EMDR Therapy Quarterly

The last ETQ was a special edition focusing on equality, equity, diversity and inclusion (EEDI). It was the start of integrating EEDI into all the work of the Association. We encourage you to submit articles and share your experiences and views in ETQ and the forum to keep the conversation going.

EDI forum

The plan is to integrate EEDI throughout the forum. There have been requests from some members for a safer place to share resources and discuss thoughts and reflections. We are grateful to Beverly Carrington and Fiona Corbett from the Association’s EEDI Committee for setting this up with the support of Justin Havens (Chair of the Communications Committee). Beverly and Fiona will be posting resources, training, webinars and other useful information to the forum. Please also use this space to reflect, discuss and share resources with other members and the Association.

Short-length working group – guidance

By working collaboratively as an Association with our SIGs and RGs, we are attempting to develop tip sheets to support the integration of EEDI into all the Association’s events, which of course includes SIG and RG events and webinars. We have shared draft tip sheets with RG and SIG chairs for their input. Some SIGs and RGs have assigned one person to monitor and champion EEDI within their group, which is excellent news. But please remember, this is not a small task, and it is the responsibility of all of us to consider EEDI through all the work we do. If SIG and RG chairs are struggling to access these documents, please email. These are working documents that will be reviewed and updated periodically, and when new knowledge comes to light, it will be available online to members soon.

Short-length working group – charities

We are keen to support low-income charities to access EMDR standard training, clinical supervision from an EMDR consultant supervisor and CPD. We will be developing a consultant supervisor directory of people who are willing to offer low-cost EMDR clinical supervision to low-income charities. There will be more information to follow.

Special interest groups

We have also been working with the Minoritised Therapists Reflective Practice Group to develop draft cultural awareness, diversity and anti-racism statements. These will be shared with RGs and SIGs to review and contribute to before publication, which will hopefully be soon.

Kamla Dadral continues to facilitate the reflective space for ethnically minoritised EMDR UK members to share their narratives and processes and also to think about the next steps as a group. To find out more or to join the reflective group, please contact Kamla Dadral .

Diverse matters

On 3 July, Diverse Matters consultancy delivered a webinar to the Board, SIGs and RGs regarding integrating EEDI into the practices of the Association rather than into therapeutic practice. The recording will be available for members to view soon.

CPD point application and evaluation

The Association is developing a robust process of integrating EDI into all events that receive its CPD points (from application to evaluation feedback and action, including content delivery, accessibility of the event and handouts). Completing evaluation/feedback forms is a way to share information and experiences. Please be assured that the feedback is read and acted on by the Association.  

There are several ways to communicate with the Association:

• Complete feedback, evaluation forms and surveys
• Share views through your SIGs and RGs
• Email any Board member
• Speak to Board members at events
• Attend ‘Meet the Board’ events
• Consider joining the Board, committees, SIGs and your RG
• Email
• Use the accessible answerphone line to make contact if you are unable to email.

Webinars

We are continually searching for national EMDR therapists (practitioners, consultants and trainers) who can either deliver a webinar or collaborate with non-EMDR therapists to deliver a webinar particularly related to marginalised groups and communities. There is some funding available for these events. Please get in contact via email to express your interest. If you are a member of the Association, you are also able to deliver a webinar/event in conjunction with your consultant supervisor. This is a great opportunity for consultant supervisors to support their supervisees’ growth and assist in sharing knowledge in our community. Please get in contact with me if you have any questions or would like to discuss sharing your experience and expertise via a webinar.     

Accessible answerphone

As a reminder, the digital answerphone service has been live since May 2023.

Accessible answerphone number: 0151 372 6802

This is an accessible answerphone line for those who cannot email the Association. The answerphone will not be monitored on weekends and during holiday periods. Please be mindful that queries will be responded to as soon as possible but may take a few days.

Please be aware that there is a process of reasonable adjustments and mitigating circumstances that members can access. This may be relating to attending events, applications for accreditation and other support needs relating to engagement with the Association. Please email the Association to be directed to the right person in relation to your query.

Heena Chudasama, Chairperson of the EDI Committee hchudasama@emdrassociation.org.uk