Left out and left behind: EMDR and cultural construction of intellectual disability

The authors intend this chapter to complement an emerging body of research that points to EMDR as an effective treatment for trauma in the ID population. Excerpts of clinical process are presented, not only to illustrate, but also to encourage the reader to replace culturally grounded negative stereotypes (usually unrealized or, at least, unnoticed) with a compassionate and humane understanding of people with ID as individuals. In their own work facilitating trauma repair with individuals identified as intellectually disabled, the authors observed that the label itself had a deterministic effect, creating a chain of common adverse life experiences that kindled into trauma. Herein lies the challenge —and the opportunity — for clinicians practicing EMDR Therapy. We invite our colleagues to take part in repairing psychic harm, deeply embedded, from a dysfunctional and disabling cultural script, one person at a time.

Book Section

Joseph C. Yaskin
Andrew J. Seubert

Yaskin, J. C. , Seubert, A. J. (2017). Left out and left behind: EMDR and cultural construction of intellectual disability. In M. Nickerson's (Ed.), Cultural Competence and Healing Culturally-Based Trauma with EMDR Therapy: Innovative Strategies and Protocols (pp. 247-260). New York, NY: Springer Publishing