The Green Will Conservancy

EMDR a truly cross-cultural and universally applicable psychotherapy for the 21st century

In this video, the presenter discusses the use of EMDR therapy from a multicultural and cross-cultural perspective. The video emphasizes that EMDR is well-suited for diverse cultures because it requires minimal language, making it effective even when there are language barriers. The presenter highlights that trauma affects all human brains in similar ways, regardless of culture, and EMDR can be adapted to accommodate different cultural values, such as focusing on a person’s role within the community rather than individual beliefs.
Additionally, the video explains how EMDR can integrate indigenous practices, such as using drums or simple hand movements for dual attention stimuli, aligning well with traditional healing methods. The therapy can be delivered in a bottom-up approach (focused on the body and emotions) or a top-down approach (focused on thoughts and cognition), making it versatile across various cultures.
The presenter concludes by stating that EMDR is practical and relatively easy to implement and train in, making it a suitable therapy for addressing trauma globally in the 21st century.
This video is a useful resource for understanding how EMDR can be adapted for different cultural settings and used to address trauma in diverse populations.