Investigating the perceptions of EMDR among law enforcement officers attending a 3-day post critical incident seminar in Texas
This study aimed to investigate the use of EMDR in an MHP-led peer support program with law enforcement officers (LEOs).
Article Abstract
“Law enforcement officers (LEOs) often experience a culture of stigma surrounding mental health and seeking help from mental health professionals (MHPs) due to concerns regarding the limits of confidentiality and the relevance and usefulness of services. Interventions aligning with police culture may be more successful among LEOs. Therefore, providing services outside the department, psychoeducation, and short-term treatment plans are crucial for encouraging service utilization among LEOs. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a relatively brief and nonintrusive treatment that aligns with these recommendations and may increase treatment compliance. The goal of EMDR is to empower clients to process traumatic experiences thoroughly and to alleviate associated negative emotions. This study aimed to investigate the use of EMDR in an MHP-led peer support program. The current study included 47 LEOs who participated in a 3-day Post Critical Incident Stress Seminar and were allowed to engage in EMDR sessions. The sample consisted of 68.10% males (n = 32), whereas 70.20% (n = 33) identified as White. Participants’ ages were from 24 to 65. Most participants (87.20%) described engagement with EMDR as helpful for their progress. They reported positive changes in sleep, stress levels, and trauma symptoms. Overall, 85.10% of the participants found EMDR to be a positive experience. This study supports the acceptance of EMDR as a therapeutic tool for LEOs. The positive outcomes underscore the relevance and utility of EMDR in mental health programming for this population.”
—Description from publisher
Article Access
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Addo-Yobo, A., Uhl, A., Baloch, R. G., Stewart, T. K., Parrish, R., Johnson, R., Watkins, R., & Salami, T. (2025). Investigating the perceptions of EMDR among law enforcement officers attending a 3-day post critical incident seminar in Texas. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-025-09743-9
Date
April 5, 2025
Creator(s)
Annette Addo-Yobo, Alexus Uhl, Rabeea G. Baloch
Contributor(s)
Tiah K. Stewart, Rochelle Parrish, Renae Johnson, Rita Watkins, Temilola Salami
Client Population
First Responders/Healthcare Workers
Publisher
Springer Nature
Rights
Copyright © 2025, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Society for Police and Criminal Psychology
APA Citation
Addo-Yobo, A., Uhl, A., Bloch, R. G., Stewart, T. K., Parrish, R., Johnson, R., Watkins, R., & Salami, T. (2025). Investigating the perceptions of EMDR among law enforcement officers attending a 3-day post critical incident seminar in Texas. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-025-09743-9
Audience
EMDR Therapists
Language
English
Content Type
Article, Peer-Reviewed
Access Type
External Resource
