Mourning Francine Shapiro

 

EMDRIA mourns the death of Francine Shapiro on Sunday, June 16, 2019. On behalf of or 9,000 members, we express our deepest sympathy to her family and loved ones. Carol Miles, President of EMDRIA, stated: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Francine Shapiro, the originator of EMDR therapy. Dr. Shapiro dedicated her life’s work to the development of this transformative psychotherapy model. Her research, perseverance, dedication, and passion led the way to create a path to recovery for an inestimable number of people around the world. Dr. Shapiro’s legacy lives on through her work, the EMDR community, and those who have found healing and hope through EMDR therapy.”

Dr. Shapiro was a Senior Research Fellow Emeritus of the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, California, Founder and Executive Director of the EMDR Institute, and Founder and President Emeritus of the Trauma Recovery and EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs.

In her career, she received the International Sigmund Freud Award for distinguished contribution to psychotherapy presented by the City of Vienna in conjunction with the world Council for Psychotherapy. She was presented with the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Practice in Trauma Psychology by the American Psychological Association’s Trauma Division, and the Distinguished Scientific Achievement in Psychology Award presented by the California Psychological Association.

Dr. Shapiro was designated as one of the “Cadre of Experts” of the American Psychological Association and Canadian Psychological Association’s Joint Initiative on Ethnopolitical Warfare. She authored or co-authored more than 60 articles, chapters, and books about EMDR.

When asked in a prior interview what she wanted to say to the EMDR Community, Dr. Shapiro responded: “I want to repeat the same thing I have said for years. There is so much we have done, but so much to do. Anyone who cares to, can open the treatment room doors in a way that can really make an impact. Documenting your outcomes and sharing it is ‘research.’ Research is not just about proving to others. It is a way to guide each one of us to establish the best practices. It is about staying on the right road.”

Michael Bowers, Executive Director of EMDRIA, states, “EMDRIA has created a page on its online community for members to share remembrances, tributes, and photos of Francine. EMDRIA Members can access that page to contribute by clicking this link. Also, at the upcoming conference, EMDRIA is planning a special commemoration in honor of Francine Shapiro. We will dedicate our focus to her message to work together as a community, to establish best practices, and to bring healing, health, and hope to all those in need.”