Developing EMDR Therapy in Pakistan as Part of a Humanitarian Endeavor

The empirical justification for the use of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy as part of the repertoire of interventions used in response to humanitarian endeavors continues at a pace. A devastating earthquake, measuring 7.6 magnitude on the Richter scale, occurred in Northern Pakistan in October 2005. In response, the first EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Program to be facilitated by an academic institution was established. This article highlights how 3 research projects assisted in the continued development of EMDR therapy in Pakistan to the point where presently more than 125 Pakistani mental health professionals have now been trained; it now has its own EMDR National Association and is an active participant within EMDR Asia.

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Trauma-Aid, Humanitarian Assistance Program Germany

Journal of EMDR Practice and Research ◽

10.1891/1933-3196.8.4.225 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 225-232 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Helga Mattheß ◽

Ute Sodemann

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Humanitarian Assistance ◽

Mental Health Worker ◽

Psychological Consequences ◽

Research Projects ◽

Assistance Program ◽

German Government ◽

Set Up ◽

Emdr Therapy ◽

Local Research

Trauma-Aid Germany was founded in 2002 by dedicated eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapists to help people traumatized by calamities, disaster, or violence to overcome the psychological consequences and regain emotional stability and mental health. Trauma-Aid, also known as the Humanitarian Assistance Program Germany, works in crisis areas abroad, offering nonprofit trainings in EMDR therapy and establishing projects to support and treat trauma victims and survivors. Projects in China, Slovakia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Burma, Rwanda, and Haiti, in cooperation with other nongovernmental organizations and the German government, have supported trained participants in the treatment of clients in the respective countries and the initiation of local research projects. The basic principle is to work with networks of local practitioners or mental health worker, experts, and universities to establish structures that will maintain themselves in future. Nearly all countries to which Trauma-Aid Germany has taken training have meanwhile set up their own EMDR organizations, with many local EMDR trainers already trained or in training.

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EMDR training's for Bosnia and Herzegovina mental health workers resulted with seven European accredited EMDR psychotherapists and one European accredited EMDR consultant

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.1827 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. s896-s896

Author(s):

M. Hasanovic ◽

S. Morgan ◽

S. Oakley ◽

S. Richman ◽

Š. Šabanović ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Workers ◽

Humanitarian Assistance ◽

Educational Process ◽

Internet Technology ◽

Mental Health Workers ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Non Profit ◽

Competing Interest

IntroductionBosnia-Herzegovina (BH) citizens, affected by 1992–1995 war, developed serious mental health posttraumatic consequences. Their needs for EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing) treatment increased. The Humanitarian Assistance Programmes UK & Ireland (HAP) work in partnership with mental health professionals in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) from 2010.ObjectivesWe aim to build a body of qualified and experienced professionals who can establish and sustain their own EMDR training.MethodAuthors described educational process considering the history of idea and its realization through training levels and process of supervision which was provided from the Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP) of UK &Ireland with non profit, humanitarian approach in sharing skills of EMDR to mental health therapists in BH.ResultsThe trainers from HAP UK & Ireland completed five EMDR trainings in BH (two in Tuzla and three in Sarajevo) for 100 recruited trainees from different BH health institutions from different cities and entities in BH. To be accredited EMDR therapists all trainees are obliged to practice EMDR therapy with clients under the supervision process of HAP UK&Ireland supervisors. Supervision is organized via Skype Internet technology. Up today seven trainees completed their supervision successfully and became European Accredited EMDR Psychotherapists, one of them became European Accredited EMDR Consultant.ConclusionFive training of Bosnia-Herzegovina mental health workers to effectively use EMDR with enthusiastic help of EMDR trainers from HAP UK&Ireland resulted with seven European accredited EMDR psychotherapists, and one of them became European accredited EMDR consultant. This will increase psychotherapy capacities in postwar BH.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Bridging the gap between clinical practice and research: The association for research in psychiatry

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.1356 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. S738-S738

Author(s):

G. Mattei ◽

S. Bursi ◽

R. Bursi ◽

A. Colantoni

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Clinical Practice ◽

General Population ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Fund Raising ◽

Research Projects ◽

Medical Specialties ◽

Rotary Club ◽

Competing Interest

Clinical practice and research are frequently seen as two worlds apart, in psychiatry as in the vast majority of medical specialties. In order to bridge the gap between them, economic founds and grants are required, not always easy to obtain. In this contribution we report the birth of the Association for Research in Psychiatry (ARPSY) and its main activities. ARPSY was born in May 2016 thanks to a research prize assigned to dr. Giorgio Mattei by the eight Rotary Clubs of the Province of Modena, Italy (Rotary Club Modena, Mirandola, Carpi, Sassuolo, Vignola Castelfranco Bazzano, Frignano, Modena L.A. Muratori, Castelvetro di Modena Terra dei Rangoni, that altogether make up the so-called “Ghirlandina Group”). Aim of the association is to promote mental health among students and trainees, mental health professionals, patients and their families, and among the general population by means of fund raising, in order to finance research projects, clinical interventions and educational activities.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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