Navigating EMDR Therapy: Should Parents Disclose Trauma Details to Adult Clients?

Navigating EMDR Therapy: Should Parents Disclose Trauma Details to Adult Clients?

I’m going to share with you an email I received from a therapist and my response relating to EMDR Therapy.

Recently, I had a new question from the parent of an adult client. The parent is paying for the client’s care and encouraging the client to do EMDR for past trauma caused by the other parent who is no longer in the picture. The client does not recall details of childhood trauma but acknowledges abandonment and other related issues. The parent asked if it would be helpful for them to disclose details of past events to the client to facilitate treatment with EMDR. I said that I preferred to work with whatever memories of the event (or recent, related events) the client had.

However, I acknowledged that this was the first time I had heard this question, so I would reach out to a trainer.

What are your thoughts on this? Grateful for any advice you might have. 

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Thanks for contacting me.

It is a good question and I think it could go either way. I haven’t had this come up in my practice but I’m happy to share my ideas.

I think from the AIP model perspective, while it’s true we don’t need all the information of what happened, more information is good. I don’t think knowing more would get in the way of processing.

Of course, it depends on the people involved and what your client wants. So, if your client is open to it, a joint session or two with mom might be good. My guess is that Mom could use a little EMDR herself.

Issues like abandonment are complex and take time to process. I’ve gotten to where I take a longer view of processing and working with trauma, such that, it’s more than just clearing one or two traumas to help a person get on track and free of maladaptive neural networks.  

In these types of cases, EMDR can help clear traumas and it can be used to help with the attachment wound. Although they may have been formed from the same experiences, they can also be approached differently with EMDR protocols. For example, the EMDR Standard Protocol is more about clearing target memories and events and Attachment EMDR processing is more about enhancing bonds. That looks more like resource development (RDI).

In thinking about it, and re-reading your email, I think I’d want the client to have full information as that might help him get more relief, and strengthen the connection with mom, as well.

Hope that helps and let me know how it goes!

Thanks,

Jordan

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Dr. Amber Quaranta-Leech, LPC-S

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, LCSW

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.

Dr. Amanda Martin, LMFT-S, LPC, BCN

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.

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