EMDR Therapy in Derby
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a structured therapy for memories and experiences that still feel unfinished. Sessions with James Harris MBACP are paced, stabilisation first, and run in Derby city centre or online.
BACP-registered · In-person Derby · Online UK · Confidential
What EMDR therapy is, in plain terms
EMDR uses guided bilateral stimulation, usually eye movements, gentle taps or alternating tones, while you hold a difficult memory in mind. The aim is to help the brain process material that stayed stuck, so that recalling it feels less charged and more like an ordinary memory. It follows a recognised eight phase structure covering history taking, preparation, assessment, processing, installation, body scan, closure and review. You stay awake, aware and in control throughout, and we only begin processing once grounding and settling skills are in place.
What to expect in a first session
The first appointment is a conversation, not processing. We spend the time understanding your history, what you are hoping to change, and how your sleep, mood and daily routine are affected at the moment. Nothing is rushed and you decide how much detail you want to give.
We then look at readiness together. That means checking what support you have around you, practising one or two settling techniques you can use between appointments, and agreeing how we will pause if a session feels like too much. Where EMDR is not the right starting point, we will say so and talk through the other approaches available here.
Sessions last around an hour. In person appointments are at Room 6, 72 Wilson Street, Derby DE1 1PL, and online appointments run by secure video anywhere in the UK.
Why AIP Therapy in Derby
Sessions are with James Harris, BSc (Hons) counsellor and psychotherapist and a registered member of the BACP (MBACP), working from a quiet consulting room in Derby city centre. EMDR sits within a wider integrative practice, so where it helps we can draw on clinical hypnotherapy, NLP and person centred work alongside it rather than fitting you to a single method.
The emphasis is on pace and honesty. We agree what we are working on, review it as we go, and talk openly if something is not helping. There are no promises about outcomes, because therapy does not work that way, but you will always know what we are doing and why.
Derby has relatively few EMDR providers, so appointments are offered Monday to Saturday, and online sessions mean distance does not have to be the reason you wait.
Try a technique before you book
If you would like a sense of the work first, James demonstrates a self hypnosis breathing technique and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT tapping) in short free videos.
Watch the self-help videosWhat this can help with
- ✓Single incident trauma such as an accident, assault or sudden loss
- ✓Repeated or long standing difficult experiences
- ✓PTSD related difficulties including flashbacks, nightmares and hypervigilance
- ✓Childhood adversity that still affects daily life
- ✓Birth trauma and medical experiences
- ✓Military and emergency services experiences
- ✓Specific fears linked to an identifiable event
- ✓Performance blocks connected to a past failure
How sessions are structured
- Step 1
History and preparation
We talk through what brings you, what you want to be different, and any health or medication considerations. Grounding and settling skills come before any processing work.
- Step 2
Targeting and processing
We identify specific memories or themes, then run short, paced sets of bilateral stimulation with regular check ins so you set the speed.
- Step 3
Closure, integration and review
Every session ends with time to settle. We consolidate what has shifted, strengthen more helpful beliefs and review progress before planning the next piece of work.
What clients say
★★★★★"I decided to seek structured support and expertise — highly recommend James."
★★★★★"Working with James has been incredibly helpful for my anxiety. He creates a calm, supportive environment."
★★★★★"Therapy with James helped me understand myself and overcome patterns I'd struggled with for years."
Frequently asked questions
Is EMDR safe?+
EMDR is a widely used, structured therapy delivered here with stabilisation first. We agree a pace together and never push past what feels manageable in the room.
How many sessions of EMDR will I need?+
It varies from person to person. Single incident work is often shorter than work on repeated or long standing experiences. We review progress together as we go rather than promising a fixed number.
Can EMDR be done online?+
Yes. Online EMDR is offered across the UK using secure video and approved bilateral stimulation tools, with the same structure as in person sessions in Derby.
Do I have to describe the trauma in detail?+
No. EMDR does not require you to narrate everything that happened. You stay in control of what you share and how much detail you use.
What happens between sessions?+
Some people notice dreams, memories or shifts in mood in the days after a session. We plan grounding strategies in advance and talk through anything that comes up at the next appointment.
Where do sessions take place in Derby?+
In person sessions are at Room 6, 72 Wilson Street, Derby DE1 1PL, a short walk from the Cathedral Quarter, with online sessions available UK wide.
Related services
Trauma Therapy
Paced, careful trauma support for intrusive memories, hyperarousal and avoidance.
PTSD Treatment
Structured PTSD support — nightmares, hypervigilance, emotional numbness.
Clinical Hypnotherapy
Integrative one-to-one hypnotherapy for anxiety, trauma, stress, habits and sleep.
EMDR in Derby City Centre
EMDR at Room 6, 72 Wilson Street DE1 — planned around a working day.
Content-Free Regression
Work through the root of a feeling without having to describe what happened.
Ready to take the first step?
Two minutes. No forms. No pressure. Just a conversation.