The wild bunch: EMDR and angry boys

Severe behavioural problems in children (and adults) are always inextricably linked with problems of affect regulation, the most problematic of which is out of control expression of angry feelings. Such behaviour is often seen as organically based, ADHD or ODD (i personally refer ADD: Absent Dad Disorder), and pharmacological treatments are often suggested, yet early or more recent trauma is frequently a factor and EMDR has a potentially important role to play in helping these children, through enabling old truama to be processed and helping them manage their behaviour on a day to day basis without resorting to the self medicating aspects of violence. I describe work in two school settings, an EBD Primary School and a Catholic Secondary School, using EMDR with pupils whose angry impulses have been causing serious probolems in their lives, sometimes meaning they risk permanent exclusion from school.

Conference

English

M. Greene

Greene, M. (2004, February). The wild bunch: EMDR and angry boys. Presentation at the 2nd EMDR Association UK & Ireland Annual Conference, Birmingham, UK