EMDR Therapy for Children & Teens in Northern Ireland: A Gentle, Effective Path to Healing

If you’re a parent or carer in Northern Ireland and you’re concerned about the emotional wellbeing of a child or teenager, you may be exploring options for trauma-focused therapy. One of the most effective, research-backed approaches available today is EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing).

As a therapist trained in EMDR for children and adolescents, I work with young people across Northern Ireland to help them safely process difficult experiences and move forward with confidence, resilience, and hope.

This guide explains how EMDR works, why it is so effective for children and teens, and what EMDR therapy looks like in my Northern Ireland practice — including the creative, playful, and developmentally sensitive ways EMDR is adapted for younger clients.

What Is EMDR Therapy? (And Why It Helps Young People in Northern Ireland)

EMDR is a structured, evidence-based therapy developed to help people recover from trauma and distressing life experiences. Instead of relying solely on talking, EMDR uses a combination of:

• Memory recall

• Bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, tones)

• Reprocessing of the memory

• Installation of positive beliefs

This method helps the brain “unstick” traumatic memories so they no longer feel overwhelming or intrusive.

EMDR is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is widely used throughout the UK and Ireland. The EMDR Association UK provides an excellent overview of the method and the science behind it (see their explainer videos and resources).

Why EMDR Is So Effective for Children & Teens

Children and adolescents process trauma differently from adults. Many don’t yet have the language or cognitive maturity to explain what happened — but they feel it deeply.

They might not say, “I’m having trauma symptoms,” but instead you may see:

• Nightmares or sleep problems

• School distress

• Withdrawal or clinginess

• Outbursts or emotional overwhelm

• Avoidance of reminders

• Anxiety or low mood

• Difficulty regulating emotions

• Loss of confidence

EMDR is ideal for young people because it does not require them to talk in detail about what happened. Instead, the brain does much of the processing internally, with gentle support and guidance.

The EMDR Association UK and EMDR All-Ireland both recognise EMDR as effective and safe for children and teens, with specific clinical guidelines for adapting the approach for younger clients.

How EMDR Is Adapted for Children & Teenagers

EMDR with young people is not a “shrunken-down” adult therapy — it is a fully modified, creative, interactive version designed around developmental needs.

In my Ballymena practice, I use several child-friendly approaches:

1. Play-Based Storytelling and Narrative Work

Many younger clients make sense of their experiences through play.I may use:

• Dolls, figures, and puppets

• Sand trays

• Story-building

• Role play

This allows children to externalise feelings and memories safely, without overwhelming themselves.

2. Artwork and Creative Expression

Drawing, painting, and modelling offer children a comfortable way to express:

• Fear

• Sadness

• Sensory memories

• Body sensations

• “The worst part” of their experience

Creative work is also used to develop resources such as safe-place imagery, bravery symbols, or calming drawings.

3. Tapping and Movement-Based Bilateral Stimulation

Instead of relying only on eye movements, I often use:

• Hand-held buzzers

• Drumming

• Tactile tapping

• Alternating tones

• Movement exercises (e.g., marching on the spot, crossing midline)

This helps keep the process grounded and age-appropriate.

4. Regulation & Grounding

Before trauma work begins, we build tools such as:

• Calm breathing

• “Safe place” visualisation

• “Butterfly hug” tapping

• Resources such as courage animals, superpower images, or grounding objects

These tools help young people feel in control throughout therapy.

5. Parental or Carer Involvement

Parents and carers are not just “in the waiting room.”Where appropriate, you may be involved in:

• Stabilisation and preparation

• Resource-building

• Understanding your child’s triggers

• Supporting regulation between sessions

Your presence and understanding can significantly increase the effectiveness of therapy.

What EMDR Therapy Looks Like in My Northern Ireland Practice

Here’s a step-by-step look at how EMDR typically unfolds:

1. Assessment (Understanding Their World)

We begin by exploring:

• What your child is experiencing

• What triggered the difficulties

• Their emotional and behavioural patterns

• Family context

• Strengths and resources

This phase also includes parent/carer conversations.

2. Stabilisation & Preparation

Before processing any traumatic memory, we make sure the child has:

• A sense of safety

• Tools to regulate themselves

• A predictable therapeutic relationship

• A clear understanding of what EMDR involves

For younger children, we may explain EMDR through metaphors like:

• “The brain’s traffic jam”

• “The memory gets stuck like a knot”

• “Our job is to help the memory travel along the right road again”

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3. Choosing the Targets

Together (and in developmentally sensitive ways), we identify:

• A specific memory

• The worst part

• The feelings it brings up

• The body sensations connected to it

This is done at your child’s pace.

4. Bilateral Stimulation with Processing

Your child will focus on the memory while receiving gentle bilateral stimulation.I check in regularly:

• “What do you notice now?”

• “Has anything changed?”

• “What feeling is coming up?”

We proceed carefully and stop the moment things feel too big.

5. Installing Positive Beliefs

Once the memory loses its intensity, we build new thoughts such as:

• “I’m safe now”

• “It wasn’t my fault”

• “I’m strong”

• “I can cope with things”

For children, this sometimes involves drawings, visualising superheroes, or creating new stories.

6. Ending Sessions Safely

Every session ends with grounding.Your child leaves feeling stable, supported, and regulated.

7. Integration & Follow-Up

We may use creative tasks between sessions, such as:

• Drawing safe places

• Journaling (for teens)

• Relaxation practices

• Body-scan check-ins

Progress is reviewed regularly with you, the parent or carer.

Is EMDR Right for Your Child or Teen?

EMDR may be helpful if your child is experiencing:

• Post-traumatic stress symptoms

• Anxiety or panic

• School avoidance

• Grief or loss

• Attachment difficulties

• Bullying experiences

• Medical trauma

• Witnessing domestic abuse

• Traumatic memories from accidents, surgeries, or sudden events

Finding EMDR Therapists in Northern Ireland

When choosing an EMDR therapist for your child, always ensure they are:

• Properly trained

• Supervised

• Experienced with children and adolescents

Next Steps: Get in Touch

If you’re a parent, guardian, or carer in Northern Ireland wondering whether EMDR could help your child or teen, I’d be glad to speak with you. Your child does not have to carry their trauma into adulthood. With the right support, they can reclaim their sense of safety, strength, and self-worth. Ric.