Neurobiological factors when working with children who have been victims of domestic violence and other traumatic events using EMDR

This presentation will highlight the effects of domestic violence and other traumatic experiences on children from pre birth to 12 years of age and how EMDR can reduce the symptoms and give the subject a more appropriate perception of their experiences. The neurobiological aspects will be discussed at pre and post treatment of EMDR. EMDR therapy has proven to be a highly successful technique in the relief of psychological distress after trauma. It will be shown that babies traumatised before birth can be treated as effectively as children traumatised after birth. The impact on the developing baby will be discussed in relation to the stage of gestation that the mother experienced trauma. Knowledge of sensory development in pregnancy can inform the treatment plan for mother and baby subsequently. The impact of domestic violence and traumatic birth will be explored. If untreated in the mother there can be long lasting effects in the mother, child and the parent child relationship. Clinical examples will explain how EMDR can be modified to treat unresolved traumatic events. In infancy and early childhood memories are stored in sensory form often with little language. We will illustrate on video a narrative approach combined with parent facilitated EMDR in a traumatised 30 month old infant whose parents have a history of drug use. The impact of traumatic stress on the developing brain will be discussed and illustrated by video of two EMDR sessions with 10 and 12 year old children. This will show how the normal EMDR protocol must be modified to take childhood factors into account.

Conference

English

Josie Bradshaw

Bradshaw, J. (2008, June). Neurobiological factors when working with children who have been victims of domestic violence and other traumatic events using EMDR. Poster presented at the 9th EMDR Europe Association Conference, London, England