Integrative Treatment Model of EMDR and Family Therapy for Children with Severe Symptomatology After Child Abuse and Neglect

Course overview

Course Description: This course is based on material published in ScienceDirect and is available as an open-access article. Children who endured child abuse and neglect (CAN) may develop a spectrum of symptoms that goes beyond the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) alone. This can pose unique challenges within the treatment context that may hamper the application of direct trauma-focused treatments. A new treatment model, which focuses on more than PTSS alone, has been developed. Through preparatory work, it aims to engage children in trauma processing. This study aimed to examine if this integrative treatment model can diminish attachment problems, PTSS, behavior difficulties, and emotional control difficulties in children with a history of CAN who currently reside in permanent placement. We included 15 children between the ages of four and twelve who experienced CAN in the past and who were referred to specialized youth mental health care and their caregivers. We conducted a non-concurrent multiple baseline single-case experimental design study with weekly measurements on attachment problems, PTSS, behavior difficulties, and emotional control difficulties through questionnaires. Eight cases were fit to analyze of which all but one participant showed improvement on one or more of the four outcome measures. On group level, we found evidence for functional relationships between the intervention and change in attachment problems, behavioral difficulties, and emotional control difficulties. This integrative treatment model appears to be a suitable treatment for children with a complex combination of psychiatric problems after CAN and therefore provides promising results for a complex population for whom limited treatment options are available. This course on the use of EMDR for treating symptoms after child abuse is designed for clinical social workers, psychologists, professional counselors, nurses, and substance abuse counselors who do clinical work. This course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop their expertise with use of EMDR for treating symptoms after child abuse. The course material includes a literature review of interventions. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require continuing clinical education courses for license renewal. The course is based on a journal article that includes research. It contains statistical analysis and data that some clinicians enjoy reading and others do not. A significant benefit of reading peer reviewed research-based articles for continuing education is that they provide practitioners with the latest findings in their field. Authors: van der Hoeven, Plukaard, Schlattman, Lindauer, Hein Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding use of EMDR for treating symptoms after child abuse. Specifically, a professional will: Recognize characteristics of child abuse and neglect. Describe treatments for symptoms of child abuse and neglect. Identify characteristics of Single Case Experimental Designs. Citation: van der Hoeven, M. L., Plukaard, S. C., Schlattmann, N. E. F., Lindauer, R. J. L., & Hein, I. M. (2023). An integrative treatment model of EMDR and family therapy for children with severe symptomatology after Child abuse and neglect: A sced study. Children and Youth Services Review, 152, 107064. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107064