This is definitely a book whose time has come. One of the brilliant aspects of the EMDR therapy approach is that it makes it clinically possible to cut through social issues, and yet maintain its cultural consonance. From multiple contributions around the world, each chapter brings significant insights into how EMDR therapy can be culturally attuned and yet efficacious in preserving the individuality of each client. Highly recommended for those therapists who work in multi-cultural settings.
-Esly Regina Carvalho, Ph.D., Trainer of Trainers, EMDR Institute/EMDR Iberoam rica and President TraumaClinic do Brasil/TraumaClinic Edições, Brasilia, Brazil.
Underscoring the importance of cultural competence, this groundbreaking book focuses on using EMDR therapy with specific populations, particularly those groups typically stigmatized, oppressed, or otherwise marginalized in society. Drawing on social psychology research and theory as well as social justice and social work principles, it delivers general protocols for EMDR intervention for recovery from the internalized effects of cultural mistreatment. Employing best-practice methods for cultural competence as EMDR therapy is introduced to new cultures worldwide, the editor and esteemed EMDR clinician-authors relay their experiences, insights, guidance, and lessons learned through trial and error while adapting EMDR interventions for cross-cultural competency and therapeutic effectiveness
The text defines cultural competence and validates the need for a multi-culturally aware approach to psychotherapy that embraces authentic socialidentities and attends to the impact of socially based trauma. Chapters address using EMDR therapy to heal the trans-generational impact of Anti-Semitism,working with the LGBT population, treating an immigrant woman suffering from social anxiety, healing individuals with intellectual disabilities, thetraumatizing effects of racial prejudice, harmful cultural messages about physical appearance, EMDR therapy attuned to specific cultural populations andsocially based identities, and many other scenarios. The text is replete with step-by-step treatment guidelines to help clients recover from traumatic lifeevents, dos and don’ts, and common adaptive and maladaptive cultural beliefs.
Key Features:
- Defines cultural competence and validates the need for a multi-culturally aware approach to psychotherapy
- Offers innovative protocols and strategies for treating socially based trauma within the EMDR model
- Presents best practice methods for cultural competence
- Includes step-by-step treatment guidelines and dos and don’ts
- Written by highly esteemed EMDR clinician-authors
This anthology, edited by Mark Nickerson, fully deserves the high praise it is receiving in and beyond the field of EMDR therapy. Having read Nickerson’s earlier work, The Wounds Within, a book whose content about the life and death of a veteran traumatized by war had moved me deeply, I was eager to have in my hands his new book. I found quickly that I am not the reader for whom this one is intended. I am a lay person who has benefited from the therapy it describes, but who has no experience as a therapist. To put it simply, the book is both introduction to and a deep philosophical and practical dive into the integration of culture in psychotherapy in general and EMDR therapy in particular. It is educational to the lay person but a practical guide to trauma aware therapists committed to serving all people and helping those hurt most by the culturally divisive forces in our world. Immediately I sent my copy to a therapist friend who specializes in sexual trauma. I want every therapist of every sort to have this book in his or her hands.
Sincerely,
Bruce D
range of topics covered in these chapters and the brilliance of the individual authors in their expression of these new learnings is impressive.
It would be impossible, and unfair, in a brief review to single out individual chapters by different authors as more brilliant or helpful than others: it will depend very much on the reader's own expertise, experience and understanding to determine which chapters are most impressive or helpful. However, I believe it is fair to say that if the reader has a specialty in this field I do not feel you will be disappointed. Though the book focusses, by intent, on the role EMDR therapy can have in promoting cultural awareness, understanding and healing clinicians who are not trained in EMDR can also benefit very much from this book.
Most of all I am struck with the humility of this book and its faithfulness to the recognition throughout, as John Hartung emphasizes in the last chapter, that we need to "rely on others to assist us, to ask directly about our impact (rather than assuming on the basis of good intentions), to give thanks for feedback, to apologize when we err, and then make changes."'
This book encompasses the best of EMDR therapy, but more important, it brings into our awareness the very best cultural understandings that we humans are capable of, something of supreme importance in our present world. Buy this book! 5 Stars!!