When Disaster Strikes Our Local Communities: U.S. EMDR Trauma Recovery Network Coordinators Reflect on Lessons Learned

Abstract

As a result of a dramatic surge of community-wide traumatic events over the last years, we have seen an increase in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)-trained clinicians in the United States who want to volunteer as responders to their own or neighboring communities in the wake of disaster. This grassroots movement was followed by the Trauma Recovery/Humanitarian Assistance Program’s (TR/HAP) development of an organizational structure for Trauma Recovery Networks (TRNs) to provide EMDR training and treatment in their own local, affected areas. The personal stories of disaster response interventions by TRNs in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and New York City in 2012–2013 are examples of two decades of HAP team “experiences along the way.” Lessons learned from the inside out are shared to encourage other developing networks in the logistical, emotional, and spiritual preparation for community disaster work. With the unfolding of TR/HAP’s development of a National Trauma Recovery Network, there is an opportunity to ensure efficient and effective disaster responses by properly trained and prepared local EMDR clinicians. TRN chapters and their teams continue to increase awareness in local communities of the healing possibilities of acute and longer term trauma symptoms through early intervention with EMDR treatment.

The politics of humanitarian aid

“…EMDR HAP then began branching into countries that had experienced longterm conflict, war, poverty, and scarcity of resources (Gelbach, 2014). The EMDR HAP created the Trauma Recovery Network to connect local volunteers to community needs as well as to form strong connections to emergency services and educate the public about trauma and its treatability (Alter-Reid et al, 2014). EMDR HAP's international work has slowly reduced as country-or region-specific EMDR humanitarian aid programs have grown (Gelbach, 2014).…”

Future Research: Global Implications

“…The nonprofit Trauma Recovery/EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs was incorporated later that year and has been providing pro bono services after natural and man-made disasters both domestically and internationally ever since (Gelbach, 2014). Trauma Response Networks mobilize after local disasters such as after the September 11, 2011, terrorist attack to provide treatment, with clinical evaluations indicating substantial treatment effects and a return to normal functioning in the survivors (Silver, Rogers, Knipe, & Colelli, 2005; see also Alter-Reid, Colelli, & Simons, 2014). These efforts have been mirrored by national EMDR organizations worldwide (see Shapiro, 2014) that provided pro bono training and treatment after disasters in Africa (Zimmermann, 2014), Asia (Farrell, 2014;Konuk & Zat, 2015;Mehrotra, 2014), Europe (Fernandez, Callerame, Maslovaric, & Wheeler, 2014;Mattheß & Sodermann, 2014), Latin America ( Jarero, Artigas, Uribe, & Miranda, 2014), and the Middle East (Zaghrout-Hodali, 2014).…”

EMDR, Community Psychology, and Innovative Applications of a Trauma Recovery Network as a Tool for Social Change

“…These communities are often either invisible to the mainstream, distorted by the lens of prejudice, or hobbled by government (Abkowitz, 2008). The EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs (HAP, now also known as Trauma Recovery) have a 20-year history of volunteerism providing EMDR therapy, educating the public, and training clinicians near disaster sites to provide ongoing aid (Alter-Reid, Colelli, & Simons, 2014;Gelbach, 2014;Maxfield, 2014). During this time, the concept of TRNs was developed and implemented for more sustainable treatment delivery postdisaster (Alter-Reid et al, 2014;Gelbach, 2014).…”

“…The EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs (HAP, now also known as Trauma Recovery) have a 20-year history of volunteerism providing EMDR therapy, educating the public, and training clinicians near disaster sites to provide ongoing aid (Alter-Reid, Colelli, & Simons, 2014;Gelbach, 2014;Maxfield, 2014). During this time, the concept of TRNs was developed and implemented for more sustainable treatment delivery postdisaster (Alter-Reid et al, 2014;Gelbach, 2014). TRNs are locally run groups of EMDR-trained clinicians who volunteer their time to provide EEI services in the wake of disasters-either for locally occurring events or elsewhere by invitation.…”