Recent News from the EMDR Research Foundation
EMDR group therapy was first documented in 1998 in response to a natural disaster as both a prevention and early intervention application. In the last 25 years the approach has evolved beyond disaster work, and is utilized in countries around the world; highlighting its cultural and diverse applicability. EMDR group therapy may be used in a variety of settings, including outpatient, inpatient, and in the field.
Some of the EMDR group therapy protocols are structured and manualized for applications in disaster and high stress situations while others may be utilized in a less structured, free flowing relational psychotherapy style. The group protocols designed for stabilization alone include no trauma engagement, while those that activate and engage with the trauma experiences do so in varying degrees.
Trauma and overwhelming experiences have been shown to contribute to many challenges people face in today’s world such as addictions, depression, relationship struggles and many more. Group therapists are able design a full course of care utilizing a combination of protocols and integrate other treatment approaches. As our world faces multitudes of growing concerns, expanding our capacity to facilitate resiliency and connection matters more than ever. In this issue, we present several recent studies of EMDR group interventions. Consider supporting the research that is essential for this expanding application.Reg Morrow Robinson, Guest Contributor
A recently publish book that may be of interest:
EMDR Group Therapy: Emerging Principles and Protocols to Treat Trauma and Beyond
Morrow Robinson, Regina |Kemal Kaptan, Safa Ph.D Published: November 2023
Recent Studies:
Multisite Randomized Controlled Trial on the Provision of the EMDR Integrative Group Treatment Protocol for Ongoing Traumatic Stress Remote to Healthcare Professionals Working in Hospitals During the Covid-19 Pandemic - You can access the full pdf : https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344932427_Multisite_Randomized_Controlled_Trial_on_the_Provision_of_the_EMDR_Integrative_Group_Treatment_Protocol_for_Ongoing_Traumatic_Stress_Remote_to_Healthcare_Professionals_Working_in_Hospitals_During_the_
Yurtsever, A., Konuk, E., Akyüz, T., Zat, Z., Tükel, F., Çetinkaya, M., Savran,C. & Shapiro, E. (2018). An eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) group intervention for Syrian refugees with post-traumatic stress symptoms: Results of a randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in psychology, 9, 335721. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00493
Moench, J., & Billsten, O. (2021). Randomized controlled trial: Self-care traumatic episode protocol (STEP), computerized EMDR treatment of COVID-19 related stress. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research. https://doi.org/10.1891/EMDR-D-20-00047
Carretero KP, Delgadillo A, Villarreal AM, Roque JP, Poiré A, Mainthow N, Givaudan M, & Jarero I. (2023). Randomized Controlled Trial on the ASSYST Treatment Intervention with Female Children Polytraumatized by Adverse Childhood Experiences, Neglect and Maltreatment. Academic Journal of Pediatrics & Neonatology, 12(5), 1-9. https://juniperpublishers.com/ajpn/AJPN.MS.ID.555901.php
Kaliman, P., Cosín-Tomás, M., Madrid, A., Roque López, S., Llanez-Anaya, E., Papale, L. A., Alisch, R. S. & Davidson, R. J. (2022). Epigenetic impact of a 1-week intensive multimodal group program for adolescents with multiple adverse childhood experiences. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 17177. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-21246-9 b