Last year, we have launched EMDR Group Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) as part of our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), marking the first initiative of its kind in New Zealand. We are excited to announce the launch of two innovative group therapy programs in New Zealand this year: EMDR Group Therapy for Addictions and EMDR Group Therapy for Eating Disorders. To date, we have conducted several group therapy programs for employees, professionals, and for clinical populations, all with positive outcomes.

Our EMDR group therapy programs are unique in New Zealand for their exclusive approach to client privacy and therapeutic delivery. Participation does not require individuals to share personal information, such as names or any identifying details with group members, thereby maintaining a high level of anonymity and psychological safety.

Furthermore, our group sessions are structured to ensure that there are no discussions or exchanges regarding traumatic experiences among participants within the group setting. This framework is designed to foster an environment where clients can focus on their individual therapeutic processes without concern for exposure or judgment from peers. The goal of our program is to deliver effective, evidence-based trauma treatment in a supportive atmosphere that prioritises discretion and respects each participant’s boundaries.

Key Features:

• No sharing of painful/traumatic experiences among group members.
• No group discussions – names and identities remain private.
• Faster and effective way of traumatic processing.
• Privacy and emotional safety are prioritised.
• Sessions led by trained EMDR clinicians.
• Small groups.
• Weekly sessions.
• Cost effective

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of psychotherapy designed to assist individuals in addressing symptoms and emotional distress resulting from distressing life experiences. The EMDR Group Protocol is a structured adaptation of this treatment for use in group settings. It has been developed to help those impacted by negative events or trauma with ongoing effects.

Confidentiality and Privacy in EMDR Group Therapy

Within our EMDR group therapy sessions, strict confidentiality is maintained at all times. Participants are not required to discuss or disclose any details of their distressing experiences or past traumas during group interactions. Throughout the therapy process, clients do not share personal trauma histories with other group members, ensuring a safe and supportive environment focused on individual healing and emotional regulation.

What does the EMDR group therapy look like?

The group functions within a structured framework, comprising up to four participants and two clinicians. In the initial group EMDR session, confidentiality will be thoroughly discussed, and resources for grounding and establishing a sense of present safety will be developed. In the later sessions, participants will reprocess their stressful experiences without disclosing any of its details to other group members. A clinician will provide assistance to any participant who may have difficulty managing the session, offering support for emotional regulation as necessary. Three subsequent sessions will follow a similar format, enabling individuals to address the same memory, a part of a memory, or a different memory in each session. During the concluding EMDR sessions, participants will concentrate on applying their acquired knowledge by reinforcing personal strengths and resources, thereby enhancing their capacity to cope with future challenges and build resilience.

We offer following EMDR Group Therapy programs