EMDR Association UK - Past, Present and Future

EMDR Association UK

Past, Present, and Future is a podcast series from the EMDR UK Association, hosted by Dr. Russell Hurn, Counselling Psychologist. In each episode, Dr. Hurn speaks with influential figures from the international EMDR community, exploring their journey into EMDR, the work they are currently doing, and their hopes for the future, including their vision for the ongoing development of EMDR. The series also includes special pre-conference episodes featuring conversations with keynote speakers and presenters. #emdr#traumatherapy #emdruk

  1. JAN 12

    A Pre EMDR UK Conference 2026 episode where Russell Hurn talks to Peter Pruyn ahead of his presentation in Bristol.

    In this episode, Russell Hurn is joined by Peter Pruyn, EMDR Consultant and independent researcher, to explore the powerful connection between trauma and chronic pain—particularly in women. Ahead of his upcoming Bristol conference presentation, Revisiting Cognitive Interweaves: Exploring Clinical Choices in a Case of Processing Menstrual Pain, Peter explains how emotional stress is often held in the body as physical tension, amplifying pain over time. He discusses the multiple layers of trauma experienced by women with conditions such as endometriosis, including medical trauma arising from under-resourced healthcare systems, and highlights the urgent need for increased research and reduced stigma in women’s health. Peter shares insights into why women experience higher rates of chronic pain and autoimmune conditions, often linked to unresolved trauma, and explains how EMDR can be an effective approach for addressing the psychological components of chronic pain by targeting distressing memories and negative cognitions associated with pain. The episode also features discussion of Peter’s clinical work, case examples, and his additional resources including Peter's website  www.emdrforwomenshealth.com  Beating Endo: How to Reclaim Your Life from Endometriosis (2019) by Iris Kerin Orbuch MD, Amy Stein DPT. Two leading experts describe their integrative approach to understanding and treating endometriosis.  The Vagina Book: An Owner’s Manual for Taking Care of Your Down There (2020) by Thinx and Jenn Conti. A highly readable collection of short, first-person narratives from women about periods, vaginal health, sex & contraception, and wellness & self-care.  The First Political Order. How Sex Shapes Governance and National Security Worldwide (2020) by Valerie Hudson, Donna Lee Bowen, and Perpetua Lynne Nielsen.  An exhaustive analysis of 176 countries proving that gender inequality causes violence and gender equality causes peace.    A thoughtful and clinically rich conversation for therapists and anyone interested in trauma-informed approaches to chronic pain and women’s health. This is a Laura Beech production for EMDR UK. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the authors and presenters and are not endorsed by the Association.

    26 min
  2. 01/09/2025

    Introducing EMDR UK's new Patron Darren McGarvey with a Pre Conference 2025 Special

    EMDR UK Association's new patron, Darren McGarvey, is a writer, columnist, broadcaster, social commentator, and hip-hop recording artist (Loki).  Darren grew up in Pollok on the south side of Glasgow and has lived through extreme poverty, addiction, and homelessness.  In this episode, he shares his story with Russell Hurn, detailing how he began EMDR therapy as a teenager following the sudden death of his mother. He highlights the importance of his relationship with his therapist, Marlyn, and offers his thoughts on the current discourse surrounding trauma on social media. Darren also gives us a glimpse into his conference presentation at the EMDR UK 2025 conference in Liverpool. In 2009, he founded Volition Scotland, an organisation that was designed and run by the young people who used it. He was part of the Poverty Truth Commission that was hosted in Glasgow in the same year. McGarvey became the Violence Reduction Unit’s first ever ‘Rapper-in Residence’ in 2015 and continues to work across Scotland in some of its most challenged communities.  He was recently inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, which deemed his books on social inequality to be of 'outstanding literary merit'. His new book Trauma Industrial Complex: Oversharing in the Age of Lived Experience is available from August 2025. 11/08/25 Trauma Industrial Complex is Book of the Week on Radio 4 and you can listen again on BBC Sounds  https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/m002gztq In a world where disinformation about personal trauma abounds, Darren McGarvey asks if the stories we tell ourselves are liberating us - or keeping us trapped  This is a Laura Beech production for EMDR UK. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the authors and presenters and are not endorsed by the Association.

    40 min
  3. 11/25/2024

    EMDR UK present a 2025 pre-conference special with LCSW, Hope Payson discussing the use of EMDR Therapy to address addiction.

    EMDR UK presents a pre-conference 2025 podcast with Licensed Clinical Social Worker and EMDR Consultant Hope Payson. Hope draws on over 30 years of experience working with addiction and trauma, firmly believing they are deeply interconnected. Her journey with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) began during her time in an outreach program, where she encountered what she describes as the "wildest therapy" she had ever seen. Though initially skeptical, her perspective shifted after working with a client who had hit rock bottom following a relapse and overdose. With no other options proving effective, she decided to take a leap of faith, setting aside her fear of triggering another relapse. The result was transformative—her client achieved a remarkable recovery, solidifying her belief in EMDR's power to heal. Hope emphasizes that addiction often serves as a symptom of underlying trauma, highlighting the intrinsic link between the two. She acknowledges, however, that one of the greatest challenges for EMDR therapists lies in crafting effective treatment plans tailored to each individual. At the 2025 conference, she will share practical strategies and insights to help fellow practitioners navigate this complex process. This is a Laura Beech production for EMDR UK. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the authors and presenters and are not endorsed by the Association.

    28 min

About

Past, Present, and Future is a podcast series from the EMDR UK Association, hosted by Dr. Russell Hurn, Counselling Psychologist. In each episode, Dr. Hurn speaks with influential figures from the international EMDR community, exploring their journey into EMDR, the work they are currently doing, and their hopes for the future, including their vision for the ongoing development of EMDR. The series also includes special pre-conference episodes featuring conversations with keynote speakers and presenters. #emdr#traumatherapy #emdruk