Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈 Clinical Considerations in Using EMDR with Trans Clients 🏳️‍⚧️

I was honored to contribute this month to EMDRIA's Focal Point Blog. The prompt was:

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

“Safety hasn’t been an option for many of the clients who have struggled with coming out, being themselves, and being loved and supported in safe places, emotionally, physically, and otherwise. Calm Place: As I teach this resource, I’m not going to call it a “safe” place. During the discussion and practice of calm place, I’m going to encourage the client to imagine places they find calming, and although it’s an imagined place that could be safe for them, it may not be. I’ll always follow the client’s lead. Positive cognition: If the client identifies some version of “I feel safe”, I’m going to explore this further, as this may not be an option for a client to truly believe at a Validity of Cognition (VoC) of 7. In our EMDR therapy sessions, open discussions around safety in the context of being a person in the LGBTQIA+ community are essential.”

*** Elizabeth Hinkle, LMFT, Virginia, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant in Training™ Check out the link for more responses:

https://www.emdria.org/blog/emdria-members-respond-case-conceptualization-for-pride-month/

#EMDR #GoWithThat #GoWithHealing #LGBTQIA #PrideMonth #TherapyThoughts