EMDR therapy with a head and neck cancer client groupSummary sheet:  EMDR therapy with a head and neck cancer client group

Clients with head and neck cancer (H&NC) can often experience high levels of distress and anxiety related to their diagnosis, condition, treatment, levels of functioning, relationships, self-esteem, and quality of life. The multifaceted nature of people becomes even more difficult in the context of a disease presentation such as H&NC. There is a real need to discuss and describe patients at the individual, rather than population, level. This chapter sets out some of the current context of the disease and then describes how eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy may be applied with this client group. H&NC patients have increased levels of anxiety and distress when compared to other cancer patient groups, and for such patients, their function a year post treatment is likely to be worse. Clients need to be motivated to seek appropriate psychological support prior to surgery. Regarding posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the World Health Organization concluded: 'Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and EMDR therapy are recommended for children, adolescents and adults with PTSD', interestingly stating, 'Like CBT with a trauma focus, EMDR therapy aims to reduce subjective distress and strengthen adaptive cognitions related to the traumatic event'.

Book Section

English

Derek Farrell
Kate Reid

Farrell, D., & Reid, K. (2019). EMDR therapy with a head and neck cancer client group. In M. Luber (Ed.), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Scripted Protocols and Summary Sheets: Treating Trauma in Somatic and Medical-Related Conditions (pp. 253-290). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Co