The therapeutic relationship in EMDR therapy—A survey

The history of EMDR therapy goes back to 1987, when it was introduced as EMD, a novel treatment for PTSD by Francine Shapiro. Over the course of time EMD developed into the comprehensive therapy approach named EMDR therapy. The development of the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) Model, the mode...

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Main Authors: Michael Hase, Karl Heinz Brisch, Roger M. Solomon, Adrian Hase
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1519665/full
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author Michael Hase
Karl Heinz Brisch
Karl Heinz Brisch
Roger M. Solomon
Adrian Hase
author_facet Michael Hase
Karl Heinz Brisch
Karl Heinz Brisch
Roger M. Solomon
Adrian Hase
author_sort Michael Hase
collection DOAJ
description The history of EMDR therapy goes back to 1987, when it was introduced as EMD, a novel treatment for PTSD by Francine Shapiro. Over the course of time EMD developed into the comprehensive therapy approach named EMDR therapy. The development of the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) Model, the model of pathogenesis and change of EMDR therapy, was a milestone in this development from technique to psychotherapy approach. Lately a description of the therapeutic relationship in EMDR therapy has been proposed based on attachment theory. The therapeutic relationship has been described as a core element of EMDR Therapy, and seems to be related to the structure of EMDR Therapy. An internet-based survey of EMDR therapists in several waves was used to evaluate whether EMDR therapists support the above mentioned description of the therapeutic relationship in EMDR therapy. The self-experience of the EMDR therapists in EMDR therapy as elicited in the survey seems to support the description of the therapeutic relationship in EMDR therapy. Even if the survey was only conducted with EMDR therapists, thus limiting the informative value on the patient population in general, it offers valuable insights into the therapeutic relationship in EMDR Therapy. Implications for treatment, training and research will be discussed.
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spelling doaj-art-5f4d027156a1485e9430ef22b7693dee2025-08-20T03:01:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-03-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15196651519665The therapeutic relationship in EMDR therapy—A surveyMichael Hase0Karl Heinz Brisch1Karl Heinz Brisch2Roger M. Solomon3Adrian Hase4EMDR Center, Lüneburg, GermanyInstitute for Early Life Care, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, AustriaDr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, University of Munich, Munich, GermanyEMDR Institute, Watsonville, CA, United StatesSection of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, SwitzerlandThe history of EMDR therapy goes back to 1987, when it was introduced as EMD, a novel treatment for PTSD by Francine Shapiro. Over the course of time EMD developed into the comprehensive therapy approach named EMDR therapy. The development of the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) Model, the model of pathogenesis and change of EMDR therapy, was a milestone in this development from technique to psychotherapy approach. Lately a description of the therapeutic relationship in EMDR therapy has been proposed based on attachment theory. The therapeutic relationship has been described as a core element of EMDR Therapy, and seems to be related to the structure of EMDR Therapy. An internet-based survey of EMDR therapists in several waves was used to evaluate whether EMDR therapists support the above mentioned description of the therapeutic relationship in EMDR therapy. The self-experience of the EMDR therapists in EMDR therapy as elicited in the survey seems to support the description of the therapeutic relationship in EMDR therapy. Even if the survey was only conducted with EMDR therapists, thus limiting the informative value on the patient population in general, it offers valuable insights into the therapeutic relationship in EMDR Therapy. Implications for treatment, training and research will be discussed.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1519665/fullEMDR therapyadaptive information processingtherapeutic relationshipattachment theorytrainingresearch
spellingShingle Michael Hase
Karl Heinz Brisch
Karl Heinz Brisch
Roger M. Solomon
Adrian Hase
The therapeutic relationship in EMDR therapy—A survey
Frontiers in Psychology
EMDR therapy
adaptive information processing
therapeutic relationship
attachment theory
training
research
title The therapeutic relationship in EMDR therapy—A survey
title_full The therapeutic relationship in EMDR therapy—A survey
title_fullStr The therapeutic relationship in EMDR therapy—A survey
title_full_unstemmed The therapeutic relationship in EMDR therapy—A survey
title_short The therapeutic relationship in EMDR therapy—A survey
title_sort therapeutic relationship in emdr therapy a survey
topic EMDR therapy
adaptive information processing
therapeutic relationship
attachment theory
training
research
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1519665/full
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