When Emma first came to Family Works, she felt tired. The kind of tired that sleep can't fix. Her body was always on alert, waiting for something bad to happen. Loud noises made her jump, and even a trip to the supermarket could leave her shaky and drained.
For years, she had pushed through, trying to stay strong for her two young children. But the memories of past violence were still close, looping through her mind at night and showing up in her body during the day. "I thought I'd left it all behind," she says, "but it was still living in me."
Her counsellor, Mereana*, suggested a therapy called EMDR. It helps people heal from trauma by working with how the brain stores and recalls painful memories. "At first I thought it sounded strange," Emma says. "Moving your eyes back and forward while thinking about hard stuff? I didn't get it. But I trusted Mereana, so I gave it a go."
Mereana explains that trauma can be like a splinter buried deep under the skin. "We might carry on without noticing it most days, but every so often something touches that tender spot and the pain resurfaces. EMDR helps bring what's hidden into the light, giving the body and mind a chance to heal. It's a client-led process, so each person moves at their own pace, taking things as they feel ready."
"It was hard at first," Emma says."I cried a lot. But then something shifted. The pictures in my head started to lose their edge, and my body didn't react the same way anymore."
Over time, things changed. The nightmares eased. Her shoulders softened. She began walking her kids to school, chatting, laughing, joining others at the park. "I still remember what happened," Emma says, "but it doesn't control me anymore. I can breathe. I can laugh. I can be Mum again."
