A call to action: Integrating EMDR into sport social work and psychology

Athletes are frequently characterized by resilience and mental toughness, yet accumulating evidence indicates that many experience unresolved psychological trauma that affects mental health, recovery, and performance. Elite and collegiate athletes encounter trauma through injury, abusive environments, adverse childhood experiences, and non-sport stressors, with rates of post-traumatic symptoms comparable to or exceeding those observed in the general population. Despite this reality, trauma-informed care remains inconsistently integrated within sport psychology and sport social work, where services are often divided between mental performance training and general mental health care. This article synthesizes current research on trauma exposure in athletes and evaluates Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) as an evidence-based intervention with emerging relevance for sport contexts. Recommendations are offered for training, interdisciplinary collaboration, embedded clinical roles, and applied research to advance a trauma-informed model of athlete care.

Dissertation/Thesis

English

Miles O’Neill

O’Neill, M. (2026, January). A call to action: Integrating EMDR into sport social work and psychology. (University of Alabama)