EMDR in Ukraine for children and adolescents: International project
Description
Background and Aims
EMDR is disseminated in Ukraine through an international project involving collaborations on several levels. C&A trainers and consultants from three countries trained Ukrainian C&A therapists online or onsite. Pre- and post-measurements of treated children and adolescents are analyzed. This project builds on a project on Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), initiated to explore the efficacy and feasibility of implementing evidence-based trauma treatments in a war-affected country. As EMDR is also an evidence-based treatment, the focus was broadened. This project's results will indicate the potential efficacy of EMDR in these challenging conditions.
Methods
Children were screened for PTSD before and after EMDR therapy with the CATS-2. Prof. Dr.Elisa Pfeiffer and her team facilitated and coordinated data collection and analysis.
Results
Data analysis starts in March 2025, the results will be published in collaboration with the Ulm University team. A hybrid combination of one onsite and two virtual presentations will highlight outcome data and challenges that trainers, consultants, and therapists face in these circumstances.
Conclusions
Initial data will (hopefully) confirm that individual EMDR therapy can be effective for children and adolescents in ongoing war situations and that clinicians can be trained. Lessons learned from this project will be shared for future implementations.
EMDR is disseminated in Ukraine through an international project involving collaborations on several levels. C&A trainers and consultants from three countries trained Ukrainian C&A therapists online or onsite. Pre- and post-measurements of treated children and adolescents are analyzed. This project builds on a project on Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), initiated to explore the efficacy and feasibility of implementing evidence-based trauma treatments in a war-affected country. As EMDR is also an evidence-based treatment, the focus was broadened. This project's results will indicate the potential efficacy of EMDR in these challenging conditions.
Methods
Children were screened for PTSD before and after EMDR therapy with the CATS-2. Prof. Dr.Elisa Pfeiffer and her team facilitated and coordinated data collection and analysis.
Results
Data analysis starts in March 2025, the results will be published in collaboration with the Ulm University team. A hybrid combination of one onsite and two virtual presentations will highlight outcome data and challenges that trainers, consultants, and therapists face in these circumstances.
Conclusions
Initial data will (hopefully) confirm that individual EMDR therapy can be effective for children and adolescents in ongoing war situations and that clinicians can be trained. Lessons learned from this project will be shared for future implementations.
Format
Conference
Language
English
Original Work Citation
Beer, R., Pfeiffer, E. Kosov, S., Verardo, A. R., Niederhuber, P., Zaporozhets, O., Uralova, O., & Fernandez, I. (2025, June). EMDR in Ukraine for children and adolescents: International project. Presentation at the 25th EMDR Europe Association Conference, Prague, Austria
Collection
Citation
“EMDR in Ukraine for children and adolescents: International project,” Francine Shapiro Legacy Library, accessed November 9, 2025, https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/29761.