As we honor Autism Awareness Day and celebrate Neurodiversity throughout April, it’s a meaningful moment to reflect on how we as EMDR therapists can deepen our understanding of neurodivergent clients—and more importantly, meet their needs in therapy with greater sensitivity and skill.
Whether you’re working with clients with autism, ADHD, or heightened sensory experiences, one thing is clear: a one-size-fits-all model of therapy won’t work.
Here are three key considerations when using EMDR with neurodivergent clients.
Many neurodivergent clients benefit from an extended preparation phase. Emotional awareness, sensory regulation, and trust-building may take longer—and that’s okay.
Consider:
Assessing readiness may mean redefining how we view connection and emotional insight.
Neurodivergent clients—especially individuals with autism or ADHD—may become easily dysregulated by standard bilateral stimulation.
To support regulation:
Also, remember: Some clients may need more targets or repeated exposure to build generalization.
Not all clients can easily rate their distress, verbalize cognitions, or imagine future scenarios.
Helpful adaptations:
Neurodivergent clients aren’t resistant—they’re processing differently.
If you’re ready to explore these strategies in more detail, join our upcoming live online workshop:
Using EMDR Therapy with Neurodivergent Clients
📅 April 19, 2025 | 💻 Live Online
🎓 Earn EMDRIA CE credits
💲 $149 early bird (through April 12)
Led by Dr. Amanda Martin and Dr. José Carbajal, this workshop dives into real-case adaptations, therapist barriers, and video demonstrations of modified EMDR work.
As therapists, we don’t need to “fix” neurodivergent clients—we need to support them in healing trauma, building resilience, and reclaiming emotional safety on their terms. And EMDR can be a powerful resource when delivered through a lens of flexibility, inclusion, and trust.
Yes. While every client is different, therapists can modify pacing, communication, sensory input, and bilateral stimulation based on each individual’s needs rather than using a standardized approach.
Many neurodivergent clients experience sensory sensitivities that can affect emotional processing. Adjusting lighting, noise, seating, session structure, or the type of bilateral stimulation may help clients remain regulated throughout therapy.
There is no single rule. Some clients benefit from shorter processing sets with frequent breaks and check-ins, while others may need additional preparation sessions before trauma processing begins. Treatment should always be individualized.
Instead of relying only on verbal descriptions or numerical scales, clinicians can use visual aids, color scales, body sensations, drawings, or other concrete tools to help clients communicate their internal experiences.
Amanda Martin holds a PhD in Family Therapy and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor, and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. With over 14 years of experience, she specializes in trauma therapy for individuals and families in residential and outpatient settings. Amanda also provides supervision for EMDR certification, EMDR consultants-in-training, and LMFT-Associates. Her mission is to help people find a healthy, joyful, and fulfilling path in life. Her warm, supportive, and interactive counseling style incorporates Symbolic Experiential Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, HeartMath, Animal-Assisted Therapy, Neurofeedback, and Collaborative Problem Solving.
Dr. Jose Carbajal, a U.S. Army veteran, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work and a master’s in theological studies from Baylor University, and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. With over 15 years of clinical experience and extensive teaching experience, Jose specializes in trauma, sexual abuse recovery, domestic violence, and substance abuse. His research focuses on trauma interventions, neuroscience, and faith. He is EMDR Certified, an Approved Consultant, and an EMDRIA Approved Trainer, with numerous publications and professional presentations to his name.
Amber holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in both Texas and Oklahoma and holds Supervisor credential for Texas. Amber is an EMDRIA consultant and trainer. She has over a decade of experience in the trauma field in work with uniformed services, domestic violence, childhood trauma and abuse, and recent mass trauma events. Amber provides consultation for EMDRIA certification, for consultants-in-training, and supervision for LPC-Associates. Amber continues to research the benefits of EMDR therapy with a variety of populations. Her goal is to help build strong clinicians who are well versed in trauma interventions to better support their clients. Amber sees a limited number of clients with a focus on trauma work, she is also a Certified Career Counselor and Certified through EAGALA to provide equine-assisted therapy.
Amber holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in both Texas and Oklahoma and holds Supervisor credential for Texas. Amber is an EMDRIA consultant and trainer. She has over a decade of experience in the trauma field in work with uniformed services, domestic violence, childhood trauma and abuse, and recent mass trauma events. Amber provides consultation for EMDRIA certification, for consultants-in-training, and supervision for LPC-Associates. Amber continues to research the benefits of EMDR therapy with a variety of populations. Her goal is to help build strong clinicians who are well versed in trauma interventions to better support their clients. Amber sees a limited number of clients with a focus on trauma work, she is also a Certified Career Counselor and Certified through EAGALA to provide equine-assisted therapy.
Dr. Jose Carbajal, a U.S. Army veteran, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work and a master’s in theological studies from Baylor University, and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. With over 15 years of clinical experience and extensive teaching experience, Jose specializes in trauma, sexual abuse recovery, domestic violence, and substance abuse. His research focuses on trauma interventions, neuroscience, and faith. He is EMDR Certified, an Approved Consultant, and an EMDRIA Approved Trainer, with numerous publications and professional presentations to his name.
Amanda Martin holds a PhD in Family Therapy and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor, and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. With over 14 years of experience, she specializes in trauma therapy for individuals and families in residential and outpatient settings. Amanda also provides supervision for EMDR certification, EMDR consultants-in-training, and LMFT-Associates. Her mission is to help people find a healthy, joyful, and fulfilling path in life. Her warm, supportive, and interactive counseling style incorporates Symbolic Experiential Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, HeartMath, Animal-Assisted Therapy, Neurofeedback, and Collaborative Problem Solving.
