Sonya Farrell

I am a qualified, experienced and accredited EMDR Consultant & Trauma Psychotherapist, I work with an integrative approach incorporating the 3 main schools of thought, working with the past, present and future where appropriate.
I have 22 years experience working with adults and adolescents in private practice, G.P. practices and an addiction agency.  I have also managed a counselling charity with 20 staff and organised various trainings.

I offer EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing) combined with integrative psychotherapy, please see the information below for EMDR. Mainly used for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder including sexual abuse and phobias.  I offer individual EMDR sessions at 60 or 90 minutes online.  I also offer Intensive EMDR sessions in person or online, conducted over 1-5 days.  In person Intensive EMDR includes 4 hours of intensive EMDR per day incorporating yoga, walking & massage in between the sessions.  Luxury accommodation available.

I am accredited with UKCP & EMDR Europe, I am on the accredited voluntary register (AVR).

I have a separate room at home where I see private clients.  I use Zoom for working online including EMDR. 


Please contact me for any further information between 8am - 6pm.

WHAT IS EMDR THERAPY?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful method of psychotherapy that has helped an estimated two million people of all ages relieve many types of psychological distress.  Used mainly for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

HOW WAS EMDR DEVELOPED?

In 1987, psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro made the chance observation that eye movements can reduce the intensity of disturbing thoughts, under certain conditions.  Dr. Shapiro studied this effect scientifically, and in a 1989 issue of the Journal of Traumatic Stress, she reported success using EMDR to treat victims of trauma.  Since then, EMDR has developed and evolved through the contributions of therapists and researchers all over the world. Today, EMDR is a set of standardized protocols that incorporates elements from many different treatment approaches.

HOW DOES EMDR WORK?

No one knows how any form of psychotherapy works neurobiologically or in the brain.  However, we do know that when a person is very upset, their brain cannot process information as it does ordinarily. One moment becomes “frozen in time,” and remembering a trauma may feel as bad as going through it the first time because the images, sounds, smells, and feelings haven’t changed.

Such memories have a lasting negative effect that interferes with the way a person sees the world and the way they relate to other people. EMDR seems to have a direct effect on the way that the brain processes information.  Normal information processing is resumed, so following a successful EMDR session, a person no longer relives the images, sounds, and feelings when the event is brought to mind.  You still remember what happened, but it is less upsetting.  Many types of therapy have similar goals. However, EMDR appears to be similar to what occurs naturally during dreaming or REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Therefore, EMDR can be thought of as a physiologically based therapy that helps a person see disturbing material in a new and less distressing way. One philosophy is that EMDR unlocks negative memories and emotions stored in the nervous system and  reconnects neural pathways.

WHAT IS THE ACTUAL EMDR SESSION LIKE?

During EMDR, the therapist works with the client to identify a specific problem as the focus of the treatment session.  The client calls to mind the disturbing issue or event, what was seen, felt, heard, thought, etc., and what thoughts and beliefs are currently held about that event.  The therapist facilitates the directional movement of the eyes or other dual attention stimulation of the brain (tapping or bilateral music), while the client focuses on the disturbing material, and the client just notices whatever comes to mind without making any effort to control direction or content.  Each person will process information uniquely, based on personal experiences and values. Sets of eye movements are continued until the memory becomes less disturbing and is associated with positive thoughts and beliefs about one ’s self; for example, “I did the best I could.”  During EMDR, the client may experience intense emotions, but by the end of the session, most people report a great reduction in the level of disturbance.

HOW LONG DOES EMDR TAKE?

One or more sessions are required to understand the nature of the problem and to decide whether EMDR is an appropriate treatment.  I will also discuss EMDR more fully and provide an opportunity to answer questions about the method.

Once we have agreed that EMDR is appropriate for a specific problem, the actual EMDR therapy may begin.  A typical EMDR session lasts from 60 to 90 minutes.  The type of problem, life circumstances, and the amount of previous trauma will determine how many treatment sessions are necessary.

I use EMDR in conjunction with Integrative Psychotherapy.

Intensive EMDR

Intensive EMDR available online, includes 3-4 hours individual EMDR therapy per day over 1-5 days.  These are highly focussed sessions to clear past trauma, research proves that Intensive EMDR needs fewer hours than weekly therapy, proving cost effective.  Luxury retreats also available by special arrangement. 

BUT DOES EMDR REALLY WORK?

Controlled studies have investigated the effects of EMDR. These studies have consistently found that EMDR effectively decreases/eliminates the symptoms of post traumatic stress for the majority of clients.  Clients often report improvement in other associated symptoms such as anxiety.  The current National Institute of Health & Clinical Excel lance (N.I.C.E.E) treatment guidelines for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D.) recommends EMDR as an effective treatment. EMDR was also found effective by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defence, UK Ministry of Defence, the United Kingdom Department of Health, the Israeli National Council for Mental Health, and many other international health and governmental agencies.  Research has also shown that EMDR can be an efficient and rapid treatment.  Further information can be found through EMDR UK & Ireland;

WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS CAN EMDR TREAT?

Scientific research has established EMDR as effective for post traumatic stress. However, clinicians also have reported success using EMDR in treatment of the following conditions:

* personality disorders

* eating disorders

* panic attacks

* performance anxiety

* complicated grief

* stress reduction

* dissociative disorders

* addictions

* disturbing memories

* sexual and/or physical abuse

* phobias

* body dysmorphic disorders

* Pain Management

£ 80 per hour EMDR session /  £ 120 for 1.5 hours EMDR

£120 per hour EMDR Supervision

EMDR Consultancy available.