How EMDR VR helped a midwifery student overcome her fear of needles

Saffron is a midwifery student. For years, she lived with an intense fear of needles and blood – a phobia that threatened to hold back her career in a profession where both are unavoidable.

Taking part in the trial

Saffron joined our EMDR VR clinical trial, a collaboration between the University of Northampton and St Andrew’s Healthcare. Over five sessions, she used our VR therapy programme to process and overcome her phobia in a safe, controlled environment.

The outcome

After completing the treatment, Saffron returned to her clinical placement and successfully delivered multiple babies. She can now confidently take bloods without flinching.

Her story is a powerful example of what restorying looks like in practice – moving from a fear that defined her daily experience to a new chapter where it no longer holds her back.

A team effort

This work was made possible by the research team – Prof Mu Mu, Andrew Debus, David Nicholls, Dr Murtada Dohan, and Olive Chan – working in collaboration with St Andrew’s Healthcare to bring clinically validated VR therapy to people who need it.

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