Using EMDR with autistic individuals: A Delphi survey with EMDR therapists.

Researchers asked 103 therapists who use EMDR (a therapy for trauma) about how they adapt their approach when working with autistic people. EMDR helps process difficult memories so they're less upsetting in daily life. Therapists said autistic people face barriers getting this therapy, but they use helpful changes like being more flexible, communicating clearly, and not making assumptions about someone just because they're autistic. The study suggests these changes can help autistic people access EMDR therapy.

This Delphi survey study examined how EMDR therapy can be adapted for autistic individuals by surveying 103 EMDR therapists about their clinical practices. EMDR is a psychological therapy that helps people process traumatic memories and reduce their daily impact. Therapists identified four main barriers autistic people face accessing EMDR: client characteristics, therapist characteristics, therapeutic relationship differences, and broader systemic issues. Practitioners reported using various adaptations including increased flexibility, clear communication, and awareness of individual differences.

A key theme was avoiding assumptions based solely on autism diagnosis. Findings suggest EMDR adaptations are likely beneficial for autistic individuals, though relevance varies by person.

Results suggest EMDR can potentially be adapted for autistic individuals through flexible, individualized approaches. However, therapist-reported adaptations require empirical validation. Further research with autistic participants is needed to establish evidence-based adaptation guidelines and evaluate effectiveness of modified EMDR approaches.

Study relies solely on therapist perspectives without input from autistic individuals or families. No empirical testing of adaptation effectiveness was conducted. Sample characteristics and response rates are not detailed. Findings represent opinions rather than evidence-based outcomes.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychological therapy that can help people process memories and distress about past events, so they have less impact on their daily lives. EMDR can be effective for treating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, including nightmares and anxiety. Psychological therapies usually require adaptation so they are more accessible and effective for autistic people, but minimal research has focused on how best EMDR can be adapted. In this online survey study, we asked 103 EMDR therapists about barriers they think autistic people face when trying to have EMDR and what adaptations they use in their everyday practice.

Four barriers were highlighted: client-related characteristics, therapist-related characteristics, differences in the therapeutic relationship and broader issues. Therapists identified a range of adaptations that can potentially be useful for autistic people, relating to being flexible, communicating clearly and having an awareness of individual differences. Many therapists emphasised the importance of not making assumptions about a person based on their autism diagnosis. Overall, the study findings suggest adaptations to EMDR are likely to be useful, but how relevant they are depends on each person.