Development of EMDR Therapy in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Education by Supervision to Accreditation.

INTRODUCTION: Due to the increased needs of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) affected by the 1992-1995 war, after five basic EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) trainings and one EMDR training workshop for children and adolescents, Trauma Aid UK (former Humanitarian Aid Program UK and Ireland) continually provides supervision to mental health professionals in B&H, working towards European EMDR Association accreditation for the clinicians. To describe the experiences of education, clinical practice, and supervision of EMDR psychotherapy in the process of obtaining European accreditation of EMDR trainees from Bosnia and Herzegovina. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In order to understand how EMDR trainees perceive the process of supervision up to accreditation, nine questions were sent by email to 95 EMDR trainees about practicing EMDR, the number of patients with whom they use EMDR on a monthly basis, about their supervisors, and the number of completed supervisions, blocks to treatment while practicing EMDR, as well as positive experiences with EMDR practice and working with supervisors. 36 EMDR trainees answered these questions. The answers were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods. RESULTS: Of the 36 participants in this short study, 30 (83.3%) are women. Most of them are from Sarajevo 14 (38.9%), Tuzla 8 (22.2%) and Mostar 3 (8.3%), 2 (5.6%) from Bihac, Brcko, Gradacac, one from Banovici, Jajce, Prnjavor, Pale and Zenica. Psychologists make up the highest number of participants 25 (72.3%), followed by 5 (13.9) neuropsychiatric specialists. 31 currently have a supervisor (86.1%), 6 have changed their supervisor, and these 31 do not want to change their existing supervisor. Of them, 5 (13.9%) asked to be assigned a new supervisor. A qualitative analysis of the respondents revealed that the greatest problem in practicing EMDR therapy is the lack of space and time in the institutions where they work, the inability to reach patients seeking EMDR treatment, the parallel use of psychotherapeutic guidelines that they have previously adopted, and insufficient determination to use EMDR. They are mostly satisfied with the experience they have gained in supervision which they deem very important in the process of accreditation. They highly appreciate the expertise and accessibility of the supervisors, to whom they are grateful for the help and support they received while presenting their cases from EMDR practice. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study can serve as a basis for improving the supervisory process during the acquisition of European accreditation for EMDR practitioners in B&H. The findings can also aid in understanding the difficulties mental health professionals in BiH face practicing EMDR therapy while working towards the accreditation as practitioners of this very effective and necessary psychotherapeutic method.

How Psychologists Experience and Perceive EMDR?

This qualitative, phenomenological study describes the perceptions and experiences of psychologists from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey regarding an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) psychotherapy. In order to understand how psychologists perceive this treatment method, 20 psychologists from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey were recruited through an online survey. The participants were asked to describe their perception and experience of EMDR. Qualitative analysis of the responses revealed five common themes, which described the phenomenon. These themes included: positive personal or anecdotal experiences with EMDR, perception that EMDR is primarily used for trauma, EMDR is used as an adjunct therapy, obstacles to EMDR training/certification, and limited knowledge and information about EMDR among psychologists and the general population. Findings from this study may provide a foundation for future research that may help in better understanding of psychologist perception and experience with the EMDR approach and especially about differences and similarities between psychologists in different countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey. Besides this, it can also help to gain an understanding of the variables involved in psychologists choosing to pursue training in different treatment modalities.

The Role of Local Educational Institutions in Educating of EMDR Practitioners in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

INTRODUCTION: Providing good mental health services to the vulnerable and needy should be of utmost importance to all mental health professionals. To be able to do so, professionals require to be, not only educated but actually properly trained and supervised in specially, among various skills, psychotherapy orientation. Unlike developed countries, psychotherapy services and professional career in psychotherapy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is relatively new primarily due to the recent historical developments and events in B&H. Besides, there is scarcity of professional institutions in B&H which could, not only establish structure for, promote but also educate mental health professionals, according to the European psychotherapy standards as well as accredit and certify psychotherapists, locally or internationally. AIM: The purpose of the present study is to show the role of International University of Sarajevo (IUS) as a local private educational institution in educating and training EMDR therapist in B&H. METHOD: The collaboration between EMDR HAP UK & Ireland, Association of EMDR Therapists in Bosnia and Herzegovina (AEMDRTBH), Department of Psychiatry University Clinical Center (UCC) Tuzla and Psychiatry Clinic, Clinical Center of University (CCU) Sarajevo described with focus on the collaboration with International University in Sarajevo. RESULTS: Local institutions in B&H can in a variety of ways make a significant contribution to the education and training of therapists in BiH in the following ways: providing rooms for realizing of education and training and/or conferences (pro bono), promoting EMDR as a successful therapeutic method for treating of stress and trauma within relevant subjects and programs, providing scholarships for excellent students for EMDR education, and in collaboration with local and European EMDR therapists to offer EMDR specializations for professionals. Since 2010, one group of therapists has been educated and trained by EMDR HAP UK at Department of Psychiatry UCC Tuzla, two groups at the Psychiatric Clinic CCU in Sarajevo and one group at IUS. Thanks to EMDR HAP UK&Ireland, EMDR therapists in B&H are among the youngest yet very efficient and successful therapists who greatly contribute to improving mental health of fellow citizens. CONCLUSION: Collaboration between Association of EMDR Therapists in Bosnia-Herzegovina, HAP UK & Ireland AP B&H and local educational institutions such as IUS can significantly contribute to training efficient preparation of EMDR professionals in B&H and help improve overall mental health and wellbeing of B&H citizens.