Bosnia-Hercegovina
Bosnia Project
- Over 100 clinicians trained in EMDR
- Thousands of traumatised people treated with EMDR
- Trauma Aid UK’s support led to the establishment of EMDR Association of Bosnia-Hercegovina
- Provided the basis for a fascinating article on applying the HAP Philosophy in Bosnia-Hercegovinia
Professor Mevludin Hasanovic from the Department of Psychiatry, University of Tuzla, in Bosnia-Hercegovina (BiH) approached HAP UK & Ireland for help with EMDR training following a seminar that he attended in the U.S.A.
Between 1992 and 1995, practically the entire BiH population 4½ million people were traumatised by genocide, what chillingly became known as ethnic cleansing, by mass rape and all the other terrible atrocities of war.
The scars of trauma are still very evident in Bosnian society, and the resources to deal with it remain scarce.
Trauma Aid UK started its Bosnia Project in 2009. This is a long-term project, aiming ultimately to bring BiH to the point where its trauma professionals can continue the training themselves, with their own national EMDR organisation.
Since 2009 Trauma Aid UK has trained over 100 professionals with EMDR and estimate that more than 1,000 Bosnians have benefited from EMDR and are no longer suffering from psychological symptoms.
In 2015 the newly founded EMDR Association of Bosnia-Herecegovina became a full member of EMDR Europe. Trauma Aid UK is continuing to provide training and supervision support in Bosnia and several clinicians are now EMDR Accredited Practitioners.
Trauma Aid UK is pleased that EMDR has been greeted so enthusiastically in Bosnia and we look forward to continuing working closely with our colleagues there strengthening these links.
Trauma Aid UK Trustees would like to express their thanks to the following contributors who have provided their time so freely:
- Sandi Richmann
- Sanja Oakley
- Sian Morgan
- Dr. Michael Patterson, OBE
- Dr. Joanne Morris-Smith
- John Henry
- Asko Salihovic
- Dr. Bridget O’Rawe
- Keith Piper
- and the team of EMDR Consultants provinding on-going supervision.