EMDR Therapy · Frequently Asked Questions
EMDR Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about EMDR therapy, what it is, how it works, who it is for, and what to expect from treatment at the EMDR Therapy Clinic.
What is EMDR
Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. Despite the name, EMDR therapy encompasses far more than eye movements alone, using bilateral stimulation (including the lightbar and pulsators) to facilitate the reprocessing of distressing memories.
EMDR therapy is based on the Adaptive Information Processing model, which proposes that psychological difficulties arise from memories that have been stored in a “stuck” or unprocessed state, retaining the original distress, negative beliefs, and physical sensations from the time of the experience.
Through bilateral stimulation (such as guided eye movements via the lightbar, or alternating tactile pulses via pulsators), EMDR therapy appears to activate the brain’s natural information processing system, similar to what occurs during REM sleep, allowing stuck memories to be fully processed and integrated into adaptive memory networks. The result is that the memory loses its emotional charge and the associated negative beliefs are replaced with more realistic, balanced perspectives.
The Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model is the theoretical framework underlying EMDR therapy. It proposes that the brain has a natural information processing system that ordinarily moves experiences into adaptive memory networks, where they can be remembered without distress and used constructively.
When an experience is overwhelming or when the processing system is disrupted, by trauma, threat, or nervous system dysregulation, the memory becomes stored in an isolated, unprocessed state. It retains the original images, beliefs, emotions, and bodily sensations intact, and continues to be triggered as if the event were still happening. EMDR therapy activates this processing system, allowing the stuck memory to be metabolised and integrated adaptively.
Yes. EMDR therapy has one of the strongest evidence bases in trauma treatment. It is endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a first-line treatment for PTSD, recommended by NICE (UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), and supported by a large body of randomised controlled trial research across trauma and a growing range of other presentations including anxiety, depression, phobias, and addictions.
Yes. While EMDR therapy includes talking, particularly in the history-taking, preparation, and review phases, the core mechanism is not verbal processing. EMDR therapy works by facilitating the brain’s own natural reprocessing system using bilateral stimulation, rather than relying on insight, analysis, or narrative retelling. Clients often find that EMDR therapy produces change faster than traditional talk therapies, and that it does not require detailed verbal disclosure of traumatic material.
Bilateral stimulation refers to alternating left-right sensory input, visual, tactile, or auditory. At the EMDR Therapy Clinic, the lightbar and pulsators are the primary tools used. The lightbar guides smooth lateral eye movements, while pulsators deliver gentle alternating vibrations through small handheld devices held in each hand. Both methods are well-researched and equally effective. Auditory tones are also available where clinically appropriate.
The exact mechanism is still being studied, but the leading explanation is the Working Memory Hypothesis. This proposes that holding a distressing memory in mind while simultaneously engaging in a dual-attention task (such as bilateral stimulation) places competing demands on working memory. This reduces the vividness and emotional intensity of the memory, making it easier for the brain to process and integrate it adaptively.
A complementary explanation draws on parallels with REM sleep, the phase of sleep during which eye movements occur and emotional memories are processed. Bilateral stimulation may activate a similar processing mechanism in the waking state.
The standard EMDR therapy protocol follows eight structured phases: (1) History-taking and treatment planning, gathering a comprehensive history and identifying targets for reprocessing; (2) Preparation, building stabilisation resources and explaining the process; (3) Assessment, identifying the specific components of the target memory including image, negative belief, emotions, and body sensation; (4) Desensitisation, reprocessing the target using bilateral stimulation until distress is resolved; (5) Installation, strengthening the positive belief that replaces the negative; (6) Body Scan, checking for and clearing any residual physical tension; (7) Closure, ensuring the client is stabilised at the end of each session; and (8) Re-evaluation, reviewing progress at the start of the next session before continuing.
The three-pronged approach refers to the comprehensive scope of EMDR therapy treatment, which systematically addresses: (1) Past events, the original experiences that established the current difficulty; (2) Present triggers, current situations, people, or sensations that activate the stuck memory network; and (3) Future templates, developing adaptive, positive patterns of response for future situations. Addressing all three prongs ensures thorough and lasting resolution rather than partial symptom improvement.
No. EMDR therapy and hypnosis are fundamentally different. In EMDR therapy, you remain fully conscious, alert, and in control throughout every session. There is no trance state, no suggestion, and no alteration of consciousness. You are aware of what you are thinking, feeling, and noticing at all times, and you can stop the process at any moment.
Hypnosis operates through suggestion and an altered state of awareness, and is associated with increased suggestibility. EMDR therapy, by contrast, works by activating the brain’s own information processing system through dual-attention tasks while you remain grounded in the present. The two approaches are clinically and mechanistically distinct, and should not be confused.
No. EMDR therapy is one of the most extensively researched psychotherapies available. It is endorsed by the World Health Organization, recommended by NICE in the UK, and recognised by health bodies in the United States, Australia, Israel, and many other countries. Dozens of randomised controlled trials have demonstrated its effectiveness for PTSD, and a 2024 systematic review confirmed it is as effective as other leading trauma therapies including trauma-focused CBT.
Scepticism about EMDR therapy often centres on the eye movements specifically, and there is genuine scientific debate about the precise role of bilateral stimulation. However, the effectiveness of the overall treatment, including its structured protocol, case formulation approach, and therapeutic framework, is well established. The EMDR Therapy Clinic applies the complete evidence-based protocol, not simply eye movements in isolation.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and EMDR therapy both have strong evidence bases for trauma, but they work through different mechanisms. CBT for trauma (such as Trauma-Focused CBT or Cognitive Processing Therapy) typically involves detailed verbal processing of traumatic memories, direct challenging of unhelpful beliefs, and structured homework between sessions.
EMDR therapy does not require extended verbal retelling of trauma, does not directly challenge beliefs through cognitive techniques, and does not typically involve homework. Instead, it facilitates neurological reprocessing of the stored memory itself through bilateral stimulation, allowing the emotional charge and associated negative beliefs to resolve naturally as part of the processing. Many clients who have not responded fully to CBT find that EMDR therapy produces change through a qualitatively different pathway, which is why the two approaches are sometimes used in sequence.
What happens
in sessions?
The first session is an assessment. Dr JC Coetzee will gather a detailed history, discuss your current difficulties and goals, and explain the EMDR therapy process. No reprocessing takes place in the first session. You will leave with a clear understanding of whether EMDR therapy is appropriate and, if so, what the treatment plan will look like.
This varies depending on the nature and complexity of the presenting difficulty. Single-incident trauma, such as an accident or assault, may resolve in as few as 3–6 sessions. Complex presentations, including childhood trauma or long-standing difficulties, typically require more sessions. Dr JC Coetzee will discuss a realistic treatment timeline following your initial assessment.
No. EMDR therapy does not require detailed verbal retelling of traumatic memories. During reprocessing, you are asked to hold a memory or image in mind while engaging in bilateral stimulation, but you are not required to describe it extensively or relive it verbally. Many clients find this one of the most reassuring aspects of EMDR therapy.
Experiences during reprocessing vary considerably from person to person and session to session. Some clients notice shifts in emotion, bodily sensation, or the content of the memory. Others experience a gradual fading of distress or a spontaneous shift in perspective. Most clients describe the overall experience as manageable and, despite some emotional intensity at times, significantly less distressing than they anticipated.
It is common for processing to continue between sessions. You may notice shifts in how memories feel, changes in mood, unexpected associations, or vivid dreams. This is a normal and expected part of the process, indicating that your brain is continuing to integrate the work done in session. Dr JC Coetzee will prepare you for this and provide grounding tools to use as needed.
The preparation phase involves building the internal resources and stabilisation skills needed to engage safely with trauma reprocessing. This includes grounding techniques, safe place development, and strengthening positive memory networks. For clients with straightforward presentations, this phase may be brief. For those with complex trauma or limited internal resources, it may take several sessions. It is not a delay, it is the essential foundation that makes effective and safe reprocessing possible.
Progress in EMDR therapy often becomes apparent through several pathways: a reduction in the emotional charge when recalling a previously distressing memory; a decrease in the frequency or intensity of triggers, intrusions, or nightmares; a shift in deeply held negative beliefs about yourself; and improvements in mood, sleep, or daily functioning. Dr JC Coetzee will use structured measurement tools throughout treatment to track progress and guide clinical decisions.
Yes. You are always in control of the therapeutic process. Sessions are structured to ensure adequate closure at the end of each appointment regardless of where processing is, and you can pause or end treatment at any point. If you decide to stop mid-treatment, Dr JC Coetzee will ensure you are appropriately stabilised and discuss how to manage any material that has been activated but not fully resolved.
Yes. EMDR therapy can be used as a standalone treatment or integrated with other therapeutic approaches. It can be conducted concurrently with psychiatric medication, and Dr JC Coetzee is experienced in collaborating with prescribing psychiatrists and other members of a client’s care team. If you are currently receiving other forms of treatment, this will be discussed during the assessment to ensure the approach is well-coordinated.
No specific preparation is required. The first session is an assessment, not a reprocessing session, and there is nothing you need to do beforehand to be ready. It is helpful to arrive with a general sense of what has brought you to therapy and what you are hoping to change, but you do not need to have your history organised or rehearsed.
Practically, it can be useful to allow some time after the session rather than scheduling demanding commitments immediately afterwards, as you may find the conversation reflective or emotionally activating. Staying well-rested and hydrated is always helpful before any clinical appointment.
Your role during reprocessing is simpler than most clients expect. You are asked to bring a specific memory, image, or aspect of a distressing experience to mind, and to simply notice whatever arises as the bilateral stimulation begins, without trying to direct, analyse, or control it. Dr JC Coetzee will pause the stimulation periodically to ask what you are noticing, which helps guide the next set.
There is no right or wrong way to experience reprocessing. Some clients notice images, thoughts, bodily sensations, or emotions shifting. Others notice very little. Whatever arises, including feeling blocked or uncertain, is useful clinical information. Your only task is to notice and report honestly. The process is designed to be led by your own nervous system, with Dr JC Coetzee providing the structure and support to keep it moving safely.
Feeling blocked during reprocessing is common and is not a sign that EMDR therapy is not working or that you are doing it incorrectly. It often reflects that the nervous system needs more preparation, that the window of tolerance requires widening, or that a different approach to the target material is needed. Dr JC Coetzee will use clinically established techniques, including cognitive interweaves and alternative targeting approaches, to gently facilitate movement when processing stalls.
Blocking can also reflect the protective function of the nervous system. If the system is not yet ready to process certain material, resistance is meaningful and should not be forced. This is one of the reasons that adequate preparation and a strong therapeutic relationship are essential preconditions for effective EMDR therapy, not optional extras.
Yes. EMDR therapy does not involve any altered state of consciousness, and you retain full memory of everything that occurs during sessions. Unlike hypnosis, there is no suggestion, no trance state, and no retrieval of material you were not already aware of. What you experience during reprocessing, you will be able to recall and discuss afterwards.
Some clients find that memories processed in sessions lose their emotional intensity over time, which can make them feel less vivid or present than before. This is a sign of successful reprocessing, not memory loss. The content of what happened is retained; it is the stored distress that resolves.
Is EMDR Therapy
right for me?
EMDR therapy is suitable for adults experiencing a wide range of difficulties, including PTSD, complex trauma, anxiety, depression, phobias, grief, OCD, addictions, and more. It is appropriate for those who have had distressing experiences in the past that continue to affect their current wellbeing, whether or not those experiences are recognised as “traumatic” in a conventional sense.
Yes, though complex presentations require careful assessment and an extended preparation phase before reprocessing begins. Dr JC Coetzee has advanced training in EMDR therapy for complex trauma and applies evidence-based stabilisation protocols to ensure processing proceeds safely and at the right pace. Complex PTSD is one of the primary treatment focuses at the EMDR Therapy Clinic.
Yes. A growing body of research supports the use of EMDR therapy for anxiety disorders and depression, particularly where these have roots in past negative experiences or adverse early life events. EMDR therapy addresses the underlying experiential basis of these conditions rather than simply managing symptoms, which often produces more durable and lasting improvement.
Yes. EMDR therapy is relevant for a wide range of distressing experiences, not only those that would meet the diagnostic criteria for trauma or PTSD. If past experiences are still affecting your current emotional wellbeing, self-beliefs, or behaviour, EMDR therapy may be highly appropriate regardless of how you label those experiences. The best way to determine suitability is through an individual assessment with Dr JC Coetzee.
Yes. EMDR therapy has an evidence base for complicated grief and bereavement. It is particularly effective where grief has become stuck, where loss is experienced with ongoing acute distress, intrusive imagery, or difficulty accepting reality rather than progressing through the natural grieving process. EMDR therapy can help process the traumatic components of loss while supporting the integration of grief in a healthy, adaptive way.
Yes. Phobias typically have experiential roots, a past event or conditioning experience that established the fear response. EMDR therapy identifies and reprocesses these root experiences, often producing rapid and lasting resolution of phobic responses. Results are frequently seen in a relatively small number of sessions compared to exposure-based approaches.
Yes. EMDR therapy addresses the underlying memories, emotional pain, and negative self-beliefs that often drive addictive behaviour. Rather than targeting the addictive behaviour itself, EMDR therapy works on the root experiential drivers, which can produce more durable recovery. It is often used as part of a broader treatment approach for addictions, in conjunction with other relevant supports.
Active trauma reprocessing is generally not commenced while someone is in an acute crisis or requires immediate stabilisation. However, EMDR therapy’s preparation and resource development phases, including grounding, safe place work, and nervous system regulation, can be highly beneficial during periods of instability. The assessment with Dr JC Coetzee will determine the most appropriate starting point based on your current presentation.
EMDR therapy requires a degree of psychological stability and internal resources to engage safely with reprocessing. Clients with severe dissociation, active psychosis, or who are in acute crisis may require additional stabilisation work before reprocessing begins, or may be better served by a different treatment approach initially. This is carefully assessed at the outset, and treatment is always tailored to the individual’s presentation and readiness.
Yes. PTSD is the most thoroughly researched application of EMDR therapy, and the evidence base is extensive. EMDR therapy is endorsed by the World Health Organization as a first-line treatment for PTSD, and multiple large-scale studies have shown that the majority of people with single-incident PTSD experience full symptom resolution within a relatively small number of sessions. For complex PTSD involving multiple or prolonged traumatic events, treatment takes longer but remains highly effective when conducted by a specialist clinician with advanced training in complex presentations.
At the EMDR Therapy Clinic, PTSD and complex PTSD are primary treatment focuses. Whether your PTSD arose from a single event or from prolonged adversity, Dr JC Coetzee will develop a treatment plan tailored to the specific nature and complexity of your presentation.
Yes. Childhood trauma is one of the most common presentations at the EMDR Therapy Clinic and one of the areas where EMDR therapy produces some of its most significant and lasting outcomes. Adverse childhood experiences, including abuse, neglect, attachment disruption, and early loss, create deeply embedded memory networks that continue to drive emotional difficulties, relationship patterns, and negative self-beliefs well into adulthood.
Working with childhood trauma requires careful preparation, extended stabilisation, and a thorough case formulation that maps the relevant memory networks and sequences reprocessing in the most effective order. Dr JC Coetzee has advanced training in complex and developmental trauma and takes a thorough, methodical approach to ensure that reprocessing proceeds safely and completely.
Yes. The Adaptive Information Processing model proposes that persistent negative self-beliefs, such as “I am not good enough,” “I am unlovable,” or “I am to blame,” are not simply thoughts to be challenged cognitively. They are typically rooted in specific past experiences that were stored in an unprocessed state, and which continue to generate these beliefs in the present as if they are current facts rather than historical impressions.
EMDR therapy identifies the experiential origins of these beliefs and reprocesses the underlying memories, allowing more realistic, balanced beliefs to emerge naturally. Clients frequently report significant shifts in how they relate to themselves following treatment, changes that feel genuinely integrated rather than intellectually imposed.
There is a growing evidence base for the use of EMDR therapy in chronic pain, somatic symptoms, and physical conditions with significant psychological components. Research suggests that when chronic pain has roots in past traumatic experiences, adverse life events, or nervous system dysregulation, reprocessing these underlying memories can produce meaningful reductions in pain intensity and associated distress.
EMDR therapy does not treat physical pathology directly, and is not a substitute for appropriate medical assessment and care. However, where physical symptoms are being maintained or amplified by stored emotional or traumatic material, EMDR therapy can be a valuable part of a broader treatment approach. This is assessed individually at the outset of treatment.
Sessions, fees
& booking
Sessions are 50–60 minutes. This duration follows standard clinical practice for EMDR therapy sessions and allows sufficient time for preparation, processing, and adequate closure within each appointment.
Yes. Online EMDR therapy is available for clients across New Zealand. Sessions are conducted via a secure telehealth platform. Pulsators are well-suited to online delivery and can be used to deliver tactile bilateral stimulation remotely. Eye movement and auditory BLS are also available online. Many clients find online sessions equally effective and considerably more convenient.
The EMDR Therapy Clinic is based in Auckland, New Zealand. In-person sessions are available at the Auckland clinic, and online sessions are available for clients throughout New Zealand.
Appointments can be booked directly through the online booking portal. Select your preferred session type (in-person or online), choose an available time, and complete the short intake form. If you have questions about whether EMDR therapy is right for your situation before booking, you are welcome to make contact through the website.
In-person sessions are $245 per session and online sessions are $210 per session, each 50–60 minutes in duration. These fees reflect the specialised nature of EMDR therapy, Dr JC Coetzee’s advanced clinical training, and the significant investment the clinic makes in providing a safe, well-equipped therapeutic environment. Payment is due at the time of each session.
Availability varies. Please check the online booking portal for current availability. If there is a waitlist, you will be advised at the time of enquiry. Online appointments often have greater availability than in-person sessions.
No referral is required to book an assessment at the EMDR Therapy Clinic. You are welcome to self-refer directly through the online booking portal. A referral from your GP or psychiatrist is not necessary, though it is always helpful to have relevant background information or letters from other treating clinicians where available.
ACC funding may be available for EMDR therapy where a mental injury has been assessed as related to a covered accident or event. However, the EMDR Therapy Clinic does not operate as an ACC provider and does not accept ACC-funded referrals. Sessions are provided on a private, self-funded basis only. Private health insurance coverage for psychological therapy varies by provider and policy, and it is recommended to check with your insurer directly regarding reimbursement for private psychological services.
How effective
is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR therapy is generally faster-acting than traditional talk therapies for trauma-related presentations. Research on single-incident PTSD suggests that the majority of clients experience full symptom resolution within 3–12 sessions. For more complex presentations, treatment takes longer, but meaningful shifts in how distressing memories feel are often reported within the first few reprocessing sessions.
The speed of progress depends on the nature and complexity of the presenting difficulty, the extent of the preparation required before reprocessing begins, and individual differences in nervous system response. Dr JC Coetzee will give you a realistic indication of expected progress following your initial assessment, and will use structured measurement tools to track outcomes throughout treatment.
Yes. Follow-up studies consistently show that the gains achieved through EMDR therapy are maintained at three, six, and twelve-month follow-up assessments. Because EMDR therapy works by facilitating genuine neurological reprocessing of stored memories, rather than managing symptoms or building coping strategies on top of unresolved material, the changes tend to be durable and to generalise across related memory networks.
Clients often report that previously distressing memories continue to feel neutral long after treatment ends, and that the shifts in self-belief and emotional responsiveness that emerge through therapy persist in everyday life. In some cases, ongoing processing continues after the final session as the brain integrates the work completed in treatment.
This is a valid and important question. The scientific consensus is that EMDR therapy, when conducted according to its standard protocol, does not implant or create false memories. The approach does not involve suggestion, does not ask leading questions about specific events, and does not encourage clients to recover previously unknown memories. Reprocessing works with material the client already brings to the session.
All memory is subject to the reconstructive limitations of human cognition, and this is true regardless of the therapeutic modality used. EMDR therapy does not introduce additional risk of memory distortion beyond what exists in any therapeutic conversation. Dr JC Coetzee follows evidence-based protocols and does not use techniques associated with the suggestion or recovery of memory.
When EMDR therapy does not produce the expected results, there is almost always a clinical reason that can be identified and addressed. The most common factors include insufficient preparation before reprocessing began, unrecognised dissociative processes that require specific management, a target sequence that has not yet addressed the root memory networks, or a presentation that requires protocol adaptation beyond the standard approach.
Dr JC Coetzee’s advanced training and specialist focus means he is well placed to identify why progress has stalled and to adjust the approach accordingly. If you have previously had limited results with EMDR therapy elsewhere, this does not mean the therapy cannot work for you. It may mean that the conditions for effective reprocessing were not yet fully in place. An assessment at the EMDR Therapy Clinic is a constructive next step to understanding what a better-resourced approach might achieve.
EMDR therapy and medication address trauma through different pathways and are not mutually exclusive. Medication, including SSRIs and SNRIs commonly prescribed for PTSD and anxiety, can reduce the intensity of symptoms and support daily functioning, but does not reprocess the underlying memories that are generating those symptoms. When medication is discontinued, symptoms often return.
EMDR therapy targets the stored memory itself, which means that when reprocessing is successful, the change tends to persist independently of ongoing treatment. Research generally shows that EMDR therapy produces equivalent or superior outcomes to medication for PTSD, with more durable results. For many clients, the combination of medication to stabilise symptoms and EMDR therapy to resolve the underlying cause is the most effective approach. Dr JC Coetzee is experienced in working collaboratively with prescribing psychiatrists where this is relevant.
Is EMDR Therapy
safe?
Yes. When conducted by a trained and experienced EMDR therapist, EMDR therapy has an excellent safety profile and is considered a well-tolerated treatment. It has been extensively studied and is consistently found to be more effective and no more distressing than other evidence-based trauma treatments. The structured eight-phase protocol includes explicit safety mechanisms, including preparation, closure, and re-evaluation phases, specifically designed to protect client wellbeing throughout the process.
Like any effective psychotherapy, EMDR therapy can involve a temporary increase in distress as difficult material is activated and processed. This is generally time-limited and is part of the therapeutic process. The risk of destabilisation is significantly reduced by adequate preparation, the development of stabilisation resources before reprocessing begins, careful pacing, and appropriate session closure. Dr JC Coetzee’s approach prioritises safety throughout, particularly with complex presentations.
Becoming overwhelmed is not the goal of EMDR therapy, and it is something Dr JC Coetzee actively monitors and manages throughout each session. If distress escalates beyond a manageable level, processing can be paused and grounding techniques used to return to a stable state. You will always have access to the stabilisation tools developed in the preparation phase, and sessions are never ended without ensuring adequate closure and groundedness.
EMDR therapy does not have pharmaceutical side effects. However, it is common to experience emotional fatigue or a sense of heaviness following sessions in which significant material has been processed. Vivid dreams, unexpected memories surfacing, or heightened emotional sensitivity between sessions are also frequently reported. These are generally transient, reflect ongoing processing, and are considered part of a normal treatment response rather than adverse effects.
It can be. Activating and processing distressing material sometimes involves a temporary increase in emotional intensity before resolution occurs. This is a recognised pattern in effective trauma therapy and does not indicate that treatment is not working. Dr JC Coetzee will normalise and prepare you for this possibility, and will provide tools to manage any distress that arises between sessions. The overall trajectory of EMDR therapy is reliably toward resolution, reduced distress, and increased wellbeing.
Training, qualifications
& approach
Dr JC Coetzee holds a PhD and is a registered Clinical Psychologist with advanced specialist training in EMDR therapy. He has completed EMDR therapy training to the highest available level and continues postgraduate study through the University of Otago in advanced EMDR methodologies. Clinical psychology in New Zealand is a protected title requiring a minimum of six years of postgraduate training, supervised practice, and registration with the New Zealand Psychologists Board.
Clinical psychologists have the most extensive postgraduate training of any mental health profession, including doctoral-level training in assessment, diagnosis, psychotherapy, and research. This depth of training is particularly important in EMDR therapy, where accurate case formulation, recognition of complex presentations, and safe clinical decision-making are essential to effective and safe treatment. Dr JC Coetzee brings this breadth of clinical training to every EMDR therapy case.
Dr JC Coetzee works primarily with adults presenting with trauma, PTSD, complex PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief, phobias, OCD, and addictions. He has particular expertise in complex and multi-layered presentations, including those involving childhood trauma, long-standing patterns of emotional dysregulation, and presentations that have not responded to previous treatment. He also provides EMDR SPORT for performance enhancement in athletic populations.
Advanced Specialist
EMDR Therapists
A specialist EMDR therapist is a clinician whose practice is dedicated primarily or exclusively to EMDR therapy, rather than one who offers it as a secondary modality alongside a broad range of other approaches. Specialisation means depth of experience, clinical focus, and ongoing investment in advanced training that a generalist therapist, however competent, is unlikely to match.
In practical terms, a specialist applies the full eight-phase AIP-model protocol with rigorous case formulation, structured target sequencing, and the three-pronged approach that comprehensive EMDR therapy requires. They are equipped to work with complex and multi-layered presentations, to recognise when standard protocols need adaptation, and to manage the clinical challenges that arise in trauma reprocessing safely and effectively.
Dr JC Coetzee is a Clinical Psychologist and EMDR therapy specialist. The EMDR Therapy Clinic exists as a dedicated EMDR therapy practice, not a general psychology service that includes EMDR among its offerings.
Entry-level EMDR therapy training typically consists of a foundational course covering the eight phases and basic protocol application. This is the starting point, not the endpoint, for a specialist clinician.
Advanced training extends into areas including: complex trauma and dissociation protocols; EMDR therapy with specific presentations such as OCD, addictions, grief, and phobias; EMDR 2.0 methodology, which incorporates updated working memory research to enhance processing efficiency; somatic and body-based approaches integrated with bilateral stimulation; and case consultation and clinical supervision. Postgraduate academic study in trauma and EMDR methodology adds a further layer of theoretical depth and critical engagement with the evolving evidence base.
Dr JC Coetzee has completed EMDR therapy training to the highest available level and continues postgraduate study through the University of Otago in advanced EMDR methodologies, including EMDR 2.0.
A therapist who specialises in EMDR therapy differs from a general therapist in both training and clinical orientation. Where a general therapist may use a range of approaches selected session by session, an EMDR therapist works within a structured, evidence-based framework grounded in the Adaptive Information Processing model. Treatment is guided by a formal case formulation, a target sequence plan, and the eight-phase protocol, rather than an exploratory or eclectic approach.
EMDR therapy also requires specialised equipment. The lightbar and pulsators used at the EMDR Therapy Clinic deliver bilateral stimulation in a precise and consistent manner that improvised alternatives cannot replicate. The therapy proceeds through defined phases with specific clinical criteria for moving between them, rather than following a general conversational format.
The underlying premise is also distinct. Where many therapies work primarily through insight, narrative, or cognitive change, EMDR therapy targets the stored memory itself, facilitating neurological reprocessing at the level of how the memory is held in the brain. This means clients often experience change that feels qualitatively different from, and more durable than, what they have encountered in other therapeutic modalities.
Choosing the right EMDR therapist is one of the most important decisions in your treatment journey. The factors that matter most are: doctoral or postgraduate clinical training (not all EMDR therapists hold equivalent qualifications); specialist EMDR therapy training completed to an advanced level; a practice genuinely dedicated to EMDR therapy rather than one offering it as a minor add-on alongside many other modalities; and significant experience with presentations similar to your own.
It also matters that the therapist uses a rigorous case formulation approach, following the Adaptive Information Processing model, rather than simply applying eye movements to surface symptoms. Safe, effective EMDR therapy requires thorough history-taking, structured treatment planning, and careful preparation before any reprocessing begins.
At the EMDR Therapy Clinic, Dr JC Coetzee holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology, has completed EMDR therapy training to the highest available level, continues postgraduate study in advanced EMDR methodologies, and operates a practice dedicated exclusively to EMDR therapy. If you would like to discuss whether the clinic is the right fit for your situation, you are welcome to book an assessment.
Many therapists offer EMDR as one tool among many, having completed a foundational training course. The EMDR Therapy Clinic is a specialist practice, meaning EMDR therapy is not a supplementary offering but the entire clinical focus. This distinction matters for several reasons.
A specialist practice applies the full eight-phase protocol with rigorous case formulation, structured target sequencing, and the three-pronged approach that comprehensive EMDR therapy requires. Dr JC Coetzee’s doctoral-level clinical psychology training means complex presentations, including those involving dissociation, chronic trauma, or treatment-resistant difficulties, are assessed accurately and managed safely. Specialist equipment, including the lightbar and pulsators, is used in every session rather than improvised alternatives.
For clients who have had limited results from EMDR therapy elsewhere, or who are dealing with complex or long-standing presentations, working with a dedicated specialist often produces meaningfully different outcomes.
Yes, and this is one of the most common reasons clients seek specialist EMDR therapy. Previous therapy may not have produced lasting change for a number of reasons: an approach that addressed symptoms without resolving the underlying memory network; insufficient preparation before trauma reprocessing began; or a presentation that required more advanced clinical management than a generalist setting could provide.
A specialist EMDR therapist will conduct a thorough assessment that includes reviewing what has and has not worked previously, and will use this information to inform a tailored treatment plan. Many clients who have spent years in therapy without significant resolution find that specialist EMDR therapy, properly applied, produces change they had stopped expecting was possible.
At the EMDR Therapy Clinic, treatment-resistant and complex presentations are a primary focus. If previous therapy has left you with unanswered questions or incomplete resolution, an assessment with Dr JC Coetzee is a constructive next step.
Complex trauma, including prolonged childhood adversity, repeated interpersonal trauma, or developmental neglect, requires a fundamentally different clinical approach to single-incident trauma. The memory networks are more extensive and more deeply embedded, the nervous system is often chronically dysregulated, and standard reprocessing protocols may need significant adaptation to proceed safely.
A specialist clinician will invest considerably more time in Phase 2 preparation, building stabilisation resources, window of tolerance capacity, and internal resourcing before any reprocessing begins. They will monitor carefully for dissociative responses, titrate the intensity of processing to keep it within a manageable range, and use advanced interweave techniques when processing becomes blocked or destabilised.
Dr JC Coetzee has specific advanced training in complex trauma presentations and applies evidence-based stabilisation protocols drawn from the broader trauma field alongside the EMDR therapy framework. Complex PTSD is one of the primary treatment focuses at the EMDR Therapy Clinic.
Auckland has a number of therapists who include EMDR among their clinical offerings, but dedicated specialist EMDR therapy practices are considerably rarer. When searching for an EMDR therapist in Auckland, it is worth distinguishing between clinicians who offer EMDR as one modality in a general practice, and those whose work is specifically and primarily organised around EMDR therapy.
The EMDR Therapy Clinic is Auckland’s dedicated specialist EMDR therapy practice, offering in-person sessions across three Auckland locations, including Milford on the North Shore, Ponsonby, and Parnell, as well as online sessions for clients throughout New Zealand. Dr JC Coetzee is a PhD-qualified Clinical Psychologist with advanced specialist training in EMDR therapy, providing the depth of expertise that complex and long-standing presentations require.
If you are based in Auckland and are looking for specialist EMDR therapy, you are welcome to book directly through the online portal or make contact through the website to discuss whether the clinic is the right fit.
EMDR therapy is available across New Zealand through a range of registered clinicians, including psychologists, counsellors, and psychotherapists who have completed foundational EMDR training. The EMDRNZ association maintains a directory of trained members. However, the availability of clinicians with advanced specialist training, and dedicated EMDR therapy practices rather than general services that include EMDR, is considerably more limited, particularly outside the main urban centres.
Online EMDR therapy has significantly expanded access across New Zealand. The EMDR Therapy Clinic offers online sessions to clients throughout the country, delivered via a secure telehealth platform. Bilateral stimulation via pulsators translates well to online delivery, and many clients in regions where specialist EMDR therapy is not locally available access treatment through this option.
If you are outside Auckland and looking for specialist EMDR therapy, an online assessment with Dr JC Coetzee is a practical and clinically sound starting point.
Still have
questions?
Book an assessment with Dr JC Coetzee to discuss your situation, goals, and whether EMDR therapy is the right fit.