EMDR Therapy Quarterly

Summer has arrived, bringing with it, for some, unbearable heat. The realities of climate change are becoming harder to ignore around the world. Those who are marginalised are often the most vulnerable, and they are the ones who experience this reality globally.

Statements

Our mission is to alleviate suffering and promote personal growth in those who have experienced trauma and other adverse life events by providing skilful, compassionate and effective EMDR therapy. We have had many members individually and collectively meet with us and contact us, of which we received a collective letter from 80 Association members, on how the association should comment on the conflict in Gaza. We appreciate and value member contact and time in collaborative working. The board are trying to work collectively with our members, with guidance from our legal team on this area. As a charity it is important that we do not take a political stance but also want to be able to support our members. Fiona Corbett, a member of the EDI committee, has collated a list of resources for those impacted by or are supporting those impacted by the conflict in Gaza, these can be found on the forum.  

In May, we also issued a statement regarding the UK Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of sex and its implications for trans and non-binary people.

Multimedia approach and having a voice

As you are aware, we aim to take a multimedia approach to both support and listen to our membership. The committee continues to source and deliver a multimedia approach with a particular focus on working with marginalised and underserved groups, adapting and developing our EMDR practice. If this is something you could offer and are an EMDR therapist, practitioner, consultant or trainer, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Please reach out to:

• Dean Whybrow with contributions (or to share ideas for publication) for the ETQ.
• Heena Chudasama for webinar ideas, and contributions
• Russ Hurn for podcast ideas

If you would like to recommend a presenter, have any further ideas, please also get in contact with Heena Chudasama.

CPD

A number of CPD events are available, which you can access here.

Bursary to come

The Association has agreed to offer some bursaries to support access to standard EMDR training, C&A EMDR training, relevant books and clinical supervision. We are in the process of developing a process and would welcome support from any member with experience of bursary and grant application procedures. Please email Heena Chudasama.

Short life working group (SLWG): Guidance

Guidance on accessible event planning has been shared on the forum. Where possible, this will be added to the EDI webpage along with other resources.

Regional groups (RGs) and special interest groups (SIGs)

Kamla Dadral continues to coordinate a reflective space for ethnically minoritised EMDR UK members, providing an opportunity to share narratives and processes and to think about the next steps as a group. Please contact Kamla Dadral via email to find out more or to join the reflective group.

We have also been approached by members from the local majority who are interested in supporting and having their own reflective space. If you would like to participate, please get in contact so introductions can be made.

Awareness days

We aim to work with special interest groups (SIGs) to highlight awareness days and months. SIGs and RGs have already shared the events they would like to promote. Aisha Docrat will be leading this with SIGs and RGs. While we may not be able to promote every suggested event, we will rotate the highlighted topic each month.

In the meantime, please contact Emma Mullins Crocker with any questions. Katy Bell and David Leck will also be working with the Association to support and promote the work in this area.

Forum

The EMDR UK Forum is a great place to share ideas, experiences and resources. The Association aims to develop a safe space to explore issues relating to EDI while working towards fully integrating EDI throughout the forum. Fiona Corbett and Karen Crowe regularly share resources on the EDI section of the forum.

Board demographics

In 2024, the Association Board agreed to conduct an annual demographics survey following the AGM at the EMDR UK conference, coinciding with changes in Board membership as people join and leave. The purpose is to understand the Board’s composition and identify areas where representation may be lacking.

The most recent survey identified that the following groups are not represented.

• Individuals working in the armed forces or civil service.
• People with non-binary, trans or other gender identities. 
• People from the global majority or indigenous communities from the global south (including Asian, Indian, Pakistani, African, Caribbean, Arab and Middle Eastern backgrounds).
• Hispanic, Latina/o/x individuals.
• Irish and Traveller communities. 
• People with a religious belief.
• People for whom English is a second language. 

There are several areas not represented on the Board; however, other areas – such as neurodivergence and learning differences – are.

While it may seem too early to start considering nominations for joining the EMDR UK Association Board, I ask members to start thinking about this as an option. It is important that the Board represents the diversity of our membership, and as such, I request that members volunteer to join the Board. After the summer, Board secretary Louise Mackinney will send an invitation for nominations to all Association members.

Handing over

As I finish my time as chair of the EDI Committee and work toward the end of my time on the Association Board (March 2026), I hand over to Emma Mullins Crocker.

I would like to share that it has been a pleasure leading the EDI Committee and acting as a collective voice guiding change within the EMDR UK Association. The Association has taken on board the suggestions and initiatives requested by members and championed by the EDI Committee.

The EDI Committee is made up of passionate and talented individuals who are change-makers for equality, inclusion, diversity and social justice. It has been an honour to work with them. I will remain on the EDI Committee as past chair and look forward to remaining part of this vital team at the Association. I have no doubt Emma will bring her own leadership and focus to EDI within the Association and will continue to encourage sustainable and systemic change.

Accessible answerphone

To increase accessibility to the Association, an answerphone 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. If you are able to email, please do so on admin@emdrassocation.org.uk.

Please be aware there is a process of reasonable adjustments and mitigating circumstances that members can access. Please contact admin@emdrassociation.org.uk to be directed to the right person in relation to your query.

Heena Chudasama (She/Her)

HChudasama@emdrassociation.org.uk Past Chair of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee