EMDR Therapy
What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) was developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Francine Shapiro, EMDR is especially known for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but is also used for anxiety, depression, and other conditions. It is based in the AIP (Adaptive Information Processing) Model.
It highlights that our current thoughts, emotions, perceptions, and behaviors are shaped by both positive and negative past experiences—essentially, “the past is present.” These earlier experiences act like lenses through which we interpret the world today. When distressing memories become “stuck” and interconnected with other painful events, they can distort our present reality. EMDR therapy helps release these trapped memories, allowing outdated emotions, beliefs, and physical sensations to lose their grip on our lives.
EMDR and Sport Psychology
Performance Enhancement: EMDR helps athletes overcome mental blocks, or “Yips”, performance anxiety, and self-doubt by reprocessing past negative experiences that may be subconsciously affecting their current performance.
Trauma Recovery: Athletes often carry "small-t" traumas—such as injuries, failures, or harsh coaching—that can linger and disrupt focus or confidence. Up to 40% of athletes report lingering psychological effects such as anxiety, depression, or fear of re-injury after returning to play from their sport injuries. EMDR helps desensitize these memories, reducing their emotional charge.
Mental Resilience: By targeting and reprocessing distressing memories or limiting beliefs, EMDR strengthens mental resilience, allowing athletes to perform with greater clarity and composure under pressure.
Growing Popularity: Some Olympic and elite athletes are now incorporating EMDR into their mental training routines, recognizing its benefits for both healing and peak performance