My doctoral research explored eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) and its use with complex (multiple episode) trauma. The first controlled study of EMDR was carried out in 1989 by the originator and developer of EMDR, Francine Shapiro, in order to establish the efficacy of EMDR in the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The treatment group showed reduced anxiety levels and a marked increase in the strength of their positive beliefs and war veterans who had experienced symptoms of PTSD for many years (nightmares, flashbacks etc.) found that their symptoms subsided after only a few sessions. In recent years EMDR has been used to treat a much wider variety of conditions; addiction and pain management among others.

There has been less success in the treatment of complex trauma with EMDR and some research has suggested that EMDR combined with other therapeutic approaches and possibly for longer periods of time may have a greater impact on patients suffering with complex trauma. The modality of my psychotherapeutic training is ‘integrative’ and this has led me to consider the following in my doctoral research: ‘How can EMDR be used as part of an integrative therapeutic framework in the treatment of Complex trauma?’.