unstable living situations, or are experiencing acute crises or substance addiction.
During EMDR sessions, you will be asked to briefly focus on a specific memory, belief, or feeling while following guided eye movements or with bilateral stimulation. (Don't worry, it doesn't hurt.) You are not required to go into extensive detail about experiences, and you remain fully aware and in control throughout. As the brain processes the material, clients notice the emotional intensity goes down and their perspective begins to shift in more balanced and helpful direction.
Your therapist Ghita will regularly pause to check in, ensuring you feel supported and comfortable at every stage of the process.
The Process:
The first two hour session is to test whether EMDR is right for you.
The client is asked to identify 3 things:
- The vivid visual image and sounds related to the memory: (Parents screaming at me.)
- A negative belief about self: ('I am a bad person.')
- Related emotions and body sensations. (Tightness in tummy, sadness, shame) and the scale of the discomfort out of ten.
EMDR and Bilateral Stimulation
The brain is activated on alternating left - right - left sides by various means via the body. This can be by moving the eyes from right to left (finger exercise), or with a device (Healy Frequency Generator) tapping on alternating ears.
After successful treatment with EMDR therapy, affective distress is relieved, negative beliefs are reformulated and the fight or flight response is reduced.
QUICK GUIDE: Top 8 Problems EMDR Treats:
✔️ Anxiety, Panic Attacks and Phobias
✔️ Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
✔️ Memories of Violence and Abuse
✔️ Stuck Memories
✔️ Anger Issues/ Specific Triggers
✔️ Self-Doubt (Internal Critic)
✔️ Grief and Loss
✔️ Narcissistic Abuse Recovery
World Health Recommended:
In a study, 77% of Armed Forces veterans (who had been in combat) were free of PTSD within twelve sessions of EMDR.
Client Success Stories:
✔️ Anxiety, Panic Attacks and Phobias
✔️ Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
✔️ Memories of Violence and Abuse
✔️ Stuck Memories
✔️ Anger Issues/ Specific Triggers
✔️ Self-Doubt (Internal Critic)
✔️ Grief and Loss
✔️ Narcissistic Abuse Recovery
World Health Recommended:
- EMDR has been endorsed the World Health Organisation (WHO) has formally approved EMDR therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- 77% of veterans treated for trauma were healed with EMDR
In a study, 77% of Armed Forces veterans (who had been in combat) were free of PTSD within twelve sessions of EMDR.
Client Success Stories:
★★★★★ Google Review 2026: Panic Attacks and Childhood Trauma: 'I am incredibly grateful for the support and guidance I received from Ghita. Through EMDR therapy, Ghita helped me work through difficult experiences in a safe, compassionate, and professional way. Her patience, understanding, and expertise made a real difference in my healing journey. I highly recommend Ghita to anyone seeking support and effective therapy.' ❤️ Shaye (Hope island)
★★★★★ Google Review 2024: PTSD Treatment for Veteran - EMDR and NLP
'I saw Ghita for EMDR and NLP over 6 sessions and I was amazed at the impact it left. Her welcoming nature and expertise allowed me to get the most out of the experience and surfaced underlying issues that I didn’t realise were there. I would definitely recommend Ghita for EMDR or NLP and I’ll return if I ever need it again.' - Charlie Hawken (Labrador)
★★★★★ Google Review 2020: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment
'This lady is absolutely amazing, I've had two sessions now with Ghita, and I felt so comfortable as soon as I had met her; she is very professional and understands the torment I went through as a child. We have started therapy and already I'm starting to feel much better. Thank you Ghita, looking forward to our next visit. Highly recommended.' - Sonya Radzevicius (Coomera)
DID YOU KNOW?
Did your know that Prince Harry was undergoing a form of therapy known as EMDR when he was 12, to treat unresolved anxiety about the paparazzi - stemming from the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales? Harry uses the Butterfly method when he needs to. Source: Guardian Newspaper - May 22, 2021
Millions of people have been treated successfully for trauma over the past 33 years with EMDR.
Did your know that Prince Harry was undergoing a form of therapy known as EMDR when he was 12, to treat unresolved anxiety about the paparazzi - stemming from the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales? Harry uses the Butterfly method when he needs to. Source: Guardian Newspaper - May 22, 2021
Millions of people have been treated successfully for trauma over the past 33 years with EMDR.
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DOWNLOAD EMDR INFO SHEET:
| emdr_eye_movement_desensitisation_instrucions.pdf |
Alternative Methods to EMDR:
If a client does not find it comfortable to be asked to remember scenarios, then NLP and Hypnotherapy may be a better fit.
No Doctor's Referral required
Ghita is experienced and has helped hundreds of trauma patients over the last decade. Importantly, it is a good idea to chat with Ghita before selecting a method. You can ask her for a call-back on 0439888070.
The assessment session is 2 hours. Overall, 6 - 8 sessions is recommended.
If a client does not find it comfortable to be asked to remember scenarios, then NLP and Hypnotherapy may be a better fit.
No Doctor's Referral required
Ghita is experienced and has helped hundreds of trauma patients over the last decade. Importantly, it is a good idea to chat with Ghita before selecting a method. You can ask her for a call-back on 0439888070.
The assessment session is 2 hours. Overall, 6 - 8 sessions is recommended.
EMDR AMAZING BREAKTHROUGH PROGRAM (In-person Gold Coast): $680 - 6 Hour Package - Save $40
Highly Recommended - this package is for one introductory two hour session followed by 4 weekly sessions (5 sessions = 6 hours in total). The client books the first two hour session and the therapist selects the next 4 sessions manually.
This highly recommended combination of six EMDR hours blends both Bilateral Stimulation and Eye Desensitisation. This combination has the benefit of removing not only the emotion from the memory, but double checking that the trauma is no longer stuck in the Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic storage areas of the memory – in relation to the past, present and future (Time Line). This combination of methods has been found to be extraordinary for removing trauma.
Releasing Negative Emotions From Events
The old memory of an event is not always the problem, it is often the emotion attached to the event or the events may have compounded over a lifespan. Triggers that cause negative emotions get in the way of one's work, relationships, health and life etc. Taking away the negative anchors attached to past events changes a person's behaviour and perspective on life.
Important: When booking this package online the client books the first intensive and Ghita books the following consecutive weekly appointments.
Highly Recommended - this package is for one introductory two hour session followed by 4 weekly sessions (5 sessions = 6 hours in total). The client books the first two hour session and the therapist selects the next 4 sessions manually.
This highly recommended combination of six EMDR hours blends both Bilateral Stimulation and Eye Desensitisation. This combination has the benefit of removing not only the emotion from the memory, but double checking that the trauma is no longer stuck in the Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic storage areas of the memory – in relation to the past, present and future (Time Line). This combination of methods has been found to be extraordinary for removing trauma.
Releasing Negative Emotions From Events
The old memory of an event is not always the problem, it is often the emotion attached to the event or the events may have compounded over a lifespan. Triggers that cause negative emotions get in the way of one's work, relationships, health and life etc. Taking away the negative anchors attached to past events changes a person's behaviour and perspective on life.
- Session One (2 hours): The first session is an information gathering session. Ghita assesses the client’s readiness and develops a treatment plan. Working together, client and therapist identify distressing memories and current situations that cause emotional distress – in relation to the five senses. For example: Some memories are very vivid, may have sounds attached and create certain feelings.
- Session Two (1 hour): Information gathering plus if there is time, an eye movement desensitisation exercise (Finger exercise discovering whether memory or feelings are based in VAK. The visual, auditory or kinesthetic parts of memory). This exercise designed to reduce the fight or flight programming, reduce the emotion attached to an event (or limiting belief) and to create a calmer or neutral feeling. It is like turning down the dial of a radio or tv set.
- Session Three to Four (1 hour each): Eye movement desensitization exercises (finger exercises) plus bi-lateral tapping to unstick any memory in the Visual, Auditory or Kinesthetic areas of memory. This is best done repeatedly to double check that this memory and trauma are deleted to the fullest extent possible. Reduce visual images, sounds, feelings. The EMDR exercises are combined with homework inbetween sessions - such as bi-lateral tapping and journalling.
- Session Five (1 hour): Check-in session to review the improvement level. There should be major improvement or complete removal of the original trauma response or limiting belief. When the client reports no distress related to the targeted memory, (s)he is asked to think of the preferred positive belief that was identified at the beginning of the session. We then make the new positive belief (Eg: 'I am a good person'), scaled up to 10/10.
Important: When booking this package online the client books the first intensive and Ghita books the following consecutive weekly appointments.
Terms and Conditions for EMDR Package:
- Offer available online only.
- Please chat to Ghita Andersen before booking this package to be sure this package suits your circumstances.
- 24 HOURS NOTICE OF CANCELLATIONS: We cannot fill sessions at short notice. Cancellation Policies
- No refunds on package with less than 24 hours notice.
- No refunds on unused hours once package has begun: Eg: Late Cancellations, Postponements beyond the three month period of validity. Late cancellations or no shows will forfeit the appointment.
- The consecutive order of the package is vital to it's success.
- Clients select package on the booking portal, after which the therapist has to book you in for consecutive appointments so that they can track the hours used.
- Not available with any other offers
- If a client is found to be unsuitable for EMDR after the assessment session, the remainder of the package will be refunded
- Package expires within 3 months of purchase
DISCLAIMER: Because EMDR can be emotionally taxing, clinicians often recommend a stabilization period or alternative therapies before attempting trauma reprocessing. EMDR is generally not recommended for individuals who lack emotional regulation skills, have psychological issues which hinder concentration, have unstable living situations, or are experiencing acute crises. Specific contraindications include active substance abuse, acute psychosis, severe dissociative disorders, suicidal thoughts and recent trauma (within 30 days). It is also avoided for those with uncontrolled neurological conditions. Note: Ghita Andersen is not a psychologist or psychiatrist.
Copyright 2025 Ghita Andersen. All Rights Reserved. Photo courtesy of Science-Photo-Library
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