67. Granparents in EMDR therapy

In this episeode we explore the the role of grandparents in clients’ lives, within the EMDR framework. Sometimes, intergenerational trauma can span generations, with clients aiming to break the cycle for their own children. While, for many clients, grandparents represent love, kindness, protection, and stability, often contrasting with a parent’s traumatic experiences. Grandparents may provide a different kind of support—less immediate responsibility, more unconditional love, and a sense of safety in the present moment. Factors beyond age and life stage (e.g. financial stress and life transitions) influence parenting quality, but the grandparent-grandchild bond can be a powerful source of positive attachment.

Main Theme:

The negative impacts of social media addiction and how EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy can help overcome it.

Key Points:

• For many clients, grandparents represent love, kindness, protection, and stability, often contrasting with a parent’s traumatic experiences.

• Intergenerational trauma can span generations, with clients aiming to break the cycle for their own children. • Grandparents may provide a different kind of support—less immediate responsibility, more unconditional love, and a sense of safety in the present moment.

• Factors beyond age and life stage (e.g., financial stress, life transitions) influence parenting quality, but the grandparent-grandchild bond can be a powerful source of positive attachment.

How EMDR Can Help:

• Resourcing: Use positive life experiences and relationships, especially with grandparents, to bolster clients’ self-worth and safety before addressing trauma.

• Reinforcing existing bonds: Highlight memories of being loved and protected by grandparents to enhance a client’s sense of self (worthy, capable, safe).

• In-session work: When processing distressing memories, incorporate imagined grandparent support (e.g., “What would your grandma say?”) to create a sense of immediate support, even though it’s imaginative.

Upcoming webinars for clinicians on treating Shame (June 4th), Dissociation (July), and Dissociative Identity Disorder (August).