Online application of eye movement desensitization andreprocessing (EMDR) with children: A case study

The purpose of this study is to identify how to use the model of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) with clients in middle childhood in online psychological counseling sessions. Therefore, the case study method was employed in the study. Parents of 6 children volunteered to participate in the research. However, one client could not be reached at the time of the study and sessions were never initiated. Another client did not want to continue online sessions. A third client had motor speech disorders in addition to traumatic experiences. Sessions with these two clients were terminated and they were referred to specialists with whom they could work in-person. As a result, online EMDR sessions were finalized with three clients. In order to avoid repetition in the Findings chapter, two of the three clients were chosen to be described in detail. Finalized sessions were transcribed by the researcher. Clients were assigned with pseudonyms to ensure privacy. One of the clients who volunteered to participate in the study was an 8-year-old girl named Ipek, who was a 4th grader. The other one was Eylül who was a 6-year-old first grader. Ipek needed psychological counseling as she could not get in cars after a car accident. Eylül showed symptoms of social withdrawal after her grandmother's passing. A total of 6 online sessions were carried out with Ipek, and 11 with Eylül. In addition, an introduction and welcome session was held with the clients after an initial interview with their mothers. Bilateral stimulation through pictures was employed while working with Ipek on the traumatic experience. On the other hand, healing story technique was used to intervene in Eylül's trauma. Bilateral stimulation in the auditory and tactile form was employed in the sessions. Furthermore, parents were asked to keep a diary during the psychological counseling process as well as the researcher. Follow-up sessions were held with both clients a month after the EMDR sessions were finalized. Moreover, a structured interview form was provided for the parents to give feedback. Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-8) was administered as pre, post and follow-up tests to maintain detailed descriptions for the sessions. Based on CRIES-8 results, both clients showed fewer post-trauma symptoms in a prolonged period of time. Thematic analysis of the diaries proved that therapeutic connection is the essential factor to make online EMDR sessions effective. Among the EMDR intervention methods employed in the study, "butterfly hug", "safe place", and "safe bonding" were found to have a positive impact on the clients' daily lives. Both clients showed positive changes about their current issues and traumatic experiences after the online EMDR sessions were finalized. Recommendations to researchers included to involve different methods while using bilateral stimulation in online sessions, to design extensive research aimed at children with other traumatic experiences, and to study the effects of other EMDR protocols on children.