Personal experiences of EMDR therapy within secure services

The link between trauma, mental health difficulties, and criminal behavior is widely acknowledged. However, secure services primarily continue to offer offense-focused interventions. Little is known about why individuals engage in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, which is neither offense-focused nor mandated, or how it may be beneficial in terms of recovery or risk reduction. This study aimed to develop an understanding of personal experiences of EMDR therapy within secure services. An opportunistic sample of 8 services users were recruited from secure services and invited to engage in a semistructured interview to explore their experiences. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The analysis revealed 4 main themes that were central to participant experiences of engaging in EMDR therapy within a secure service. These included the “Decision to Engage in EMDR Therapy”, “Essential Support Structures”, the “EMDR Therapy Process”, and “Identifying Personal Change”. EMDR therapy was life changing for all of the participants involved but was not an easy therapy for participants to engage in. When supported by the relationship with their therapist, EMDR therapy has the potential to have a meaningful impact on problematic behaviors seen within secure settings and provide hope for the future. Clinical implications are discussed.