Experiences of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: The voices of CIS female survivors of sexual assault

Sexual violence is endemic to the United States and is associated with various mental health challenges; however, survivors’ mental healthcare utilization varies widely. Despite EMDR’s demonstrated efficacy for rape-related PTSD and its effectiveness in community settings, very little is known about how survivors access EMDR and whether they perceive it as helpful to their healing and growth. This phenomenological inquiry, guided by a feminist-informed ecological framework, holistically explored 18 survivors’ lived experiences seeking and using EMDR in the aftermath of sexual assault. Data were collected from a purposive sample of 18 survivors using a semi-structured interview protocol. Findings revealed most survivors receive EMDR from clinical social workers in private practice. Survivors’ help-seeking was often situated within an inhospitable healing environment and involved a nonlinear process punctuated by intersecting barriers to accessing EMDR and healing, including self-blame, stigma, financial, structural, and institutional barriers. The combined and counteracting role of empowering social and material resources delineated early, delayed, advantaged, and precarious EMDR treatment-seeking trajectories. Findings also revealed the synergistic interplay of the EMDR approach, therapeutic alliance, and client-related factors as salient contributors to respondents’ well-being following treatment. Findings from this study are of particular importance to social workers who are on the frontlines of community practice, and who comprise the majority of community practitioners. Study findings revealed implications for social work education, practice, research, and policy.

Dissertation/Thesis

English

Jamie R. Benavidez-Hatzis

Benavidez-Hatzis, J. R. (2023). Experiences of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: The voices of CIS female survivors of sexual assault. (Doctoral dissertation, Adelphi University)