Neurodivergent-Affirming EMDR Therapy
Trauma-informed EMDR therapy adapted thoughtfully with neurodivergent needs, safety, regulation, and pacing in mind.
EMDR can support the processing of difficult experiences within a compassionate, flexible, and neurodivergent-affirming therapeutic environment.
EMDR Therapy
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It is a therapy used to help people recover from distressing events and the problems they have caused, like flashbacks, upsetting thoughts or images, depression or anxiety.
EMDR is recognised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the World Health Organisation (WHO), which also recognises it as an effective treatment for children.
What can EMDR be used for?
In addition to its use for the treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, EMDR has been used successfully used to treat:
• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Depression
• Stress
• Phobias
• Sleep problems
• Complicated grief
• Addictions
• Pain relief, phantom limb pain
• Self-esteem and performance anxiety
How long does treatment take?
EMDR can be brief focused treatment or part of a longer psychotherapy programme.
EMDR sessions can be for 60 to 90 minutes.
During EMDR sessions, you will remain in control, fully alert and wide-awake. This is not a form of hypnosis and you can stop the process at any time. Reprocessing is usually experienced as something that happens spontaneously as a result, most people experience EMDR as being a natural and very empowering therapy
EMDR that starts with safety
EMDR therapy can support people to process distressing memories, trauma responses, and difficult experiences that continue to affect daily life, relationships, confidence, and wellbeing.
For neurodivergent people, EMDR needs to be paced carefully, with attention to sensory needs, processing style, emotional regulation, communication preferences, and nervous system safety.
Adapted around neurodivergent needs
Neurodivergent-affirming EMDR does not rush the process or assume one way of working will suit everyone.
The work can be adapted through slower pacing, clearer structure, more preparation, flexible communication, grounding strategies, and choice around how bilateral stimulation is used.
EMDR for trauma, difficult experiences, and ongoing emotional impact
EMDR may be helpful if past experiences continue to feel present, overwhelming, intrusive, or emotionally charged, even when you logically know they are over.
Trauma & PTSD
EMDR may support the processing of traumatic experiences, PTSD symptoms, flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive memories, and emotional overwhelm.
Difficult Life Experiences
EMDR can help process experiences that still feel unresolved, painful, confusing, or emotionally intense, even if they do not fit one simple definition of trauma.
Masking, Shame & Invalidation
Neurodivergent people may carry the impact of being misunderstood, dismissed, corrected, excluded, or pressured to mask over long periods of time.
Anxiety & Emotional Triggers
EMDR may help when specific triggers, memories, situations, relationships, or body responses create intense anxiety, panic, fear, or distress.
Relationship Experiences
Relationship Experiences
EMDR can support the processing of relational trauma, attachment wounds, rejection, bullying, conflict, loss, betrayal, or feeling unsafe with others.
Building Safety Forward
Building Safety Forward
EMDR is not only about processing the past. It can also support confidence, regulation, self-trust, and a stronger sense of safety going forward.
Trauma-informed, affirming, flexible, and paced with care
EMDR is not about forcing yourself to revisit distress before you feel ready. Preparation, consent, stability, and trust are central to the process.
Sessions can be adapted to support neurodivergent processing, communication, sensory needs, pacing, emotional regulation, and different ways of making sense of experience.
Working with Emma
I am a neurodivergent therapist, supervisor, trainer, and one of the founders of THINK Neurodivergent UK. My work combines lived experience, professional expertise, and a commitment to creating affirming therapeutic spaces where neurodivergent people can feel understood, respected, and supported.
My approach is thoughtful, collaborative, and paced with care. I work with clarity, compassion, and respect for neurodivergent communication, processing styles, sensory needs, identity, lived experience, and individual ways of making sense of the world.
I bring together professional knowledge, lived experience, reflective practice, and a passion for improving support, accessibility, and opportunities for neurodivergent people and the professionals who work alongside them..
- I am a accredited Person-Centred Counsellor, qualified EMDR Practitioner, Supervisor and have been the CEO and Clinical Lead of a Counselling Centre in the South of England.
- I have over 25 years’ experience, working with many different people in a wide range of different environments
- I am a neurodivergent affirming practitioner with lived experience of neurodivergence and offer counselling for newly diagnosed, self-identified and currently diagnosed
- I have extensive experience supporting neurodivergent people and professionals
- I work with a Neurodivergent-affirming and trauma-informed approach
- I am committed to creating confidential, safe, accessible, reflective, and supportive therapeutic spaces
What people say about working with Emma at THINK Neurodivergent UK
Feedback from people who have experienced our neurodivergent-affirming approach to support, reflection, and therapeutic work.
“Emma has helped me understand my own unique neurodivergent profile and works with me on the things I struggle with. She is informative, compassionate, funny, kind, accepting and non-judgmental. ”
“I have never felt more connected to myself and to life and this is very much due to the work I am doing with Emma. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”
“Looking at both the present and the past with Emma through the lens of neurodivergence has taken away all the confusion and frustration that I have always felt about why I am the way I am”
A steady, clear and carefully paced process
EMDR therapy begins with careful preparation. Before any trauma processing takes place, there is time to understand your needs, build safety, discuss pacing, and explore whether EMDR feels appropriate.
Prepare
We focus on grounding, regulation, stability, communication, and pacing before processing begins.
Accessibility in EMDR
EMDR can be adapted around communication, sensory needs, processing time, emotional regulation, and different ways of experiencing memory, body sensations, images, thoughts, and feelings.
- Clear explanation before each stage
- Choice around pacing and breaks
- Attention to sensory and regulation needs
- Grounding and stabilisation before processing
- Space to pause, adjust, or slow down
EMDR may include
EMDR is not one single experience. Sessions may include preparation, mapping triggers, grounding strategies, resourcing, bilateral stimulation, processing memories, and strengthening future coping.
- Understanding trauma responses
- Identifying memories, triggers, or themes
- Developing safety and regulation strategies
- Processing difficult experiences carefully
- Building confidence and future stability
Who do we work with
Neurodivergent adults and young people (from 16 years)
Delivery methods
Face to Face or Online via Zoom
Prices
One to One
60 - 75min session starts at £90 per session
I offer a free 30 minute initial meet up/consultation. In person, on phone, or by video call
If cost is a barrier limited concessions available
Would you like to enquire about therapy?
You are welcome to contact us if you would like to ask about therapy, availability, accessibility needs, or whether this support may be suitable for you.
Other services that may also help
Depending on your needs, therapy and counselling or coaching may also be relevant alongside or instead of EMDR therapy.
Therapy & Counselling
Neurodivergent-affirming therapy and counselling delivered with clarity, compassion, care, safety, and understanding.
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Personal Development Training
Neurodivergent personal development coaching for clarity, confidence, direction, and sustainability.
Services Overview
Explore the full range of therapy, EMDR, coaching, training, supervision services.