According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), “sexual violence” is an all-encompassing, non-legal term for crimes like sexual assault, rape, and sexual abuse. The legal definition of crimes varies from state to state. EMDR therapists can treat sexual violence with EMDR therapy effectively and efficiently. Safety and stability are of primary importance when dealing with survivors. EMDR involves a client-centered approach where the clinician follows, listens, and adapts to ensure client safety and comfort.
Sexual Trauma & Intimate Partner Violence Go With That Magazine Issue
We invited several authors to write about using EMDR therapy with sexual trauma and intimate partner violence in the Spring 2023 Go With That Magazine issue. We are sharing Urdaneta Melo’s article here, and EMDRIA members can access all other articles and issues in the Go With That Magazine.
10 Tips: Using EMDR Therapy with Survivors of Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence.
By Viviana Urdaneta Melo, LCSW
Excerpt: “Every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. 1 These clients represent a large percentage of clients in need of mental health services. Due to these high numbers, all therapists are very likely to encounter many survivors during their careers. Sexual violence can cause acute and longterm effects, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, nightmares, sleep disturbances, and more (Postmontier, Dovydaitis & Lipman, 2010). EMDR can provide relief for those symptoms. Survivors can become desensitized to the traumatic event and embrace new adaptive beliefs about self. It is imperative that therapists develop skills to support these clients since the effects of sexual violence and intimate partner violence (IPV) have consequences for the survivor, the family members, relatives, friends, and society in general. The estimated lifetime cost of rape is $122,461 per victim, 2 including medical costs, loss of work productivity, loss of property or damage, and lifetime economic burden… Additionally, research suggests that EMDR is an effective treatment modality for survivors of intimate partner violence (Schwarz, Baber, Barter & Dorfman, 2017). … The following tips might work with both survivors of sexual assault and survivors of IPV because these two populations often overlap.”
Click Here to Access Urdaneta’s Full Article
This issue also includes the following articles:
- Sexual Trauma and Sexual Health: A Brief Introduction By Stephanie Baird, LMHC
- EMDR, 2SLBGTQPIA+ Community and Intimate Partner Violence By Sue Genest, MSc., CCC, RCC
- EMDR Therapy’s Impact with Survivors of Sexual and Domestic Violence By Jill Schwarz, Ph.D.
- Human-Animal Bond and EMDR By Alison Leslie, LCSW, SEP
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