The role of culture, ethnicity and spirituality in the treatment of trauma

The Narrative Constructivist personal psychology model postulates that traumatized children and adults experience disturbances in cognitive schemata within domains of their psychological and interpersonal functioning: safety, trust, power, esteem and intimacy. Their processing of themselves and the world, which is greatly affected by ethno-cultural and spiritual beliefs, becomes rigidified around the "trauma story." Their responses to stimuli are thus limited to repetitive and intrusive manifestations of fear and withdrawal. Utilizing culturally and spilitually salient metaphors, as well appropriate timing, EMDR facilitates the creation of meaningful narratives about the person's present and future and the world, enhancing sense of self and focused, purposeful behaviors. This symposium will introduce the narrative/cultural context model of trauma, with discussion, film clips and handouts; engage participants in a brief group intervention based on this model, to explore the emotional impact of ethno-cultural issues in regard to trauma and treatment interventions; and present clinical cases treated with EMDR based on cultural-sensitive choice-points and useful metaphors in work with diverse populations.

Conference

English

Rosemarie D. Amendolia
Jacqueline Gemme

Amendolia, R. D., & Gemme, J. (2006, September). The role of culture, ethnicity and spirituality in the treatment of trauma. Presentation at the 11th EMDR International Association Conference, Philadelphia, PA