The group sessions are over.  The research is complete.  We hope that the participants continue on a path of growth that was started for many of them.  We started our recruiting at the local community center PTSD group and we would like to return to present the findings and hope that many of our participants can attend and talk about some of their experiences.  I still recall the tentative email from Rosalyn, hoping to find support as she worked on her doctoral project.  I am so glad I said, yes and that affirmative answer turned into many blessings and affirmations for me and others.  Please join us at 6:30 in the TBD room location at the Carson Valley Community Center 1329 Waterloo Ln, Gardnerville, NV 89410.  November 12, 2019, Tuesday evening.

Overall reduction in symptoms found in our research project noted in this partial abstract citation from Rosalyn Avant’s research paper.

The EMDR-IGTP program increased access to EMDR therapy for sixteen individuals over a six-week period.

Quantitative assessments showed an overall decrease in symptom severity for participants.

Paired t-tests of pre-program and post-program mean symptom severity showed a significant decrease after program implementation.

The potential exists to reduce the symptoms of PTSD utilizing the EMDR-IGTP to improve access with limited community resources and funding.

These were the conclusions.  Write to me if you would like to view the full research paper or if you have any comment your may comment here.

 

With one more session to go, we have seen some powerful healing in the group.  Each session starts with some review of the process and question answering, as well as my reflections on what I am learning from the group.  Of interest, a couple people are working on sexual abuse from childhood and they were forced into secrecy.  My cautions to not share each others’ trauma in the group were reminiscent of this secret keeping.  I brought up the association and hoped to move thought in a healing direction at the start of last session.  These are the sorts of things I am learning from this group as they bravely work independently on their individual traumas.  Many have worked their starting issues from high levels with negative thoughts, to much lower levels of disturbance with new positive thoughts, such as “I am resilient.”

When I reflect on some of the variables that contribute to our success thus far, I believe part of the power of this therapy in the group setting is their knowledge of how much Rosalyn and I care about them and applaud their bravery to do this work in a room with others.  I also believe the fact that the service is free and time limited makes them work even harder.

At our last session we will wrap up with an optional debrief at my office down the street.  There, group members can sit in a circle face to face in comfortable chairs and share some of their experiences with the others who have silently supported them over these past months.  I joyfully  anticipate that meeting.

One of the women participating in the group EMDR project told me I could share her picture of her happy place envisioned here and drawn to the best of her artistic abilities. It is even better in her imagination and she has found solace there – even as she wakes in the night and cannot sleep.