EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITISATION AND REPROCESSING WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDERS AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES: TWO CASE REPORTS

Abstract

Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) as well as those with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) tend to have mental health problems as well. Many individuals with intellectual disability and ASD do not receive mainstream psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy appears to be making good success among this client group. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is relatively new among the psychological therapies but it has made a great impact in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and anxiety-related problems. In this paper, the use of EMDR with two individuals who had ASD as well as ID is reported and implications for further research delineated.