Title: EMDR Therapy in Cape Town and Online | Renée Shearing
Source: https://reneeshearing.com/emdr
Last updated: 2026-10-23
Summary: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) with Renée Shearing in Cape Town and online: trauma processing that does not rely on retelling the event.

# EMDR

## Where can I do EMDR in Cape Town?

I am trained in EMDR (Richman EMDR Training, approved by EMDRIA and EMDR Europe, 2017). I offer EMDR in-person at my rooms in Wynberg, Cape Town, and online, as part of my integrative trauma work. Each session is 50 minutes and costs R2,000 for clients in South Africa and elsewhere in Africa, or US$250 for clients outside Africa. To book a session, [contact me](https://reneeshearing.com/contact).

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

We are designed to deal with and recover from stress and trauma.
Just as our body has a natural system for healing physical wounds, it also has a natural system for healing emotional wounds.

That said, sometimes for various reasons our natural healing process gets interrupted resulting in long term stress and traumatization.

When we think of emotional pain we tend to assume that it will take a long time to heal.

"Time heals all things".

But with EMDR we can often heal from emotional trauma quite rapidly and spontaneously.

In fact not only do we heal, but we also are able to derive new meanings, beliefs as well strength from the difficult and traumatic events that have happened to us during our life.

“What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger”

Stress and trauma that haven’t been adequately processed can remain active in the nervous system, manifesting in a wide range of emotional, psychological and physical symptoms. These may include anxiety, panic attacks, fears, phobias, flashbacks, nightmares, dissociation, sleeplessness, irritability, hypervigilance, addictive behaviours, overwhelm, exhaustion, digestive difficulties, persistent pain, and other physical symptoms that are difficult to explain medically or that have been identified as potentially stress-related.

You may find yourself feeling intensely reactive to certain situations, relationships or memories, even when you know you are safe now.

Try as we may to “work through” and “talk about” our issues and trauma they often remain embedded in our system and talking about them just doesn't help. In fact sometimes if feels like talking about them makes it worse. So we start to avoid anything that reminds us of that event and/or we adjust our life to accommodate our symptoms.

Although EMDR requires history-taking and preparation, the processing itself does not rely on repeatedly talking about or recounting the traumatic experience in order for healing to occur. EMDR allows the body and mind to process trauma in a way that heals us from an emotional wound and then allowing us space to integrate and derive strength from our life experiences.

In it's healthy state the body and mind can heal from wounds, both physical and emotion. That said, if this process is interrupted or the system is not in balance, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering.

Once we remove what is blocking our natural process of recovery from traumatic events; natural healing resumes.

EMDR uses detailed protocols and procedures that activate a natural healing process.
EMDR is an evidence-based therapy, supported by scientific research, for symptoms of trauma and stress.

In successful EMDR therapy, the meaning of painful events are transformed and integrated on an emotional level. For instance a rape victim shifts from feeling horror and self-disgust to holding the firm belief that, “I survived it and I am strong, I can cope with life”

Unlike talk therapy, the insights clients gain in EMDR therapy result not so much from clinician interpretation, but from the client’s own accelerated intellectual and emotional processes.

Their wounds have not just resolved, they have transformed.

**We are designed to deal with and recover from stress and trauma.**

Trained in EMDR (Richman EMDR Training, approved by EMDRIA and EMDR Europe, 2017)

I use these as tools rather than rigid formulas.
The work is shaped around the person, not the modality.

[One to One Therapeutic Work](https://reneeshearing.com/one-to-one-therapeutic-work) [When Understanding Isn’t Enough](https://reneeshearing.com/when-understanding-isnt-enough) [Working With Me Online](https://reneeshearing.com/working-with-me-online)

[Who I Work With](https://reneeshearing.com/who-i-work-with)

- [After Years of Therapy](https://reneeshearing.com/after-years-of-therapy)
- [Recurring Relationship Dynamics](https://reneeshearing.com/recurring-relationship-dynamics)
- [Stress and the Body](https://reneeshearing.com/stress-and-the-body)
- [Trauma and Hypervigilance](https://reneeshearing.com/trauma-and-hypervigilance)
- [Trauma and Its Lasting Effects](https://reneeshearing.com/trauma-therapy)
- [Anxiety, Panic and Persistent Fear](https://reneeshearing.com/anxiety-and-panic)
- [Feeling Unable to Cope](https://reneeshearing.com/feeling-unable-to-cope)

## Testimonials

> I first met Renée in Cape Town while undergoing treatment at a clinic for my eating disorder and other diagnoses, such as PTSD and Anxiety disorder.
>
> My first session with her was TRE, feeling sceptical and with little hope, to be honest. I was anxious and wary, partly because I didn’t know Renée and I do not trust easily.
> I can now genuinely say that Renée has become a safe space for me, which is unknown and very special for me too.
> Renée is very honest, makes no empty promises and treats me like a human being rather than a set of diagnoses.
> I am currently doing EMDR , and although it is tough, I notice a difference.
> Renée is a bit quirky and unconventional, but she truly listens to me- and what lies beneath my words- and I feel genuinely seen.
> She allows me to discover insights for myself, knows exactly what I need or can or cannot handle during sessions, and never judges me, even when I’m in denial or resistant she does know what’s going.
> With her dedication, knowledge, experience and humour. I feel so grateful I went to her and stayed because for me personally it feels like I discovered so many sides of myself I actually like and for the first time in many years I could say recently “I’m actually a good person”

Marleen

> Renee Shearing has changed my life around completely.
>
> I was an addict for over 25 years & with Renee's help, working through a bit of talk therapy as well as a lot of T.R.E.,
>
> I have been clean for a year.
>
> I have had absolutely no wobbles or negative thoughts at all !
>
> I believe this ground breaking treatment that Renee provides has been hugely beneficial to me.
>
> It has changed myself,my family & my friend life.
>
> Renee, thank you so much for allowing me to live again

Client Name kept private

> "Just wanted to write to tell you that I've continued doing TRE by myself. It's working wonders for me...I really feel my body's reaction to my usual phobia triggers have diminished in a big way. It's such a strange feeling. I just inexplicably feel a hundred times less scared. Thank you so much for teaching me about it!"

Client Name kept private

> I worked with Renee from early 2006 to late 2008. I was in complete awe of her, and still regard with a deep respect and appreciation for both her abilities as a therapist, and her understanding of addiction, counselling, training and management.
>
> I found her to be capable of making the right decisions even when under significant pressure to take an easier, more cost effective route when she ran a treatment programme. She trained me up as a counsellor and supervised me throughout the process.
>
> I also had the pleasure of working with her in groups, as well as observing her design and manage a secondary addiction treatment program. I watched her take an old bed and breakfast and transform it into one of the most effective treatment programmes in South Africa.
>
> Her most outstanding qualities are that she has firm boundaries, yet is completely fair-minded and empathic; she is always aware of the various crises that may arise and plans in advance to address these – creating a safe, containing and structured environment. She is never enabling or collusive.
>
> I benefitted tremendously from her supervision, she helped shape my understanding of my role with clients; she guided me to anticipate, understand and attend to my clients needs – both in an inpatient and an outpatient setting. During the design stages of my outpatient adolescent program she helped me create the structure of the program. I incredibly disappointed when she relocated to Cape Town and we terminated our professional relationship

Natalie McKowen
SAC-MAC Adolescent Outpatient Programme (083-395-0377)