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

Breaking the Taboo of Suicide With EMDR and IFS with Annabel McGoldrick
This is a critical question for many therapists and we need to talk about suicide. Some clients we work with are indeed at risk of taking their own lives. Watch and learn essential techniques for safely addressing suicidal thoughts in clients by joining this webinar led by Annabel McGoldrick, an international advanced EMDR trainer and expert in integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS) with EMDR. Learn more about Healing Suicide Trauma with EMDR & IFS!

Art and AI as EMDR Catalysts with Jocelyn Fitzgerald
Discover how art and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can enhance your EMDR practice with insights from expert Jocelyn Fitzgerald. Learn how AI art generation tools like MidJourney and free options like Google’s ImageFX and ChatGPT can serve as powerful catalysts in therapy, particularly for clients resistant to traditional art therapy.

Working with Complex PTSD and Dissociation with Manuela Spadoni
This conversation on “Working with Complex PTSD and Dissociation: EMDR Tools from Jim Knipe’s Approach” with the expert Manuela Spadoni, offers practical strategies for EMDR therapists working with complex trauma and dissociative personality structures. Drawing from Jim Knipe’s clinical framework and the “EMDR Toolbox,” the presentation addresses challenges encountered with complex clients and provides solutions based on clinical experience.