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Chapter 10 - African American Narratives of Trauma: An EMDR Approach to Tapping into the Strengths of Black Love

from Part III - Adapting Major Therapeutic Approaches for Work with African American Couples

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 July 2023

By
Alice Shepard  and
Katherine McKay
Edited by
Yamonte Cooper  and
Erica Holmes
Yamonte Cooper
Affiliation:
El Camino College, Torrance, California
Erica Holmes
Affiliation:
Antioch University, Los Angeles
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Summary

The intergenerational history of racial oppression and injustice for Black Americans is cumulative and traumatic. High rates of trauma combined with a disparity in mental health care can leave many Blacks without adequate resources to cope with the magnitude of the distress they experience. As a result, when those with traumatic pasts enter relationships, they are often underprepared for the demands of maintaining emotional connection and the synergistic effect of their pain. This chapter explores Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) as a critical approach needed to address trauma’s neurological, emotional, and relational impact. It provides a culturally relevant model of applying EMDR to create a healing space for building self-efficacy, worth, trust, and intimacy within Black romantic partnerships.

Keywords

EMDRcouplesBlackstraumatherapy
Type
Chapter
Information
Black Couples Therapy
Clinical Theory and Practice
 , pp. 235 - 252
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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