March 2025
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing emerges as promising therapeutic approach
Licensed Mental Health Clinician
Mental health matters. That’s a statement we’re hearing increasingly, and for good reasons. Yet, while awareness is growing, a significant gap remains in understanding and addressing the mental health needs of people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Often, their struggles are overlooked, misattributed, or simply dismissed.
People with ID face unique challenges that can significantly impact their mental well-being.
- Increased vulnerability to trauma: Due to factors like social isolation, dependence on caregivers, and difficulty communicating, people with ID are at a higher risk of experiencing abuse, neglect, and other traumatic events.
- Communication barriers: Expressing emotions and seeking help can be challenging, leading to internalized distress.
- Social stigma and isolation: Feeling different or excluded can contribute to feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety.
- Limited access to mental health services: Many mental health professionals lack the specialized training and experience needed to effectively support people with ID.
These factors can create a cycle of vulnerability, where untreated mental health issues further exacerbate existing challenges. It’s crucial to recognize that mental health is not a luxury but a fundamental human right, regardless of cognitive abilities. Good mental health is the foundation for a fulfilling life, and helps people build healthy relationships, cope with stress and adversity, learn and grow, and feel confident in themselves. This is equally, if not more important, to people with ID.
In recent years, there has been a big push to promote much-needed access to mental health services, which has prompted new research into what strategies work well for people with ID. One emerging and promising therapeutic approach for addressing trauma for people with ID is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Since people with ID experience trauma five times more than people without an ID, trauma is an important point of focus, which EMDR was initially developed for.
EMDR involves guided eye movements or other bilateral stimulation while the person recalls traumatic memories. This process helps to reprocess memories and reduce their emotional impact. It can be effective in addressing trauma-related symptoms, such as anxiety, nightmares, and flashbacks. It can help people develop greater emotional regulation and resilience. EMDR can be adapted to accommodate different communication styles through the use of visual aids and simplified language. For people with visual or hearing deficiencies, or muscular problems, alternative forms of bilateral stimulation like tactile stimuli (i.e., hand taps or buzzers), or auditory stimuli (i.e., sounds and headphones) are used to suit the specific needs of the person.
To help ensure people are generalizing the skills learned through EMDR to daily life, therapists can take more time during all phases of EMDR therapy to enable smaller steps or to practice more. It is also crucial to involve, educate, and support family members and direct care professionals throughout all phases of EMDR therapy.
An adaptation we have made at Mainstay’s Counseling Center is the incorporation of software called MOOV’D by WeMind. It allows a person to click the space bar on a computer as a dot bounces on the screen. This has helped better keep people’s attention and provides another stimulation factor by using their fingers to press the space bar.
Because of the new research into adaptations and benefits, EMDR is a very useful tool to help people with ID process their trauma and everyday stressors. If someone with ID wishes to pursue EMDR, it’s important to find a therapist who is specifically trained and experienced in working with people with ID and using EMDR.
Moving forward, we must break down the barriers that prevent people with ID from accessing quality mental health care. This requires:
- Increased awareness and education among mental health professionals.
- Greater investment in specialized training and resources.
- A shift towards a more inclusive and person-centered approach to care.
- Increased funding for research and services.
By prioritizing mental health for everyone, including those with ID, we can create a more just and equitable society where everyone can thrive.
For more information on EMDR, visit: https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/
For resources on EMDR for people with ID, visit:
https://www.emdria.org/resource/emdr-treatment-for-people-with-intellectual-disabilities-a-systematic-review-about-difficulties-and-adaptations-frontiers-in-psychiatry/
https://www.nasddds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Adaptions-to-EMDR-for-IDD.pdf