OVERVIEW
Shifting from a Eurocentric to an Eco-centric Perspective in Trauma Therapy
In this episode, Jennifer Marchand shares how her work with Indigenous populations in Canada and conflict survivors in Vietnam shaped her approach to Embedding EMDR in a Nature-Based Framework. Marchand challenges the reductionist Eurocentric view of psychology, advocating instead for an eco-centric model that restores connection with the natural world.
She introduces powerful metaphors, such as viewing the AIP model as an “internal river” where trauma blocks the flow, and the reprocessing phases as “journeying through mountains” alongside a therapist acting as a “pathfinder”. Watch now and learn practical tools, including the “Five S’s” of memory reconsolidation and how to use natural materials like stones for stabilization in both virtual and office settings.
Topics Covered:
- Jennifer Marchand’s Background and Indigenous Work
- Shifting from Eurocentric to Eco-centric Models
- Integrating Creative Arts into Trauma Treatment
- Ecotherapy-Informed EMDR Therapy
- The AIP Model as an Internal River
- Memory Reconsolidation and the Five S's Model
- The Mountain Metaphor for EMDR Processing
SPEAKER
Jennifer Marchand is a Canadian Certified Counselor and EMDRIA-approved consultant with over 10 years of clinical experience in a diverse range of cultural contexts, including with Indigenous populations in Northwest British Columbia, in Vietnam, Ghana, Kurdistan, Afghanistan, and Southeast Europe. Based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia since 2021, she is dedicated to the field of global mental health and working in underserved settings. In addition to her private practice, she supports projects working with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, including in Ethiopia, and provides trauma sensitivity training to health professionals in conflict-affected settings with a human rights organization called Medica Mondiale.
Join Our Thriving EMDR Learning Community Now!
In the EMDR community we learn together, we save time, and connect over our never-ending journey of mastering the art & science of EMDR.
- Want to learn more about EMDR integration with other models?
- Wondering what to do when the standard protocol doesn't work?
- Want to connect with a community of EMDR practitioners?
Ready to integrate nature-based materials and metaphors into your practice?
Deepen Your Practice with Nature-Based EMDR Tools!
RESOURCES
Want to Learn More About EMDR Therapy
RELATED POSTS
See Our Other Posts
Ecotherapy-Informed EMDR Therapy with Jennifer Marchand
Join us for a webinar on Introduction to EMDR With Complex Trauma with Thomas Zimmerman. This discussion offers an introduction to his book, “EMDR With Complex Trauma” and upcoming book club series with The EMDR Book Club which describes options available in each phase of EMDR therapy to help new EMDR clinicians work more effectively with clients facing severe trauma.
IFS informed EMDR: Creative and Collaborative Approaches with David Polidi
Join us as David Polidi shares his journey into IFS informed EMDR – Creative and Collaborative Approaches, exploring how blending Internal Family Systems with EMDR can move therapy past common stuck points. He introduces the Discovery Phase (Phase 2.5), the role of Self energy in trauma work, and insights from his collaborative book with voices like Janina Fisher and Bruce Hersey.
S.A.F.E. EMDR, Somatic and Attachment Focused EMDR with Deborah Kennard
Join us for a webinar on Introduction to EMDR With Complex Trauma with Thomas Zimmerman. This discussion offers an introduction to his book, “EMDR With Complex Trauma” and upcoming book club series with The EMDR Book Club which describes options available in each phase of EMDR therapy to help new EMDR clinicians work more effectively with clients facing severe trauma.
