Trauma victims in Northern Ireland could soon benefit from a unique and highly effective new method of treatment, thanks to the University of Ulster.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a relatively new psychological process that helps patients recall traumatic memories or events with little or no distress.

The University of Ulster is set to become the first university in Europe to offer its students the chance to study and be assessed on EMDR as part of the Postgraduate MSc, Diploma and Certificate in the Management of Psychological Trauma.

Course Director, Dr Selwyn Black, said: “This is a very exciting and very important step forward for Trauma Care in Northern Ireland. Studies have already shown that recovery can occur rapidly and have long lasting effects when EMDR is used in the treatment of trauma patients. In fact it is becoming widely recognised that EMDR may be the leading and most effective trauma intervention available.

“EMDR is a psychotherapeutic approach which involves the patient focusing on past and present experiences while simultaneously using eye movements to engage with an external stimulus. Patients who have received EMDR treatment generally report that emotional distress associated with the memory has been eliminated or greatly reduced. The emotional and cognitive changes usually result in spontaneous behavioural and personal changes."

The Trauma course at UU is now in its third year of delivery through the School of Communication, based at the Jordanstown campus. It is the first postgraduate level programme in the UK and Ireland that provides specialist training for professionals who care for traumatized patients or clients.

“In a further development, the Trauma course will soon be available via e-learning as well as being delivered through the traditional route,” added Dr Black.

The EMDR module being offered at UU has been designed in conjunction with EMDR Association of Europe and the UK and Ireland.

(MB)