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SUCCESSFUL EMDR WITH A SEXUALLY
ABUSED CHILD
April 2003 Editor's Note: We would like to thank
Toni Mehigan for her contribution of this enthusiastic case report. Toni is
a psychologist in private practice in Townsville Qld, Australia, and was trained
in Level I and II by Graham Taylor from Perth.
My first ever experience with EMDR after I trained in level 1 only (I have since
completed level 11) was with an 11- year old girl (Jenny – not her real name).
I had asked special permission of my supervisor with the Education Department
of the City I was in as I was a school guidance officer at the time. With masses
of paperwork and another psychologist in tow, to make sure I wasn’t doing
anything untoward, I proceeded to try out my wings with this new therapy.I had had 4 sessions to date with Jenny with play therapy, including symbol work, strength based strategies, art therapy etc. Jenny loved me coming to see her but still experienced a great deal of somatic distress, lack of esteem and was not able to concentrate on her studies. Jenny had been interfered with by her step-father sexually. He treated her lewdly on many occasions and had witnessed him rape her mother on a couple of occasions also. Fortunately he was now out of the picture and the Department of Families had requested school counselling support for the child. I was disappointed that I had not been able to make a difference with this little girl through my usual strategies and child centred techniques, who not only had suffered the fate of so many but continued to be manipulated by a mum who also needed a ‘mother’ and used her 11 year old emotionally to support her. After talking to Jenny and her mum and the administrator of the school we spent the time finding both the negative cognitions and the positive. After session 1 there appeared to be major gains for this child. Session 2 was merely a cementing of those gains. The sessions took no longer than 30 – 40 minutes. Jenny had not been able to get out of the bean- bag at school to sit at her desk to work before EMDR. She had felt continuous ‘tummy aches’. Jenny had not been able to make any friends. Jenny had to go home due to headaches. Jenny had not smiled for a long time. After two sessions she reported ‘I’m all better now’. The final blow for the perpetrator was an interesting image that came to her in EMDR. She saw his face and a clock superimposed on it… she saw her whole family and teachers with her standing pointing at him…and the words… ‘time is running out for you ‘George’’, not his real name. The significance of her resolution was interesting. She no longer felt alone. She felt righteous judgement was coming on the perpetrator, and she had the courage to point without hatred or fear but with firm assurance at the one who was really at fault. After EMDR, Jenny got out of the bean-bag immediately and sat at her desk and began concentrating. Jenny smiled all the time. Jenny no longer had to go home due to somatic complaints, tummy aches or headaches. Jenny started an art club at the school and approached teachers and students to join and support her initiative. Jenny enjoyed the new clothes we managed to get donated for her for her new image! Some time later Jenny asked to see me again. Her grandmother whom she loved and felt secure with had asked for her to live with her. Her mother was manipulating her as ‘she would lose her money’ if Jenny left. Jenny felt torn between what she wanted to do, and her responsibility to her mum and her younger brother. In a very short conversation and support, Jenny decided that mum would be alright, and that she really wanted to live with ‘nan’. She felt like a princess there and she knew she would keep close contact with her baby brother through phone and letter contact. She really only wanted me as a listening ear and another adult to confirm that she was making the right decision. Jenny made a huge leap in one session of EMDR, and a complete recovery in two. Now, as if this wasn’t enough… Jenny had one eye, which turned in before EMDR. The eye straightened after EMDR!! No idea why…. I would be interested to hear feedback on this. This was my first ever experience with EMDR. I have since conducted 100’s perhaps 1000’s of sessions. Not all as successful as with young Jenny, but many many success stories, nevertheless. I will always be grateful to her. I was hooked on EMDR from the start. This was one poker machine that seemed to give the jackpot on the first pull of the handle. For those sceptical readers…. I wish you a ‘Jenny’ to let you know that this technique must be a gift from God. Correspondence
Toni can be reached at: tonmhgn@optusnet.com.au.
©2003 The EMDR Practitioner - All Rights Reserved Worldwide
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