6 February 2026
Meet Chloe
Chloe is our Therapies Team Manager.
Chloe has started to use a new therapy with Noah’s Ark families called EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing).
What Is EMDR Therapy?
Chloe says: "EMDR is a type of psychotherapy that is mainly used to help people process trauma and distressing memories. The memory doesn’t disappear, but it usually feels less upsetting and more manageable afterwards."
How EMDR Can Help with Trauma and Grief
EMDR is most commonly used as treatment for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and trauma, associated anxiety and panic, and depression related to past experiences including grief or complicated loss. Chloe explains how she uses EMDR in her work at Noah’s Ark: "EMDR can be very helpful for grief, especially when grief feels stuck, overwhelming, or tied to distressing memories. Most grief is adaptive but, in some cases, grief overlaps with trauma, which is where EMDR is especially effective. Importantly, EMDR does not erase the bond or the love, rather it helps the brain process traumatic aspects of the loss and reduces the emotional intensity of painful memories."
EMDR was developed in 1987 by American psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro using bilateral stimulation and is widely used by the NHS. Chloe says: "The processing bit of EMDR is when a distressing memory is recalled while at the same time the therapist encourages side-to-side eye movements (eye movements, tapping, or sounds). This helps the brain reprocess the memory, so it becomes less emotionally intense."
EMDR at Noah’s Ark
Chloe has been practising this type of therapy since February 2025 and EMDR is now a permanent part of Noah’s Ark’s therapy provision. Chloe says: "We were getting requests from parents specifically for EMDR. With the evidenced need came a growing curiosity in what it was and how it could be applied to compliment the psychotherapeutic approach. While EMDR follows a structured, prescriptive model, it also allows for significant creativity, offering the flexibility to adapt the approach to each individual's needs."
Training and Qualification in EMDR
Chloe is now a qualified practitioner of EMDR, she says: "To qualify to provide EMDR therapy, you must already be qualified or formally training in a mental health profession. EMDR is not something you can practice without an underlying mental health license. The training is spread over several months and includes mandatory consultation hours, which ensures EMDR is being applied safely and correctly. EMDR is an evidence-based, effective treatment for trauma. Whether it’s the best option for therapy depends on the person and the reason for their referral. People who have EMDR therapy often report fewer intrusive images, less guilt or self-blame, an ability to remember their child with warmth instead of pain, and with more emotional flexibility, so sadness without being overwhelmed."
Another Noah’s Ark Therapist is now training in EMDR therapy, and we have six families actively receiving treatment.
A Parent’s Experience of EMDR
One parent receiving EMDR said: "I was pretty hesitant in wanting to begin EMDR therapy as revisiting life altering events was something I wasn't in a rush to begin but knew deep down that it was a necessity for me in order to move forward with my life. Now that I have begun, my days seem more purposeful, and I have greater clarity in looking forward. The dark clouds are starting to look a little brighter."
Find out more about our Creative Therapies service here.
