As a strength-based counselor intern, I approach therapy with a foundational belief in the inherent resilience and capabilities of individuals and families. You have read in previous blog posts and throughout our site about how useful techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy and others can be When it comes to healing family dynamics. In this post I’ll introduce a powerful tool that can support growth and transformation: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). While traditionally used to help individuals process trauma, EMDR can also be applied in a family or couples context to enhance communication, build healthier connections, and heal past wounds that may be impacting the family system as a whole.
Understanding EMDR: A Brief Overview
EMDR is a therapeutic approach that helps individuals process distressing memories, emotions, and experiences. It was originally developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and to treat PTSD symptoms, but over the years, its applications have expanded beyond PTSD treatment to help individuals dealing with various mental health challenges and anxiety disorders. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements, taps, or sounds) to facilitate the processing of traumatic memories, which in turn helps reduce the emotional charge attached to those memories.
Even the American Psychological Association has weighed in. According to the American Psychological Association, EMDR has been increasingly recognized in recent years by the World Health Organization and in treatment guidelines as an effective, evidence based treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder.
From a strength-based health care perspective, EMDR is seen not just as a tool to “remove” trauma, but as a method to help individuals harness their existing resources to cope with past experiences and build a better future.
Family Systems and the Impact of Trauma
Family systems are intricate webs of relationships, where each member plays a unique and vital role. When one or more family members experience trauma—whether due to external circumstances or relational dynamics—the entire system can be affected. Trauma can lead to communication breakdowns, emotional distance, conflict, and unhealthy patterns that affect not just the individual but the family as a whole.
In many families, trauma is passed down through generations, often unconsciously. These inherited patterns can create a cycle of unresolved pain that affects how family members interact with one another, contributing to negative behaviors, unmet needs, and unspoken expectations. The result is a fragmented system where family members struggle to connect on a deeper level or understand one another’s perspectives. Even though this cycle can sound bleak and overwhelming, proper application of this technique by an EMDR therapist can help uncover the strengths within the system and in my next post I will describe more specifically the way that is possible. Stay tuned for part II on our series on EMDR!
