EMDR therapy with unpaid carers of people living with dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions: Practical application ideas

This article discusses EMDR therapy as having a significant place in unpaid carer interventions and presents a range of ideas about how to do this.

Article Abstract

“Therapeutic interventions with unpaid dementia carers and those living with other degenerative diseases appear to still be in their infancy in terms of delivery, accessibility and research. When therapy is offered to these client groups, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is often given little consideration, despite its potential value. As someone with both lived experience of unpaid caring in this context and as an EMDR consultant, my colleagues and I argue that EMDR therapy ought to have a significant place in unpaid carer interventions and we present a range of ideas about how we might do this.

While we note that caregiving can have many positive aspects to it, for both the carer and the person being cared for, we recognise that this can also come with a high cost to psychological and physical well-being. We argue that EMDR has the potential to benefit carers in two key areas: firstly, as an early intervention aimed at reducing the risks of carer burnout, the breakdown of the caring relationship and to help manage the impact of ongoing stress, thereby improving resilience and self-efficacy in their caring role; and secondly, as a clinical intervention for depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), prolonged grief and acute stress.”

—Description from publisher

Article Access

Open Access

Rawal, K., Hutchins, J., Swanepoel, H., Gillanders, S., & Keogh, C. (2025, Summer). EMDR therapy with unpaid carers of people living with dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions: Practical application ideas. EMDR Therapy Quarterly. https://etq.emdrassociation.org.uk/2025/08/11/emdr-therapy-with-unpaid-carers-of-people-living-with-dementia-and-other-neurodegenerative-conditions-practical-application-ideas/