Grant Provides Eye Movement Therapy for Trauma Recovery

March 16, 2022

A Community Foundation of Abilene grant to The Marriage and Family Institute at Abilene Christian University is providing five free sessions of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy to help people recover from trauma.

EMDR therapy is a psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression and panic disorders. ACU reports it’s one of only a handful of treatments approved by the VA for trauma treatment.

“It is important to us that Abilenians have access to low-cost trauma care,” said Dr. Lisa Merchant, chair and program director in the Department of Marriage and Family Studies. “Being able to provide EMDR to the community at no or low cost without a waiting list is pretty spectacular.”
 

The grant is from the APC Endowment, a Field of Interest fund that awards grants to increase access to mental health treatment for underserved populations. The funds provided training and scholarships for six graduate students who will conduct the therapy.

Read more about EMDR therapy in ACU's article here.