The use and effectiveness of eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing by educational psychologists

Psychological trauma refers to psychological reactions arising from an extreme event or events that are outside an individual’s normal experiences and coping mechanisms. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is considered to occur when the trauma experienced is not accommodated and integrated within narrative memory. Symptoms of PTSD include: flashbacks; involuntary and intrusive recall of the trauma; concentration and sleep difficulties. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), used in the treatment PTSD, is a therapeutic intervention involving the recall and reprocessing of difficult events and traumatic memories.

The aim of this study was to research: the use of EMDR by Educational Psychologists (EPs) with children and young people; the outcomes of this work, and what EPs and young people experience as being instrumental to producing positive outcomes through EMDR.

The participants in the study were five EPs and two young people. Data were collected in two phases, using semi-structured interviews. In phase 1, generic interviews were undertaken with the EPs. In phase 2, two casework-specific interviews were undertaken with one of the EPs about his EMDR work with the young people, and casework-specific interviews undertaken with the young people themselves. Data analysis was undertaken using thematic analysis.

The quality of the data collected yielded a large amount of detailed information, of both practical and theoretical significance. Findings from the study were that EPs use EMDR flexibly, integrated with psychoeducation and other attention focussing techniques, to produce cognitive changes for children and young people that place the trauma ‘in the past’ within narrative memory.

The research has provided an original contribution to knowledge as to the use EMDR by EPs with young people, the range of outcomes, and what EPs and young people experienced as being instrumental to producing positive outcomes through EMDR. The findings of this research support EPs and other practitioners to further develop competencies and practice in EMDR integrated with other therapeutic interventions. Future research should be structured to incorporate improved outcomes data at individual case and practice levels.

Dissertation/Thesis

English

Janice M. Shaw

Shaw, J. M. (2024). The use and effectiveness of eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing by educational psychologists. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Manchester)