Depth Enquiry™ is a therapeutic approach that helps process traumatic memories and release deeply held negative beliefs.

When trauma remains unprocessed, reminders of the event can trigger intense emotional and physical reactions, making past experiences feel like they’re happening in the present. Many of our core negative beliefs—such as “I’m not good enough” or “I’m unlovable”—form in childhood and persist even when we rationally know they aren’t true.

Depth Enquiry works by reprocessing these experiences, allowing them to be stored differently in the brain. This reduces emotional triggers and naturally shifts negative beliefs into more supportive ones. Over time, what once felt overwhelming loses its charge, often leading to profound and lasting change.

This approach is also highly effective for phobias, anxiety, and other distressing emotions, offering a sense of relief and freedom.

You and your therapist will begin by identifying a core negative belief and an image that represents it. This helps track progress and deepen awareness.

During the session, you’ll wear headphones playing gentle beeping sounds, which can feel relaxing—almost meditative. Your therapist will guide you to focus on the belief and image, then simply notice where your mind goes. There’s no right or wrong way to do this—your brain leads the process naturally.

You'll report your thoughts, sensations, emotions, and memories as they arise, even if they seem random or disorganized. Sharing specific details is optional; simply acknowledging what comes up is enough. With support, your brain moves toward healing, allowing stuck patterns to shift.

Some people feel immediate relief, as if things have been neatly resolved. Others experience a temporary intensification of emotions as deeper processing begins. Any discomfort typically eases within a few sessions.

You may also feel slightly “spaced out” afterward, though this usually passes quickly. It’s worth considering when scheduling your session to allow time to re-ground before returning to daily activities.

Depth Enquiry takes place within your regular therapy session, with 30-45 minutes spent in the process. Time often passes quickly, and your therapist will leave space at the end to check in and ground you before you leave.

Most people notice significant shifts within 4–12 sessions, though some feel relief sooner and may not need to complete a full course.

Your brain continues processing between sessions, which may heighten your awareness of thoughts, triggers, or even bring up vivid dreams. Journaling can help track and integrate these insights.

You can do Depth Enquiry intensively (1–2 sessions per week) or space it out over months—your brain will naturally pick up where it left off.

You don’t need to change therapists; you can see a Depth Enquiry therapist alongside your regular therapy.

Depth Enquiry is supported by the same evidence as EMDR, with many finding it a gentler and more relational approach.