Use EMDR Therapy to resolve your trauma

EMDR Therapy in Melbourne: A Transformative Approach to Trauma and Emotional Healing

Emotional wounds may not always be visible, yet they can exert a profound influence on our lives. Trauma, anxiety, PTSD, and emotional distress often leave lasting marks on both the mind and body, leading to feelings of fear, self-sabotage, or overwhelming emotions. If you are seeking a safe and effective method to confront and overcome these challenges, EMDR therapy in Melbourne might be the solution you’ve been looking for.

At Mind Therapist, we provide EMDR therapy as part of a comprehensive approach to mental health and emotional well-being. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing; it is a globally recognized, evidence-based therapy designed to assist individuals in processing traumatic experiences and distressing memories. This innovative method reduces the emotional intensity associated with these memories, enabling individuals to heal more effectively.

We will delve into how EMDR therapy operates, identify who can benefit from it, and discuss why it has gained recognition as one of the most trusted therapies for trauma available today.

What Is EMDR Therapy?

Developed in the 1980s by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro, EMDR therapy was initially created to aid those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Unlike traditional talk therapy—which often requires individuals to recount every detail of their trauma—EMDR focuses on how traumatic memories are stored in the brain. By facilitating a process that allows these memories to be reprocessed, EMDR promotes genuine emotional healing.

During an EMDR session, clients are guided through a structured eight-phase approach that includes:

Gathering history and planning treatment
Preparing clients and building resources
Assessing target memories
Desensitizing through bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones)
Reprocessing and instilling positive beliefs
Conducting body scans to release any lingering tension
Closing the session and re-evaluating progress

At its core, EMDR therapy utilizes bilateral stimulation—typically through guided eye movements—to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories. This process alleviates the emotional burden associated with those memories while maintaining the factual details of the events themselves.

Through this transformative approach, many individuals have found relief from their emotional struggles and embraced a path towards healing.

Hello, I’m Mary Galanis

As an accredited Strategic Psychotherapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist, I am committed to helping you navigate life's challenges with a blend of practical guidance and compassionate support. I understand that struggles that trauma can leave you feeling powerless, overwhelmed, and confused. My mission is to empower you by equipping you with the tools and strategies necessary for healing and regaining control through effective anger management.

I emphasize delivering real results through personalized treatment plans that incorporate a range of proven methods, such as Hypnosis, EMDR for trauma, Psychotherapy, and Somatic Healing. Your holistic well-being is at the core of our collaborative work.

Clinical Hypnotherapy and Strategic Psychotherapy are highly regarded by medical professionals as safe and effective approaches for addressing your trauma and related issues. My goal is to help you achieve peace of mind quickly and efficiently through tailored treatments designed specifically for your unique needs.

Outside my professional life, I cherish spending time with my two adult daughters, practicing yoga regularly, and unwinding with my two cats. I believe in continuous growth—both personally and within my practice—and I strive to assist you in becoming a well-balanced individual who embodies the best version of yourself.

Together, we will embark on a transformative journey toward enhanced wellness through your customized treatment plan.

Here’s to better and better.

Treating Anger with Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy

How EMDR Therapy in Melbourne Can Help You

At our clinic, clients often seek help for persistent issues, including:

- Childhood trauma or abuse
- PTSD resulting from accidents, loss, or violence
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Emotional dysregulation
- Low self-esteem stemming from past experiences
- Grief and complicated mourning processes
- Phobias and intense fears

EMDR therapy is especially beneficial for those who have tried other forms of therapy without finding substantial relief. This innovative approach bypasses the rational part of the brain, allowing us to access deeper emotional patterns and facilitate healing at a profound level.

At Mind Therapist, we specialize in EMDR therapy in Melbourne for individuals looking to heal gently and safely, avoiding any re-traumatization. Our sessions take place in a calm and supportive environment, with each treatment plan customized to meet your specific needs and emotional resilience.

Is EMDR Therapy Right for You?

If you’re dealing with emotional pain, intrusive thoughts, or an ongoing sense of fear or tension, EMDR therapy in Melbourne could provide a powerful pathway to recovery. You may be a suitable candidate for this therapy if:

- You experience flashbacks or emotional triggers related to past trauma.
- You avoid certain places, people, or conversations due to unresolved fears.
- You've tried talk therapy but still feel stuck.
- You struggle with emotional numbness, dissociation, or hyper-vigilance.
- You wish to release the past and regain control over your present life.

Many clients report feeling lighter, clearer, and more in control of their emotions after just a few EMDR sessions. This process isn’t about forgetting what happened; rather, it focuses on changing how your brain responds to those memories.

Why Choose EMDR Therapy in Melbourne?

Choosing EMDR therapy offers numerous benefits:

- Evidence-Based:Recognized by the World Health Organization and the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council as an effective treatment for trauma.

- Rapid Results:** Clients often experience significant improvements within a relatively short time frame.

- Non-Invasive:** Unlike some therapies that require reliving traumatic events in detail, EMDR allows for healing without such distressing requirements.

- Holistic Approach:** EMDR takes into account the connection between mind and body, promoting overall well-being.

At Mind Therapist, we seamlessly integrate EMDR with various therapeutic modalities to provide comprehensive care tailored specifically to each client’s unique needs.

Who Can Benefit from EMDR Therapy?

EMDR therapy in Melbourne is beneficial for individuals experiencing:

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Including flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance.
Anxiety Disorders: Such as generalized anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias.
Depression: Especially when linked to past trauma.
Grief and Loss: Including complicated or unresolved grief.
Performance Anxiety: Such as fear of public speaking or test anxiety.
Addictions: Related to unresolved emotional issues.
Childhood Abuse: Including physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.

Individuals who have not found relief through traditional therapies often experience significant improvement with EMDR therapy.

How Does EMDR Therapy Work?

EMDR therapy in Melbourne follows an eight-phase protocol

History and Treatment Planning: The therapist gathers information about the client's history and identifies target memories for reprocessing.
Preparation: The therapist explains the EMDR process and establishes a sense of safety and trust.
Assessment: The client identifies specific memories and associated negative beliefs.
Desensitisation: Bilateral stimulation is used while the client focuses on the traumatic memory, reducing its emotional charge.
Installation: Positive beliefs are reinforced to replace negative ones.
Body Scan: The client scans the body for residual tension related to the memory.
Closure: The session ends with techniques to restore emotional equilibrium.
Re-evaluation: Progress is reviewed, and any remaining issues are addressed.

This structured approach ensures that clients can process traumatic memories in a safe and effective manner.

EMDR vs. Other Therapies

One of the reasons EMDR therapy has grown in popularity is its ability to produce results in a shorter timeframe than traditional therapy methods. While talk therapy may take months or years to reach the core of trauma, EMDR often produces significant shifts in just a few sessions.

Here’s how EMDR compares:

Therapy Type	Approach	Focus	Duration
Talk Therapy	Conversational	Conscious thoughts and behaviour	Long-term
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)	Logical re-framing	Negative thought patterns	Moderate
EMDR Therapy	Neuro-biological reprocessing	Subconscious memory/emotion integration	Often shorter

By targeting the neurological pathways involved in memory and emotion, EMDR offers not just symptom relief, but deep, sustainable healing.

What to Expect at Your EMDR Therapy Session in Melbourne

At Mind Therapy, your first EMDR therapy session in Melbourne begins with a comprehensive assessment. We’ll explore your goals, background, and current emotional challenges in a confidential and supportive environment.

During an EMDR therapy session in Melbourne, clients can expect:

A Safe and Supportive Environment: Therapists create a space where clients feel comfortable and understood.
Collaborative Process: Therapists work with clients to identify target memories and goals.
Bilateral Stimulation Techniques: Utilizing eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones to facilitate memory processing.
Emotional Processing: Clients may experience a range of emotions as memories are reprocessed.
Post-Session Support: Therapists provide resources and strategies to manage any emotional responses.

Each session is tailored to the individual's pace and comfort level, ensuring a personalized therapeutic experience.

Why Choose The Mind Therapist for EMDR Therapy?

Located in Caulfield, Mind Therapist is a leading provider of EMDR therapy in Melbourne. Led by Mary Galanis, an accredited Clinical Hypnotherapist and Strategic Psychotherapist, she integrate EMDR with other powerful modalities like:

Clinical Hypnotherapy
Somatic Healing
Strategic Psychotherapy
Trauma-informed care

This multi-layered approach ensures that you receive comprehensive, personalised support—helping you process your past, regulate your present, and build confidence for your future.

**The Combined Power of EMDR and Hypnotherapy: Deep Healing Through the Subconscious**

**Discover the Benefits of Integrating EMDR Therapy with Hypnotherapy in Melbourne**

For individuals grappling with trauma, anxiety, emotional barriers, or deeply ingrained behavioral patterns, traditional therapy methods may not always yield lasting results. Advanced therapeutic approaches like EMDR therapy and hypnotherapy can be particularly effective—especially when utilized together.

At The Mind Therapist, we specialize in integrated EMDR therapy in Melbourne, seamlessly combining it with clinical hypnotherapy to provide clients with a deeper, faster, and more thorough emotional healing experience. Each of these techniques is potent on its own; however, their combination unlocks transformative potential by addressing the subconscious mind and nervous system from multiple angles.

We will examine how EMDR and hypnotherapy function, their shared advantages, and why their integration may represent the most effective therapeutic solution for overcoming trauma, anxiety, and emotional distress.

What Is Hypnotherapy?

Clinical hypnotherapy employs a focused and relaxed state (known as trance) to access the subconscious mind. In this state, individuals become more open to positive suggestions and insights. This allows them to change limiting beliefs, reframe past experiences, and reshape automatic responses.

At our Melbourne clinic specializing in hypnotherapy and EMDR therapy, we utilize hypnotherapy to tackle various issues such as:
- Anxiety and stress
- Addiction and undesirable habits
- Weight management and emotional eating
- Chronic self-doubt and low self-esteem
- Emotional blocks stemming from trauma
- Inner child healing and subconscious reprogramming

Why Combine EMDR Therapy with Hypnotherapy?

Both EMDR and hypnotherapy engage the subconscious mind—the repository for trauma, belief systems, and emotional patterns. While EMDR employs bilateral stimulation to reprocess traumatic memories, hypnotherapy utilizes suggestibility and visualization to forge new internal pathways and alter perceptions.

Here are several ways that combining EMDR with hypnotherapy enhances healing:

1. Faster, More Effective Trauma Processing
EMDR aids the brain in desensitizing and reprocessing specific memories while hypnotherapy promotes emotional release and deeper insights. This dual approach accelerates healing by addressing both neurological and emotional roots of trauma. Together, they empower clients to confront pain without becoming overwhelmed.

2. Deeper Subconscious Access
Hypnotherapy enables clients to explore subconscious thoughts, patterns, and imagery that might not emerge during conventional EMDR sessions. By integrating both methods into one experience, we create a holistic approach that tackles both emotional depth and cognitive aspects of trauma. Many clients at our clinic report significant breakthroughs when using hypnotherapy to uncover forgotten or suppressed emotions that can later be processed safely through EMDR techniques.

3. Improved Nervous System Regulation
Trauma often disrupts the nervous system's balance, leaving individuals in a persistent state of fight or flight. While EMDR helps calm the brain's trauma response, hypnotherapy fosters nervous system regulation by inducing deep relaxation states. Together, they teach the body how to regain a sense of safety—an essential component for long-term healing.

4. Greater Emotional Resilience
While EMDR effectively addresses trauma’s impact, hypnotherapy reinforces self-worth, boosts confidence levels, and instills new beliefs. This combination creates a more resilient internal framework for clients. After processing traumatic memories through EMDR techniques, hypnotherapy helps incorporate positive affirmations along with future-oriented mental strategies—giving individuals tools they need to thrive.

5. Tailored Client-Centered Treatment
At Mind Therapist, every treatment plan is customized based on your unique needs. Some clients may start their journey with hypnotherapy to establish emotional safety before transitioning into EMDR therapy; others might find it beneficial to begin with EMDR followed by hypnotherapy for integration purposes. We continuously evaluate your readiness, comfort level, and goals to ensure an effective therapeutic approach.

Why Choose The Mind Therapist for Your EMDR Therapy Needs in Melbourne?

As a certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Strategic Psychotherapist with extensive training and experience at my disposal for every session I conduct—I reject the notion of one-size-fits-all therapy models! Instead,I collaborate closely with you to blend effective tools that facilitate genuine transformation.

Located in Caulfield , our practice dedicated to providing exceptional EMDR therapy offers a safe , nurturing ,and confidential environment tailored specifically for your healing journey .

If you're ready not just to manage symptoms but also achieve deep healing consider exploring the powerful synergy between EMDR therapy combined with clinical hypnotherapy . Whether confronting long-standing trauma , anxiety ,or internal obstacles this integrative approach can empower you break free while moving forward confidently .

Success Stories

Seeing Mary changed my life. I had become hyperfocused on past events so that I was not functioning in my day to day actvities. I am very grateful for all the help.

Jack

James T.

FAQs

1What is EMDR therapy, and how does it work?

EMDR therapy, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a powerful form of psychotherapy designed to help individuals recover from traumatic experiences and emotional distress. It is most commonly used to treat PTSD, but it's also highly effective for conditions like anxiety, depression, phobias, and grief. EMDR works by stimulating the brain’s natural healing processes using bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, while helping the mind process and reframe difficult memories.

2How long does EMDR therapy take?

The duration of EMDR therapy can differ significantly based on several factors, such as the type and severity of trauma, the individual's overall mental health, and the complexity of their issues. General Time Frame: Single-Incident Trauma (e.g., car accidents, assaults): This type of trauma may require 6 to 12 sessions, although some individuals may need even fewer. Typically, treatment is completed within a few weeks to a few months. Complex Trauma or Multiple Traumas (e.g., childhood abuse, ongoing trauma): In these cases, therapy can extend over months or even years. It often involves numerous sessions to effectively process various memories. Other Influencing Factors: Co-occurring issues such as anxiety, depression, or dissociation can prolong the therapy timeline. Additionally, the therapist's approach and your rate of progress also contribute to the overall length of treatment. Typical Session Structure: Sessions generally last between 50 to 90 minutes. While weekly sessions are common, therapists may recommend more frequent appointments during the initial stages of treatment to ensure optimal progress.

3Is EMDR therapy safe?

Yes, EMDR therapy is generally regarded as safe when provided by a qualified therapist. It is a non-invasive, drug-free approach that follows a well-structured eight-phase protocol. This standardized process ensures that treatment is delivered consistently and with care. Research studies have shown EMDR to be effective and safe for treating PTSD and other trauma-related mental health conditions.

4What does a typical session look like ?

Sessions last for 60 minutes. This gives me time to treat both the mind and the body. The first session lasts for 90 minutes. All other sessions are 60 minutes each.) Beginning: Typically, each session begins with a discussion of what’s happened since your last session. This gives us a clear idea of the progress you feel you’ve made and what areas we need to focus on. Middle: You’ll sit back, relax, and listen as you receive hypnotherapy (most clients’ favourite part of the session!). End: Finally, we’ll discuss what actions need to take place between this session and your next to ensure your healing continues.

5How many sessions will I need ?

It’s important to understand everyone has a different set of circumstances. That’s why I tailor each treatment program according to your individual needs. As a general guide, most people develop the tools they need to achieve symptom decrease and gradually overcome anxiety after 3 to 6 sessions

6Can EMDR therapy be conducted online?

Yes, EMDR therapy can be delivered online through secure video platforms. Online EMDR has been shown to be just as effective as in-person sessions when facilitated by a trained therapist. It allows clients to access therapy from the comfort and privacy of their home, making it a convenient option for many people across Melbourne and beyond.

7How do I get in touch with you?

Simply send me a message using the enquiry/booking form or book in a 30mins free discovery call. and I’ll be in touch! Or If you’d like to have a quick chat prior to booking a session, you can also call me on 0411 11 4587. I look forward to meeting you.

8What conditions can EMDR therapy treat?

EMDR is a highly versatile therapeutic method used to treat a wide range of emotional and psychological conditions. These include: PTSD from events like combat, assault, or accidents Complex trauma from long-term abuse or neglect Anxiety disorders and panic attacks Depression linked to unresolved trauma Phobias and fears such as fear of flying or public speaking Social anxiety and low self-esteem Addictions and compulsive behaviors tied to trauma Chronic pain or psychosomatic symptoms Performance anxiety in students, professionals, and athletes It can also assist with grief, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies when used alongside other treatments.

9Do I need to talk about my trauma in detail during EMDR therapy?

No, one of the key benefits of EMDR is that you do not need to speak about your trauma in full detail. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR focuses on how the brain processes memories internally. Clients are asked to briefly identify the traumatic memory and then focus on associated emotions or sensations while the therapist guides them through bilateral stimulation. This allows healing without the need to relive every detail of the experience.

10What is the cost of EMDR therapy sessions in Melbourne?

The standard cost for an EMDR therapy session in Melbourne is $160 per hour. Each session is designed to provide a supportive and structured approach to help you work through emotional challenges in a safe and professional environment.

11What can I expect during my first EMDR therapy session?

Getting to Know You The therapist will: Ask about your mental health history, current concerns, and goals for therapy. Explore any past traumatic or distressing events you may want to work on. Assess your coping skills and emotional stability to ensure you're ready for trauma work. You don't need to go into deep detail yet, just an overview.

12Are there any side effects of EMDR therapy?

While EMDR is safe and effective, some clients may experience temporary side effects during or after sessions. These can include emotional sensitivity, tiredness, vivid dreams, or flashbacks as the brain continues to process trauma. It’s common to feel emotionally drained, especially after intense sessions. These effects are usually short-term and indicate that healing is taking place. Your therapist will teach grounding techniques to help you manage these responses and continue progressing in a safe, supported way.

EMDR Therapy Melbourne