EMDR Research for Couples Therapy

If you are an EMDR therapist who works with couples, here is your chance to help with some research.

Elizabeth Legg is a PhD student at the University of Northern Colorado. She is working on a study for her dissertation on clients’ and therapists’ experiences with EMDR within couples counseling sessions. The research will include where one or both members of a couple participated in EMDR with his/her partner present in the room as a witness to the processing.

The study will look at the factors and conditions that play a role for couples in contributing to the value of conjoint EMDR therapy as well as those that may decrease or interfere with the usefulness of EMDR having one’s partner present. Interviews will be conducted with both members of the couple as well as the therapist.

By hearing directly from couples about their experience as well as from the therapist who facilitated the therapy, the study hopes to gain information in assessing when individual EMDR or conjoint EMDR might be most appropriate, and help with understanding the preparation steps for incorporating EMDR into treatment.

Those who can participate:

1. an EMDR trained therapist who provided EMDR within couples therapy (with both members of the couple present) within the past three years… OR
2. an adult client who completed EMDR within couples therapy (with you and your partner present) while in a committed relationship within the past three years (even if you are no longer in this relationship)

If you agree to participate in this study, each person will be interviewed separately for 60-90 minutes about your experience (as a client or therapist) of the EMDR process within couples therapy, what you found to be helpful or unhelpful about the EMDR process, and any changes that you experienced or observed individually and/or as a couple.

A pseudonym (fake name) will be used and every precaution will be taken to protect your confidentiality.

Each person who chooses to participate will be provided with the choice to be entered into a raffle to win a $25 Visa gift card.

If you would like to learn more about this study or are interested in participating, please read the attached consent form and respond by email: [email protected] or phone: 720-244-1468.

This is an important study so please take the time to participate or let other EMDR therapists in your community know this is happening.

Please be sure to fill out and sign the following consent forms if you are interested in participating in this study:

• Letter of Introduction
• Consent Form for Client Participants
• Consent From for Therapist Participants

Note: the deadline date to participate is May 21, 2012. So act now!