“What is something you would like EMDR therapists to know about Asian American and Pacific Islander populations?”

EMDR Therapy and AAPI Populations

[Issue May 20, 2022] Click for full article

As a Filipino American psychotherapist, EMDR has been effective in my personal healing journey, and it’s also my most utilized intervention for my AAPI clients. Like most Asian Americans, Filipinos often do not have the language to talk about their emotions and mental health. Instead, we rely on body cues to describe how we are feeling. Emotions are expressed through somatic symptoms, such as stomachaches, headaches, or other physical pains. Using EMDR to focus on the sensations in our bodies without needing to explain them in words makes this intervention helpful in uncovering and processing deeply rooted trauma that we wouldn’t have otherwise reached with only using traditional talk therapy.” *** Maria Grace Wolk, LMFT, EMDRIA Certified Therapist