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EMDR Therapy Melbourne
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) in Collingwood, Melbourne
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing - most commonly known as EMDR - is an evidence-based psychological therapy that helps people process and heal from traumatic memories, distressing experiences, and the lasting emotional impact of difficult life events.
EMDR was developed by Dr Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s and has since become one of the most extensively researched trauma therapies in the world. It is endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Psychological Association (APA), the Australian Psychological Society (APS), and is a recommended first-line treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) under Australian clinical guidelines.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, which relies primarily on verbal processing of experiences, EMDR uses a technique called bilateral stimulation - most commonly guided eye movements or tapping - to help the brain do what it naturally does during deep sleep: file, process, and integrate difficult memories. When trauma or distress has interrupted that natural process, memories can remain emotionally "stuck," continuing to trigger strong reactions long after the original event has passed. EMDR helps to gently unstick them.
At Connected Minds Psychology in Collingwood, Melbourne, our AHPRA-registered psychologists are trained in EMDR therapy and work with adults across a broad range of presentations, from single-incident trauma and PTSD through to anxiety, phobias, grief, childhood and complex trauma, and performance anxiety.
What Can EMDR Therapy Help With?
EMDR is one of the most versatile evidence-based therapies available today. While it is best known as a treatment for PTSD and trauma, research continues to expand our understanding of the conditions it benefits.
At Connected Minds, our EMDR psychologists work with clients experiencing:
Trauma and PTSD EMDR is a first-line recommended treatment for PTSD. Whether trauma stems from a single event - such as an accident, assault, or medical emergency - or from prolonged or complex trauma experiences across childhood or adult life, EMDR can help reduce the emotional intensity of traumatic memories and restore a sense of safety.
Anxiety and Panic Many forms of anxiety are rooted in past experiences that the brain has not fully processed. EMDR can target the underlying memories or beliefs that fuel anxiety, social anxiety, health anxiety, panic disorder, and generalised anxiety.
Phobias EMDR has a strong evidence base for specific phobias, helping the brain to reprocess the memory or experience that formed the original fear response.
Grief and Loss Processing grief can be complicated when loss is sudden, traumatic, or involves complex emotions. EMDR can support clients in integrating loss and reducing the distress that makes it difficult to move forward.
Childhood Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences Many adults carry the effects of difficult or traumatic childhoods well into adult life, often without connecting their current struggles to their early experiences. EMDR is particularly well-suited to processing these early memories and their ongoing impact.
Performance Anxiety Athletes, performers, executives, and students often find that performance anxiety is tied to specific memories of failure, criticism, or perceived humiliation. EMDR can help reprocess these memories, freeing clients from self-limiting beliefs.
Depression Research increasingly supports the use of EMDR for depression, particularly where depressive episodes are linked to distressing life events or negative core beliefs formed through difficult experiences.
Talk to us about whether EMDR is right for you →
How Does EMDR Work? The 8 Phases of EMDR Treatment
One of the most common questions people have about EMDR is: what actually happens in a session? Understanding the structure of EMDR treatment can help reduce any uncertainty and help you feel more prepared before your first appointment.
EMDR follows a well-defined, structured protocol developed through decades of clinical research. Treatment is delivered across eight phases, which your psychologist will guide you through at a pace that feels safe and manageable for you.
Phase 1 - History Taking and Treatment Planning Your psychologist will spend time getting to know you, your history, and the specific experiences or symptoms you want to address. This is a collaborative process - together you will identify target memories or issues to work on and develop a personalised treatment plan.
Phase 2 - Preparation Before processing begins, your psychologist will ensure you have the skills and resources you need to feel safe throughout treatment. This includes explaining how EMDR works, what bilateral stimulation feels like, and teaching stabilisation and grounding techniques so you can manage any distress that arises between sessions.
Phase 3 - Assessment Your psychologist helps you identify and fully activate the target memory - including the image, negative belief, emotions, and physical sensations associated with it. This phase sets the foundation for processing.
Phase 4 - Desensitisation This is the core phase of EMDR. Your psychologist uses bilateral stimulation - typically guided eye movements, but sometimes tapping or auditory tones - while you hold the target memory in mind. Your brain begins to naturally process the memory, often shifting thoughts, emotions, and sensations during the sets of stimulation. The process continues until the memory's emotional distress rating reduces significantly.
Phase 5 - Installation A positive belief is identified and strengthened - for example, shifting from "I am powerless" to "I did the best I could." Bilateral stimulation is used to reinforce and deepen this positive cognition until it feels genuinely true.
Phase 6 - Body Scan Your psychologist asks you to hold the target memory and positive belief in mind together, then scan your body for any remaining tension or physical discomfort. Any residual sensations are targeted with further bilateral stimulation until your body feels clear.
Phase 7 - Closure Every session ends with a structured closure process to ensure you leave feeling grounded, stable, and safe - even if processing is not yet complete. Your psychologist will use grounding techniques and check in on your wellbeing before the session ends.
Phase 8 - Reevaluation At the start of subsequent sessions, your psychologist reviews the progress made and checks that previous targets remain resolved. New targets or emerging material are then identified and incorporated into the ongoing treatment plan.
This structured eight-phase model is what makes EMDR both rigorous and reliable. Each phase builds on the one before it, and your psychologist will never rush you through the process.
What to Expect at Your First EMDR Session at Connected Minds
Starting therapy - particularly trauma therapy - can feel daunting. Knowing what to expect can make it easier to take that first step.
Your initial appointment at Connected Minds is a standard psychology intake session. There is no EMDR processing in the first session. Instead, your psychologist will take time to:
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Understand what has brought you to therapy and what you would like to achieve
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Take a full history relevant to your current concerns
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Explain how EMDR works in plain language and answer any questions you have
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Assess whether EMDR is the right approach for your needs
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Begin developing a plan for your treatment
You are never required to share more than you are comfortable with. Your psychologist will move at your pace throughout the entire treatment process, and your safety and wellbeing are always the priority.
EMDR processing sessions at Connected Minds Psychology last 50 minutes. Your psychologist will let you know how many sessions to anticipate based on your individual history and goals.
Our EMDR Psychologists in Melbourne
Connected Minds Psychology is home to a team of experienced, AHPRA-registered psychologists who are trained in EMDR therapy. Our practitioners bring warmth, clinical rigour, and genuine care to their work, and each brings a unique set of specialisations to support the diverse needs of our clients. All psychologists listed on this page are AHPRA Registered and have completed EMDR training accredited by the EMDR Association of Australia.
Dr Stephanie Louise, PhD., MAPS
Board Approved Supervisor
Pronouns: She/Her
Stephanie is a director and co-founder of Connected Minds, Clinical Psychologist an Adjunct Research Fellow at Swinburne University of Technology. With a PhD in mindfulness for mental health, Stephanie is passionate about positive psychology and helping people navigate their way toward a healthy and meaningful life. She utilises a range of therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), EMDR, and Schema Therapy. Stephanie also has a special interest in perinatal mental health. Stephanie has developed wellbeing and resilience training programs that have been used in organisations within Australia and around the world.
Lucy Cochran, MPsych.
Pronouns: She/Her
Lucy is a Registered Psychologist with an engaging and warm interpersonal style. She has a client-centred approach and helps people live more enriched lives based on their individual values and strengths. Lucy uses a range of evidence based therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassionate Mindfulness, EMDR, Schema Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy. Lucy has a special interest in helping people with general anxiety, social anxiety, stress, perfectionism, low mood, trauma, sleep, adjustment difficulties and performance. She is particularly interested in helping people recognise their inner critic and finding a more compassionate way to thrive. Lucy conducted her Masters level research on unhelpful smartphone behaviours.
Chris Baumgartner, MPsych.
Pronouns: He/Him
Chris is a Registered Psychologist with experience across a range of public and private mental health settings. In his practice, Chris aims at assisting and empowering individuals that are seeking deep and abiding change. Chris’ warm, approachable manner has assisted people from a diverse range of cultures and backgrounds, always allowing space for humour and self-expression. Chris’ therapeutic approach centres around curiosity, open-mindedness, and authenticity, and focuses on the psychological roots of a person’s suffering. For some individuals this will involve examining early life events and recurrent behavioural patterns with an emphasis on self-exploration and self-discovery. Chris is proficient with a range of different treatment modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Schema Therapy, EMDR, and Mindfulness, allowing him to utilise an integrative treatment approach. Chris is experienced assisting clients experiencing depression, anxiety, panic, social anxiety, relationship distress, performance anxiety, grief, loss, interpersonal difficulties, self/existential dilemmas, workplace difficulties, and career transitions. Prior to becoming a Psychologist Chris spent over 15 years working in the finance industry, as well as nearly a decade competing in semi-professional
sport.
Monica Perkins, MPsych.
Pronouns: She/Her
Monica is a Registered Psychologist and Clinical Psychology Registrar. She is passionate about mental health and wellbeing and has a warm, gentle, and non-judgemental therapeutic style. Monica has a particular interest in working alongside clients with developmental and post-traumatic stress, anxiety and panic disorders. Monica practices from a trauma-informed lens within a collaborative and person-centred framework, with the goal of supporting clients to live authentic and enriched lives. When not working at Connected Minds, Monica works in public health with members of the LGBTQIA+ community, supporting and affirming gender diverse and neurodivergent people. Monica celebrates individuality and has an eclectic style drawing on a number of evidence-based techniques such as Schema Therapy, EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Kate Gwyther, MPsych., MAPS
Pronouns: She/Her
Kate is a Registered Psychologist and Clinical Psychology Registrar. She takes a person-centred approach, putting her clients' values and goals at the forefront of each session. Kate aims to create a calm and judgement-free therapeutic space that allows for authenticity and connection. She draws from a range of evidence-based therapeutic techniques including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT). Kate has a research background, where she focused on the mental health and wellbeing of populations including elite athletes, young men, and individuals with psychosis. When she’s not at Connected Minds, you may find Kate on a walk with her dog, reading at the beach, or making pasta at home.
Donna Reilly, MPsych.
Pronouns:
Donna is a registered psychologist who aims to build a safe and collaborative therapeutic relationship with her clients. She does this through meeting clients where they are, without judgement, just openness and curiosity. She enjoys working with clients to find meaning and purpose in their lives by living in accordance with their values.
Therapy doesn’t have to be serious all the time, therefore, Donna takes a relaxed approach to sessions, sometimes using humour to share in the lighter side of life.
Donna works with older adolescents and adults to manage some of life’s challenges. She appreciates working with people from all walks of life and feels grateful to always be learning from the clients she engages with. Donna has particular interest working with anxiety, depression, relationship/interpersonal challenges, stress, trauma, navigating self-identity and building self-esteem and perinatal mental health. Donna utilises evidence-based therapies including CBT, ACT, DBT and Schema Therapy, whilst weaving in an interpersonal approach.
Bryan Lee, MPsych.
Pronouns: He/Him
Bryan is a gentle and good-humoured Clinical Psychologist. He is committed to promoting a safe, supportive and compassionate therapeutic space where clients feel heard and respected. Bryan focuses on developing strong collaborative relationships with clients and is passionate about helping them build an enriched life driven by their personal values. Bryan has experience working with adults and adolescents from diverse cultural backgrounds, addressing issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, grief and adjustment difficulties. He has also worked in various private and public health settings, including the Royal Women’s Hospital, where he worked with women experiencing perinatal mental health issues. Bryan has a special interest in assisting clients with health and social anxiety, and is committed to working with diverse client groups. He utilises several evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy and EMDR.
Aliya Chalmers, MPsych., MAPS
Pronouns: She/Her
Aliya is a kind and compassionate Registered Psychologist and Clinical Psychology Registrar who grew up on Ngunnawal Country (Canberra) and currently lives in Naarm (Melbourne) on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nations. A proud Aboriginal woman with Scottish and English ancestry, Aliya is committed to improving culturally sensitive and informed mental health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse individuals and other marginalised identities who are often misrepresented within mainstream society. Aliya has worked with young people, adolescents, and adults across community organisations and private settings, supporting people experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma/complex trauma, sleep issues, identity challenges, neurodivergence, personality vulnerabilities, and relationship difficulties. Her therapeutic approach focuses on creating a culturally safe, collaborative space where clients can explore their experiences, navigate challenges, and enhance their holistic wellbeing. She takes a client-centred, strengths-based approach meeting people where they’re at and walking alongside them in alignment with their values. Aliya draws on a mixture of evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including Trauma-informed cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Social and Emotional Wellbeing model (SEWB), Mindfulness, Schema Therapy, and EMDR.
Emily Hohnke, MPsych.
Pronouns: She/Her
Emily is a warm and thoughtful Clinical Psychologist. She works with her clients in a collaborative, curious and centred approach, aiming to not only reduce pain but enhance wellbeing and joy in her clients' lives. Emily works with a range of conditions and presentations, including anxiety, depression, trauma, body image concerns, eating disorders, and personality disorders. She has worked extensively with Borderline Personality Disorder, practising with The Melbourne Clinic in their DBT inpatient program. Emily draws upon evidence-based therapies including Schema Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). She is passionate about helping clients better understand themselves, build self-compassion, and create meaningful and lasting change. Alongside her clinical work, Emily facilitates training and workshops on mental health, wellbeing, resilience, emotional regulation, communication, and psychological safety. She is passionate about making psychological knowledge accessible and practical, helping individuals and teams develop skills that support wellbeing, connection, and sustainable performance.
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Catherine Charleson, MPsych.
Pronouns: She/Her
Catherine is a warm, good-humoured and collaborative Registered Psychologist and Clinical Psychology Registrar. Catherine takes a culturally responsive and trauma-informed approach to her practice and is committed to providing a safe and non-judgmental space for her clients, and to forging authentic relationships with them. Catherine is passionate about helping people live according to their values and loves collaborating with clients to identify their goals and ways to work towards them. Catherine utilises evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, EMDR and Solution Focussed Therapy, and enjoys tailoring therapy sessions according to individual client needs and preferences. Catherine has a particular interest in the Social and Emotional Wellbeing model, and recently worked with young Aboriginal people and their families in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia. When she is not at Connected Minds, Catherine works as a Registered Psychologist at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS). Prior to becoming a psychologist, Catherine had a 15-year career in government and public policy. Outside of the therapy room, Catherine loves chasing the sun, salt water and fresh air with her partner and kids, and spends an inordinate amount of time chucking the ball to her misbehaved dog at the park.
Shameta Siva, MPsych.
Pronouns: She/Her
Shameta is a Clinical Psychologist who blends clinical depth with genuine warmth, helping clients understand not just what they're struggling with, but why - particularly when patterns are rooted in trauma, attachment, and early life experience. She works from a Schema Therapy framework, alongside EMDR (she is a trained clinician holding full membership with EMDRAA), DBT, CBT and ACT, to help clients move from insight into lasting change. Alongside working with mood, anxiety, and relational difficulties, Shameta has a particular interest in supporting high-functioning professionals and those in high-stress environments, who often present as capable and put-together while quietly managing perfectionism, imposter syndrome, overthinking, or burnout. Her background spans public mental health, private psychiatric inpatient care, and multidisciplinary team settings; she currently works within the inpatient programme at The Victoria Clinic, supporting clients with complex trauma and personality disorder presentations. Beyond the therapy room, Shameta translates psychological science into accessible content, sharing practical, evidence-based tools for regulation and self understanding through both public education and organisational workshops on wellbeing, resilience, and psychological safety.