Episode 51: Rethinking EMDR | Working Memory, Trauma, Culture

In this episode, we dive into a fresh look at EMDR therapy and how new research reframes it as “working memory therapy.” We explore the cultural differences in how trauma and sexuality are discussed in clinical training, the challenges of certification in our field, and the ways client conversations about sex, cursing, and honesty become litmus tests for therapeutic trust. Along the way, we swap stories on therapy frustrations, parenting young adults, and how history and culture shape our work as clinicians.

• The hidden costs of certifications and ROI in therapy careers 
• How Dutch researchers approach EMDR and trauma treatment differently 
• Why EMDR might be better understood as “working memory therapy” 
• Cultural contrasts: bluntness about sex/trauma in Dutch trainings vs U.S. squeamishness 
• Therapy rapport: clients opening up about sex and cursing as signs of safety 
• Parenting struggles: guiding a 20-year-old through clutter, college, and career choices 
• Therapy frustrations: reflections clients resist, accountability, and ego defenses 
• Books and history: Comanche Nation, whitewashed history, and cultural imperialism 

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