A Guide for GPs and Allied Health
EMDR therapy is one of the most extensively evidenced treatments available for trauma-related presentations. It’s recommended by the World Health Organization, the Phoenix Australia clinical guidelines, and the Australian Psychological Society. Despite this, many patients who would benefit from it are still waiting for a referral that hasn’t come.
This post is for GPs and allied health professionals who want a clearer picture of when EMDR therapy is indicated, what it actually involves, and how to refer.
What trauma looks like in a general practice setting
Trauma presentations don’t always arrive with a clear label. Patients presenting with unexplained fatigue, chronic pain, sleep disturbance, irritability, relationship difficulties or anxiety that hasn’t responded to standard treatment may have an unaddressed trauma history. The connection isn’t always obvious to the patient, and it’s worth asking.
Complex PTSD, which develops from repeated or prolonged trauma rather than a single incident, tends to present with more pervasive difficulties including emotional dysregulation, negative self-concept, and difficulties in relationships. It’s often misdiagnosed as personality disorder, depression, or treatment-resistant anxiety.
When EMDR therapy is indicated
EMDR therapy has the strongest evidence base for PTSD and trauma, and is also well supported for:
- Single-incident trauma including accidents, assault, difficult births and medical procedures
- Complex PTSD arising from childhood abuse, neglect or repeated traumatic experiences
- Phobias with an identifiable origin, including needle phobia, driving anxiety and medical procedure fear
- Grief, particularly complicated grief or traumatic loss
- Anxiety and panic that has a clear traumatic component
- Negative core beliefs rooted in past experience that haven’t shifted with talk therapy
- Intrusive memories, flashbacks and nightmares
EMDR therapy can be used alongside medication and doesn’t require the patient to narrate their trauma in detail. For patients who’ve found verbal processing difficult or re-traumatising, this is an important distinction.
What EMDR therapy involves
EMDR therapy works by helping the brain reprocess distressing memories that have become stuck in a way that continues to trigger a trauma response. Treatment involves a preparation phase to build safety and coping resources, followed by a processing phase using bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements or tapping) while the patient briefly attends to the traumatic memory.
The preparation phase is thorough and clients move at their own pace. No one is pushed into processing before they’re ready.
For more information, check out What Should I Expect Before Starting EMDR Therapy?
EMDR therapy Intensives in Footscray
For patients who want to make faster progress or who can’t commit to weekly sessions, we offer EMDR therapy Intensive programs. These involve extended sessions of two to three hours, three times per week over one to two weeks. They’re particularly useful for acute presentations, patients travelling for treatment, or those working toward a defined goal in a compressed timeframe.
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To find out more about the process, check out https://thetherapyhub.com.au/intensive-emdr-sessions-at-the-therapy-hub/
How to refer
We accept Mental Health Care Plans, TAC, WorkCover, Victims of Crime and private referrals. We currently have no waitlist for daytime EMDR therapy appointments.
You can refer by fax to (03) 9923 6856, by email to hello@thetherapyhub.com.au or by phone on (03) 9958 8772. Clients can also self-refer through our website.
Sessions from $200. Medicare rebates are available with a valid Mental Health Care Plan.
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