This episode builds on last week's discussion about the body's response to trauma and the Five F’s—Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn, and Flop. This time, we’re diving deeper into how memories are stored in the body and the powerful connection between body sensations and past experiences.

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Join Dr. Caroline Lloyd as she demystifies PTSD and provides hope for recovery, showing that healing is possible with the right tools and support. Thanks for listening!

Welcome back to The EMDR Doctor Podcast! In this episode, Dr. Caroline Lloyd dives into the fascinating world of trauma and the body’s instinctive responses. From the fight-or-flight reaction to the lesser-known ‘Flop’ response, she breaks down how our brains and bodies work in high-stress situations.

She also unpacks how EMDR therapy helps rewire the brain—moving traumatic memories out of the fear center and into long-term storage, making them less distressing. If you've ever wondered why certain triggers set off intense emotions or how EMDR actually works on a biological level, this episode is for you!

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Join Dr. Caroline Lloyd as she demystifies PTSD and provides hope for recovery, showing that healing is possible with the right tools and support. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Dr. Caroline dives into a term that's often thrown around but not always fully understood — triggers.

We hear it all the time: “That was so triggering!” — but what does being triggered really mean? Spoiler alert: it’s not just about feeling annoyed or disagreeing with someone.

Dr. Caroline breaks down the true definition of a trigger, why using the term incorrectly can trivialize serious mental health conditions like PTSD, and how to spot the difference between feeling upset and experiencing a trauma response.

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Join Dr. Caroline Lloyd as she demystifies PTSD and provides hope for recovery, showing that healing is possible with the right tools and support. Thanks for listening!

In this deeply personal episode, Dr. Caroline Lloyd reflects on her own experiences as a therapy client and a therapist. She explores what makes a great therapist, critiques outdated methods like the "all-knowing" distant therapist and the "silent treatment" approach, and shares why she prefers EMDR over traditional CBT. Dr. Lloyd passionately explains how EMDR fosters change without conflict, allowing clients to process trauma at their own pace.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

The qualities that make a therapist truly effective and compassionate.

Why outdated therapeutic methods can sometimes harm rather than help clients.

How CBT's thought-challenging techniques may not suit everyone — and why that's okay.

The unique benefits of EMDR therapy, including how it promotes lasting change without creating conflict.

The difference between weekly talk therapy and EMDR's more solution-focused approach.

Key Highlights:

The "Super Therapist" Ideal: Dr. Lloyd's early ambition to become a compassionate, effective therapist — balancing empathy, knowledge, and care.

Therapeutic Approaches She Critiques:

The distant, formal therapist who offers little feedback beyond a "hmm."

The silent treatment approach, which she likens to gaslighting and finds counterproductive.

Conflict in Therapy: How growing up in a conflict-avoidant household shaped her discomfort with CBT's "thought-challenging" techniques, making it feel like an argument rather than support.

Why She Prefers EMDR:

EMDR creates a non-confrontational space for clients.

Change happens at the client’s pace — without forced thought corrections.

Sessions often bring about a sense of resolution and progress, whether small or large.

Therapy Models: She contrasts the slow progress of traditional psychotherapy with the often immediate, tangible changes experienced in EMDR sessions.

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Join Dr. Caroline Lloyd as she demystifies PTSD and provides hope for recovery, showing that healing is possible with the right tools and support. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Dr. Caroline Lloyd addresses a common question — How do I prepare for EMDR and get it right? She reassures listeners that there is no "right" way to do EMDR, debunking the pressure to perfect the process. Instead, she emphasizes the importance of allowing thoughts to flow freely and trusting your therapist to guide you through each step.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

No "Right" or "Wrong" Way to Do EMDR:

EMDR is not about mastering a skill or "getting it right."

Each session is unique and cannot be replicated — your experience may shift from one session to the next.

Why People Want to "Get It Right":

Many feel pressure to heal quickly or fear they might do something "wrong."

Perfectionism and anxiety about making mistakes can drive this worry.

The Real Preparation for EMDR:

The best way to prepare is to practice allowing your thoughts to flow freely — not controlling or avoiding them.

This is not mindfulness but a process of letting your brain go where it needs to go.

If Letting Thoughts Flow Feels Too Hard:

That’s okay! It’s not a failure — it’s simply a reflection of your trauma response.

Your therapist will tailor the process to meet you where you are.

EMDR Preparation Exercises:

Common exercises like the container exercise, calm place, or protective figure can help with regulation.

However, there is no mandatory homework — these are optional tools for in-between sessions.

Dissociation and EMDR:

EMDR can still be effective if you experience dissociation.

Your therapist will work gradually, starting with smaller, less intense memories to build your capacity.

Key Highlights:

Why there's no "perfect" way to prepare for EMDR.

How to release the pressure of getting it "right."

Practical tips for allowing your thoughts to flow.

The role of preparation exercises and why they’re optional.

How EMDR adapts to your unique experience — even if dissociation is part of your trauma response.

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Join Dr. Caroline Lloyd as she demystifies PTSD and provides hope for recovery, showing that healing is possible with the right tools and support. Thanks for listening!

In this episode of The EMDR Doctor Podcast, Dr. Caroline Lloyd explores Complex PTSD (CPTSD)—what it is, how it differs from PTSD, and how it impacts emotions, self-perception, and relationships. She explains how CPTSD often stems from prolonged trauma, particularly in childhood, and how it shapes beliefs about oneself and others. Dr. Lloyd highlights the effectiveness of EMDR therapy in helping individuals process trauma, reframe harmful beliefs, and heal. She reassures listeners that while healing takes time, transformation is absolutely possible.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

The key differences between PTSD and Complex PTSD (CPTSD)

How CPTSD affects emotions, self-perception, and relationships

Why early relational trauma (especially from caregivers) has a deep impact

How coping mechanisms (like dissociation, self-harm, and substance use) develop from trauma

How EMDR therapy works to reprocess trauma and shift long-held negative beliefs

Why healing from CPTSD is possible, though it takes time and patience

Key Highlights:

PTSD vs. CPTSD – PTSD is often from a single traumatic event, while CPTSD comes from repeated or prolonged trauma, often in childhood and involving betrayal.

Emotional Regulation Issues – Those with CPTSD may feel overwhelmed by emotions or completely shut down, struggling to find balance.

Self-Perception Struggles – Many people with CPTSD feel broken, unlovable, or worthless, believing these thoughts as absolute truths.

Relationship Challenges – Trust issues, fear of abandonment, and emotional detachment make forming and maintaining relationships difficult.

Coping Mechanisms – Behaviors like dissociation, self-harm, eating disorders, and substance use often develop as survival strategies.

EMDR Therapy’s Impact – EMDR helps rewire negative beliefs, addressing not just single traumatic memories but also deep-seated emotional patterns.

Healing Takes Time – CPTSD treatment isn’t instant, but progress is possible with the right support and therapy.

Message of Hope – "You are not broken; you are someone who survived." Healing and thriving are achievable.

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Join Dr. Caroline Lloyd as she demystifies PTSD and provides hope for recovery, showing that healing is possible with the right tools and support. Thanks for listening!

In this essential episode of the EMDR Doctor Podcast, Dr. Caroline Lloyd breaks down Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)—what it is, how it develops, and the different ways it manifests in people’s lives. PTSD isn’t just something that affects soldiers or first responders; it can emerge from medical trauma, childhood experiences, bullying, or even a distressing event in adulthood. Dr. Lloyd explains the three core symptoms of PTSD—hypervigilance, re-experiencing, and avoidance—and how they can show up in day-to-day life. She also explores how EMDR can effectively treat PTSD, helping people regain control and reduce distressing symptoms.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

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Join Dr. Caroline Lloyd as she demystifies PTSD and provides hope for recovery, showing that healing is possible with the right tools and support. Thanks for listening!

In this fascinating episode of the EMDR Doctor Podcast, Dr. Caroline Lloyd explores aphantasia—the inability to visualise images in the mind’s eye—and its impact on EMDR therapy. Many EMDR exercises rely on visualisation, but what happens if a person simply can’t form mental images? Dr. Lloyd unpacks how EMDR can still be effective for people with aphantasia, how therapists adapt techniques, and some surprising connections between trauma, neurodiversity, and imagination.

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Join Dr. Caroline Lloyd as she demystifies aphantasia, memory processing, and EMDR, proving that healing is possible—even without visualisation. Thanks for listening!

In this episode of the EMDR Doctor Podcast, Dr. Caroline Lloyd takes a deep dive into online group EMDR therapy, a relatively new and innovative way to process difficult memories. She explains how her Heal Your Past program works, addressing common concerns about privacy, effectiveness, and suitability. If you’re curious about how EMDR can work in a group setting while still maintaining confidentiality, this episode will give you all the answers you need.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

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Who Is Group EMDR Not Suitable For?

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Join Dr. Caroline Lloyd as she explains how group EMDR can be a powerful, private, and effective way to process trauma, offering healing in a structured yet flexible format. Thanks for listening!

In this episode of the EMDR Doctor Podcast, Dr. Caroline Lloyd explores the concept of post-traumatic growth—the powerful transformation that can occur after resolving trauma. She explains how healing isn’t just about reducing distress, but about discovering newfound strength, purpose, and a deeper appreciation for life. Using the analogy of weeds and seeds, Dr. Lloyd illustrates how EMDR helps remove the “weeds” of trauma while planting and nurturing the “seeds” of new, positive beliefs.

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Join Dr. Caroline Lloyd as she explores the power of post-traumatic growth, showing how healing trauma isn’t just about feeling better—but about building a life beyond survival. Thanks for listening!