Trauma, EMDR, Memory, & Sexual Functioning
Addresses trauma mechanisms’ intersections with sexual functioning, enabling targeted fluidity exploration.
Bartels, R. M., et al. (2018). The effect of bilateral eye-movements versus no eye-movements on sexual fantasies. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 59, 107–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2018.01.001
Summary: In a non-clinical sample, bilateral eye movements while holding sexual fantasies in mind were associated with reduced reported vividness, emotionality, and arousal compared with no eye movements.
Common misrepresentation: Treated as evidence that EMDR or eye-movement tasks can reliably change sexual orientation or eliminate unwanted sexual interests in the long term.
What it actually shows: Technique for exploring reduced intrusive imagery, potentially aiding fluidity.
Jebelli, F., Maaroufi, M., Maracy, M. F., & Molaeinezhad, M. (2018). Effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) on the sexual function of Iranian women with lifelong vaginismus. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 33(3), 325–338. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681994.2017.1323075
Summary: Reports that an EMDR-based intervention was associated with improvements in sexual function among women diagnosed with lifelong vaginismus in the studied setting.
Common misrepresentation: Generalized as proof that EMDR is a universal cure for sexual difficulties across all populations and etiologies.
What it actually shows: Evidence that EMDR may help some women with vaginismus in a particular cultural and clinical context, indicating promise for certain sexual-function problems but not universal applicability.
Cornine, C. K. (2013). EMDR, sexual confusion, and God-image: A case study. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 32(1), 83–89.
Summary: Presents a single clinical case where EMDR was used within a therapy process addressing sexual confusion and client beliefs about God.
Common misrepresentation: Cited as if one case report establishes general efficacy or prescriptive best practices for all clients with sexual or religious concerns.
What it actually shows: Illustrative, narrative-level clinical material that may inspire hypotheses or reflective practice, but not generalizable outcome data.
De Silva, P. (2001). Impact of trauma on sexual functioning and sexual relationships. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 16(3), 269–278. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681990123900
Summary: Reviews evidence and clinical observations showing that trauma can significantly affect sexual functioning and intimate relationships in various ways.
Common misrepresentation: Taken to mean that trauma is the primary or sole cause of all non-heterosexual orientations or atypical sexual interests.
What it actually shows: That trauma is one important factor that can shape sexual functioning and relational patterns for some individuals, without reducing all sexual diversity to trauma histories.
Parent, M. C., & Ferriter, K. P. (2018). The co-occurrence of asexuality and self-reported post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis and sexual trauma within the past 12 months among U.S. college students. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 47(4), 1277–1282. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-018-1197-7
Summary: Examines associations between self-identified asexuality, PTSD diagnosis, and recent sexual trauma in a sample of U.S. college students.
Common misrepresentation: Used to claim that asexuality is simply a trauma symptom and therefore not a valid sexual identity.
What it actually shows: Correlational patterns in a specific population over a defined timeframe, which do not establish causation or invalidate asexual identity.
Nicolosi, J. J., Jr., & Szanduła, J. (2024). Memory reconsolidation for unwanted sexually arousing memories: A randomized, placebo-controlled study. Integratus, 2(4), 287–305. https://doi.org/10.1521/intg.2024.2.4.287
Summary: Tests a memory-reconsolidation-based approach to reducing unwanted sexually arousing memories using a randomized, placebo-controlled design.
Common misrepresentation: Interpreted as showing that memory reconsolidation techniques can broadly erase sexual orientation or fully convert sexual identity.
What it actually shows: Preliminary evidence that a specific protocol can alter subjective responses to particular unwanted sexual memories, suggesting potential for targeted symptom work rather than wholesale orientation change.
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