In order to commemorate Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month in May, we asked EMDRIA members for video or written responses to the following question:

“What factors help ensure a culturally responsive EMDR case conceptualization for clients who identify as AANHPI?”

  *** Uyanga Bayandalai, PhD, LPCC, LADC, Minnesota, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant in Training™ – “To be culturally responsive when using EMDR with AANHPI clients, I need to go beyond a standard approach and focus on each person’s cultural background, identity, and experiences. I make it a point to learn about the diversity among AANHPI communities by looking at things like ethnic identity, acculturation, immigration history, and intergenerational trauma. I also pay attention to how culture could affect the meaning of distress, such as family roles, shame, and collectivist values, and how these factors affect how clients express themselves or experience trauma physically.
I also try to be aware of how experiences such as racism and larger social or political stressors, especially those that increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, can shape both target memories and negative beliefs. I try to move at a pace that recognizes possible stigma around mental health and helps clients feel safe, since expressing emotions or soliciting help may not always fit their cultural norms. It’s also important for me to focus on strengths, such as community, spirituality, and fortitude, and include these in resourcing and reprocessing. I need to practice ongoing cultural humility, staying aware of my own background and how it might affect the therapy process. My main goal is to use the EMDR framework to remain flexible and ensure I respond to what matters most to each client’s culture.”
*** Tania Welikala, LCSW, Oregon, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant™ 
– Note for subtitles on the videos, play the video and click on the ‘CC’ icon in the upper right-hand corner for closed captioning.
*** Sherry Yam, LCSW, California, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant™ – “When thinking about a culturally responsive EMDR case conceptualization for clients who identify as AANHPI, it’s important to start with how the client understands their experiences—not just the symptoms they report. Many AANHPI clients, especially refugees, immigrants, and children of immigrants, carry trauma shaped by war, forced displacement, migration, family separation, and ongoing racism or acculturation stress. These experiences often show up through the body, relationships, or a deep sense of responsibility, rather than direct emotional expression.

Thoughtful EMDR conceptualization means staying curious about family roles and intergenerational stories, since distress is often held collectively. Negative cognitions may center on shame, burden, or fear of letting others down, and need to be honored with care. Spending time on preparation, pacing, and culturally meaningful resourcing—such as ancestral strength, spirituality, or community values—helps build safety. Most importantly, EMDR can offer hope by honoring both ancestral and Western identities, reminding clients they do not have to choose between cultures. Ongoing clinician self‑reflection and cultural humility help ensure EMDR remains responsive, respectful, and empowering.”

 

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Additional Resources

If you are a therapist interested in the EMDR training: If you are EMDR trained: If you are an EMDRIA Member:

Date
May 22, 2026

Topics
Racial Trauma

Client Population
Racial/Cultural/Ethnic Groups

Practice & Methods
Case Conceptualization, Your EMDR Practice

Publisher
EMDR International Association

Series
EMDRIA Members Respond

Audience
EMDR Therapists, EMDRIA members

Language
English

Content Type
Blog/Blog Post

Original Source
Focal Point Blog

Access Type
Open Access

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