EMDR Consultant
Christine Habermehl
I'm Christine, a Europe-accredited EMDR Consultant, a BACP-accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist, and a qualified Supervisor of individuals and groups (NHS and private). I have wide-ranging knowledge and over thirty years experience across all aspects of psychotherapeutic work.
I work in private practice and for several NHS Trusts, providing EMDR therapy (including Intensive EMDR) and ongoing clinical supervision. I have a strong background in working with psychological trauma, including leading a UK Police Welfare and Psychological Service with a specific focus on trauma. During this time I received several awards recognising my ‘outstanding’ and ‘exemplary’ work.
I specialise and remain passionate about EMDR therapy and I offer both standard EMDR therapy and Intensive EMDR, depending on individual need and suitability.
I have been offering Intensive EMDR for the past eight years, an approach where months of therapy can often be compressed into days or a couple of weeks, enabling more focused processing and faster relief from distressing symptoms. You can read more about EMDR therapy and Intensive EMDR to see which approach may be most appropriate.
I also enjoy supervising other EMDR therapists (NHS and private practice) and supporting them through the professional accreditation process.
The types of issues I regularly work with include all types of trauma and PTSD, anxiety, depression, bereavement / grief, and end of life. This may include experiences such as road traffic collisions, physical or sexual assault or abuse, witnessing crime, fears and phobias, war-related events, terminal illness and loss / deaths. I also work with specific difficulties such as sports performance related issues, fear of MRI or medical scans, and persistent symptoms such as phantom limb pain.
Volunteering and giving back to my profession and community is important to me. I previously completed voluntary work with Trauma Aid UK, providing supervision to EMDR therapists working in the Middle East, and I supported NHS Doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The voluntary role I'm most proud of is my work co-founding the EMDR Association Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire Regional Group (www.emdrbedsbucksherts.org.uk) with my colleague Jenny Arthern.
In 2024 our regional group won the Ericka Johanson Award (2024-2026). This is the first national award recognising excellence in the furtherance of EMDR practice in the UK. As the Chair I was delighted to accept this award at the EMDR UK National Conference in York.
I have always loved animals, the outdoors and nature. When possible I incorportate movement and walking into Intensive EMDR sessions which is In line with positive clinical evidence.
My most recent voluntary role is with Pets as Therapy, where I accompany my therapy dog, Molly, in her work at a local bereavement café. Molly can also support clients within therapy sessions (if requested), offering additional comfort and grounding where appropriate. In the future I would like to work with Molly as a funeral support dog.