Our mahi, shared with the world

EMDR is a psychological therapy that is used worldwide to treat anxiety, depression, trauma, and addictions. EMDR therapy has been adapted to suit various cultures and has been translated into numerous languages. Culturally appropriate therapy is vital in Aotearoa, where the indigenous Māori population are overrepresented in statistics showing poor physical and mental health. The Te Whare Tapa Whā model is a holistic, inclusive approach to addressing inequities in health outcomes by incorporating Māori culture into healthcare. The authors of the current study propose a new EMDR resource to be used in treatment settings with New Zealand clients that combines the Te Whare Tapa Whā framework with EMDR resourcing techniques developed overseas. This article represents a work in progress and is a component of a larger piece of work by the authors which will be published at a later date.

Cyclone Gabrielle was a destructive storm that impacted a large proportion of the population of Aotearoa New Zealand. The authors supported mental health services in affected areas and provided accessible psychological therapy to many survivors of the storm who were unable to access mental healthcare because of accessibility issues caused by destroyed roads and infrastructure. Volunteers from the mental health workforce across Aotearoa New Zealand were recruited to deliver group eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) sessions to survivors of Cyclone Gabrielle, both online and in-person. In total, seven sessions were held, and hundreds of participants were able to access these free services. In the present study, a subset (N=76) of participants was examined, and their responses to psychometrics discussed. The study demonstrated that group EMDR was an effective, efficient way to deliver psychological therapy to survivors of a large-scale event.

Survivors of sexual violence in Aotearoa New Zealand are afforded a unique opportunity to engage in psychological therapy under a programme known as Sensitive Claims. The current pilot study seeks to extend the treatment offered under that programme to include an innovative and inclusive model of trauma therapy, group EMDR. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an eight-phase psychological therapy designed to treat emotional distress caused by traumatic events from the past, most frequently in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The goal of group EMDR is to use a group framework to process a trauma episode to reduce traumatic stress, promote adaptive processing, strengthen resilience and prevent post-trauma complications. The group EMDR model examined in the current study allows participants to reprocess their trauma alongside other survivors of sexual violence. Group EMDR has been described as a method by which a group of strangers can heal from trauma collectively, without the need to share their traumas. Participants in the current study completed pre-and post-treatment assessments, as well as engaged in a unique Feedback Informed Therapy process, allowing for a rich data set. A mixed-methods analysis was conducted as results were both quantitative and qualitative in nature. Using a mixed approach such as this allowed for the nuanced feedback from participants to be explored and will inform future iterations of group EMDR in New Zealand.