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Chapter 17: The EMDR Approach Used as a Tool to Provide Psychological Help to Refugees and Asylum Seekers

DOI:

10.1891/9780826163424.0017

Authors

  • Gattinara, Paola Castelli
  • Onofri, Antonio
  • Angelini, Cristina

Abstract

This chapter describes the psychotherapeutic intervention for a particular clinical population: refugees and asylum seekers. These individuals live in a state of great vulnerability. For them, migrating was not a choice, but a decision forced by the particular conditions in their country of origin. The immigrant population is very heterogeneous due to different factors: their migration history and the reasons at the root of their migration; their social, cultural, and economic conditions; their status; and their ability to access national healthcare. One aspect that unites this population, however, is that they are particularly at risk for complex posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Another key element of the treatment, especially in this type of population, and in general in those suffering from complex PTSD, is attention to the body. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) targets memories felt in the body, promoting full access, reprocessing, and integration of the traumatic experiences.