Helping Heroes Heal: What Frontline Workers Say About EMDR Therapy During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic was tough on everyone, but it was especially hard on frontline workers. These brave people, who risked their lives to help others, often faced severe emotional struggles. To tackle this, a special kind of therapy called EMDR-IGTP was introduced. This therapy aims to help people process traumatic experiences, but not much was known about how frontline workers felt about it during the pandemic. A study was done to understand the experiences of these frontline workers. They talked about their journey with EMDR-IGTP, sharing both the good and the bad. Some found it strange at first, while others felt a mix of emotions as they worked through their feelings. Many felt relief after going through the process, but some also wondered why they didn't benefit as much. The study also looked at different parts of the therapy, like learning about how it works and using techniques like the "butterfly hug. " The group setting was important too, providing a safe space but also being a bit challenging at times. The findings suggest that therapists should take their time to create a safe environment and understand how each person fits into the group. More research is needed to see how well this therapy works in the long run and what makes some people more engaged than others.