We are grateful and excited to announce the publication of EMDR Resources in the Era of Covid-19, edited by Marilyn Luber, PhD. Connect’s own Reg Morrow Robinson is part of the group of leading EMDR thinkers and therapists from around the world who have come together to provide us with this EMDR resources workbook. It’s a huge gift to all of us as we endeavor to keep pace with client needs in a rapidly changing clinical landscape.
Reg has contributed the volume’s first resource: Levels of Care for the Coronavirus. This chapter offers much needed guidance on navigating the many decision points related to choosing appropriate approaches and interventions for all types of clients and situations. During times of crisis, we are often called to react quickly without reference to a clear rationale for the type of care that is being offered. Reg has pulled together a treasure trove of current approaches and clinical resources, while offering a methodology for thinking through the whys and hows of tailored training and service delivery.
Reg’s excellent and thought-provoking chapter is followed by 18 additional resources, including Elan Shapiro’s Group-Traumatic Episode Protocol Remote Individual and Self-Care Protocol (G-TEP RISC), Ignacio Jarero’s The Butterfly Hug for the Coronavirus Pandemic, Recommendations for the Use of Online EMDR Therapy during the Covid-19 Pandemic, by the EMDR Europe Standards Committee, Four Elements Parent Activities, by Judy Moench, updates on Italian and Turkish responses to the pandemic, and thoughtful essays by Deany Laliotis, Roger Solomon, and other mentors in our field.
Marilyn Luber and the authors have generously shared this publication at no charge, and you can view it in its entirety here. Please keep in mind that this is copyrighted material and is not to be duplicated or shared without correct attribution.
Here’s a brief excerpt from Resource #1, by Reg Morrow Robinson:
We practice in all parts of the world, in all sorts of settings, with high levels of resources and low levels of resources. Our clients, as well, have great diversity of resources available. The mental health community and EMDR community have hundreds of interventions to select from. How do we navigate selecting the most efficient and effective level of care for those impacted by COVID-19 when we are possibly stretched thin or on the opposite end, twiddling our thumbs hoping to help!
Each individual lives in a unique environment, country, political climate, exposure to ongoing, reoccurring, and distinct events of stress and access to resources such as readily available health and mental health care. Each therapist has a wide range of skills, experience, and risk tolerance available. Conceptualizing levels of care within diverse conditions is no small feat!
The purposes of exploring levels of care concerning EMDR are the following during the COVID-19 Pandemic and beyond.
- Psychoeducation: Creation of a relatable way to talk about mental health services (non-drug focused) to Stakeholders (medical care providers, others directing care to those who need it, clients and payors).
- Pandemic Response: Placement of EMDR products in the delivery of care in COVID-19 times among other non EMDR models and products of care.
- Guide for New Therapists: Guiding newly trained therapists when to use each protocol or procedure.
- Guide for Organizations: Guiding discussions with organizations (such as hospitals, first responders, schools, and other stakeholders) needing to determine how to integrate EMDR into their response for staff and patients.
- EMDR Early Intervention: Advancing the concept of EMDR early intervention can in many cases, prevent the progression of after effects of exposure to high stress and trauma.
- Effect of Social Distancing on Care Delivery: Looking into how social distancing impacts and even drives changes to our capacity to deliver care?
