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OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING - 1995

On April 19, 1995, the Alfred P. Murrah Building was blown up in the largest domestic terrorist attack to

that time in American history. 

Within the next few days of the aftermath, Dr. Lee Becker, Dr. Sandra Wilson, and Dr. Robert Tinker traveled to Oklahoma City (OKC) and saw the devastation and the reactions of the Oklahoma City residents. 

​AN EMDR Free Clinic was established​

  • headed by Sandra Wilson, Ph.D., for 6 months as Program Director​

  • 250 clients treated, pro bono​

  • 325 therapists trained, pro bono

  • ​200 therapists trained in EMDR with children, pro bono

  • ​289 volunteers participated

  • ​initially sponsored by the Spencer Curtis Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization

  • ​led to formation of EMDR-HAP (Humanitarian Assistance Programs)​​

  • we arranged for Francine Shapiro, PhD, originator of EMDR, to conduct an EMDR training for adults

​We recently learned our study of the effectiveness of EMDR treatment was accepted by a tier-one, peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology; JCCP); the first study on EMDR to be so recognized. Results in the study were so strong that it became the lead article in the journal for the next issue. It was the largest study completed on EMDR to that point, and was even the largest study on PTSD at the time. From this research, we were confident that EMDR would be effective with persons traumatized by the bombing, possibly even first responders. Sandra became the Project Director and remained in OKC for the next 6 months, contacting EMDR practitioners trained at the highest level in EMDR to volunteer to fly in, treat victims over a week's time and then travel back home. They were then replaced by a new team of two therapists who would stay a week, on a volunteer basis. In this way, over 250 traumatized adults and children were treated. I conducted my clinical practice during the week to support the project financially and flew in every weekend to OKC to help with treatment and clinical issues.

From our research, we were confident that EMDR would be effective...

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