Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a well-established approach for treating trauma on an individual level, but it also offers unique benefits in group settings. With the right structure, EMDR in a group setting fosters a shared healing space, helping participants feel connected, validated, and less alone. Group EMDR therapy is particularly impactful for those who have faced trauma, allowing them to witness others’ journeys and benefit from collective support.
Group EMDR offers unique benefits, including:
• Collective Healing Experience: Participants witnessing each other’s progress often feel a greater sense of community, making it easier to process difficult emotions.
• Resource Efficiency: Group EMDR allows therapists to reach more clients simultaneously, which is particularly helpful when mental health resources are limited.
• Empathy and Peer Encouragement: Group members gain strength and encouragement from each other, benefiting from a supportive atmosphere as they move through the therapeutic process.
Several leaders in the field have made important contributions to advancing group EMDR practices, including their recent contributions to EMDR Group Therapy: Emerging Principles and Protocols to Treat Trauma and Beyond. This book compiles groundbreaking insights into the application of EMDR in groups, including chapters from key experts who are also trainers with us at EMDR Professional Training:
• Hope Payson, LCSW, LADC, wrote the chapter “Reconnecting: Trauma, Addiction, and Group EMDR Therapy,” where she shares her work integrating EMDR into group settings for people dealing with addiction and complex trauma. Her chapter provides insights into how group EMDR can support recovery and healing for those with co-occurring trauma and addiction. Hope also teaches the advanced course: The Power of the Pain: EMDR Therapy, Addiction, and Recovery
• Deborah Silveria, PhD, and Robbie Adler-Tapia, PhD, along with Jade DeFrates, co-authored “Using Group EMDR With Emergency Responders Including Law Enforcement Professionals, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Professionals, and Emergency Communications Dispatchers.” This chapter highlights how group EMDR can help emergency responders process their unique stressors and traumas, fostering resilience and reducing burnout in high-stakes fields. Their contributions emphasize creating a safe, structured environment that allows group members to process trauma in a supportive setting. Robbie Adler-Tapia teaches the advanced course: EMDR and the Art of Psychotherapy with Children. Deborah Silveria teaches several courses at EMDR Professional Training including EMDR Basic Training. See her training page here with several options for advanced training.
Beneficial Components in the work of Group EMDR Therapy
In group EMDR therapy, participants often use self-administered techniques like the “butterfly hug” for bilateral stimulation, allowing them to stay grounded and in control. This method has shown impressive results, with participants often reporting reduced stress, greater self-acceptance, and a sense of shared connection.
According to those who have used EMDR therapy in the group setting, "...survivors of abuse feel empowered by seeing the resiliency in others and by realizing that if abuse/trauma has happened to so many, it might not be their fault (Melo & Triana, 2023)." From Chapter 4 of the book, Melo & Triana report that the use of EMDR therapy in groups "gives space for clients to share their resiliency and resources without giving details about the event."
Group EMDR therapy continues to evolve and more research is emerging, supporting its efficacy, with experts like Silveria, Adler-Tapia, Payson, and many more leading the way. Their work supports the expansion of EMDR therapy into group formats, empowering mental health professionals to offer compassionate, effective care to those who need it most and would benefit from this setting.
