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EMDR explained: how it helps after a workplace injury
Quick answer: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based therapy used to help the brain process distressing or traumatic memories, such as those from a workplace accident or motor vehicle collision. It is typically used as part of a broader, individualised treatment plan, not as a stand-alone or one-size-fits-all approach.
If you have been referred to a psychologist who uses EMDR, or you have come across the term while researching treatment after a workplace injury or accident, it is reasonable to want to know what it actually involves before starting. The points below explain what EMDR is, why it is used, and what a session tends to look like.
What EMDR actually involves
EMDR is a structured therapy delivered in defined phases. It typically involves bringing a distressing memory to mind while attending to a form of bilateral stimulation, most often guided eye movements, while your psychologist supports you through the process. The aim is to help the brain reprocess a memory that has become "stuck" in a way that keeps triggering distress, so that it can be recalled without the same intensity of reaction.
Why it is used after a workplace injury or accident
A workplace incident or motor vehicle accident does not need to have caused a psychological injury on its own for it to leave a lasting mark. Even where the primary injury is physical, the event itself can be frightening, sudden, or painful, and some people go on to experience intrusive memories, heightened alertness, or a strong urge to avoid reminders of what happened. EMDR is one of the evidence-based approaches used to address this kind of trauma response.
Is EMDR right for everyone
EMDR is not automatically appropriate for every person or every presentation. Your psychologist will consider your history, current symptoms, and what you are hoping to work on before deciding, together with you, whether EMDR forms part of your treatment plan. It is generally used alongside other approaches rather than as the only form of treatment.
What a session looks like
Sessions remain conversational, not clinical in a cold sense. Your psychologist will check in with you, explain each step before it happens, and pace the work according to what feels manageable. You remain in control throughout, and the process can be paused at any point. For many people, the structure of EMDR is part of what makes it feel manageable, since it does not require retelling the full story of what happened in detail.
Frequently asked questions
Not in the way many people expect. EMDR does involve bringing the memory to mind, but it does not require a detailed, spoken account of what happened in the way some talk-based therapies do. Your psychologist will explain the process and go at a pace that feels manageable.
Where psychological treatment has been approved under a Workers Compensation or CTP claim, EMDR can generally be provided as part of that treatment where it is clinically appropriate, in the same way other evidence-based approaches are.
This varies from person to person and depends on the nature of the event and how it has affected you. Some people notice a shift after a small number of sessions, while others need a longer course of treatment alongside other approaches.
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If you have questions about EMDR or whether it may be appropriate for your situation, please call or email directly. All enquiries are handled personally.
This page is general information for people in NSW and is not personal or clinical advice. Eligibility and treatment depend on your individual claim and insurer approval. Please speak with your treating doctor about your situation.