Course Description

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a widely recognized therapeutic approach for addressing trauma and distressing life experiences. However, the application of EMDR with neurodivergent individuals—including those with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other cognitive differences—often requires thoughtful adaptation to support accessibility, regulation, and clinical effectiveness.

This presentation introduces neurodiversity‑informed principles relevant to EMDR practice, with particular attention to sensory regulation, communication preferences, and individualized pacing. Attendees will examine ways EMDR protocols and consultation processes may be adapted to support diverse information‑processing styles and engagement needs.

Through case illustrations and guided discussion, this session highlights how EMDR therapy and EMDR consultation can be integrated within inclusive, neurodivergent‑affirming clinical frameworks. Emphasis is placed on clinical decision‑making and ethical considerations when tailoring EMDR interventions and consultation approaches to support neurodivergent clients and consultees.

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will be able to identify common neurodivergent processing characteristics that may influence engagement, pacing, and regulation during EMDR therapy.
2. Participants will be able to describe EMDR protocol modifications that may support effective resource installation and processing with neurodivergent clients.
3. Participants will be able to explain how neurodivergent‑affirming principles inform EMDR consultation considerations when working with neurodivergent consultees.

Session Level: Intermediate

Presenter(s)

Susan Darker-Smith, MSc, LLM

Susan Darker-Smith is an EMDR Europe Senior Child & Adolescent Trainer, an EMDRIA and EMDR Europe Consultant. She is a founding member of the Trauma Response Network (TRN-UK) – following the Manchester Arena Bombing and a founding member of the Global Child-EMDR Alliance, formed during the Covid 19 pandemic. Susan is passionate about making EMDR accessible to all brains, including those who may be wired differently. She created a formulation tool to help identify the strengths and challenges of neurodivergent clients, to help inform modifications to standard EMDR protocol, a resource technique to assist neurodivergent clients with affect regulation and teaches on these techniques internationally. She is the co-author of 2 chapters in the field of EMDR and neurodiversity and is currently writing a further chapter on neurodiversity in the context of perinatal mental health. Susan believes that when we stand together as one EMDR community, we can create miracles.