How a Moment of Compassion Changed Trauma Care Around the World
Sometimes, the most impactful innovations begin with a simple question.
"When you return home... who will hug me?"
In January 1998, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Pauline in Mexico, EMDR clinicians Ignacio (Nacho) Jarero and Lucina (Lucy) Artigas were providing humanitarian support to survivors in Acapulco. Among those affected was a four-year-old boy who asked Lucy this heartbreaking question. Her response would become one of the most widely recognised self-soothing techniques used in EMDR therapy today: the Butterfly Hug.
Nearly three decades later, the Butterfly Hug and the EMDR Integrative Group Treatment Protocol (EMDR-IGTP) have been researched extensively and used to support people affected by trauma across the world.
At Shift Change, we believe understanding where trauma therapies come from is just as important as understanding how they work. The story behind the Butterfly Hug reminds us that effective trauma treatment is rooted in both science and humanity.
Where it All Began
Jarero and Artigas first encountered EMDR therapy in 1997 and quickly recognised its potential for helping people living with traumatic experiences. Shortly afterwards, Hurricane Pauline devastated parts of Mexico, becoming one of the country's deadliest and most destructive hurricanes.
Motivated by an urgent desire to help, they travelled to Acapulco in early 1998 to provide support to survivors. With limited resources and hundreds of people needing help, they faced an enormous challenge: how could they provide meaningful trauma support to so many individuals?
Initially, they taught self-soothing techniques to those affected. It was during one of these sessions that Lucy spontaneously created what would become known as the Butterfly Hug—a form of self-administered bilateral stimulation used within EMDR protocols.
Days later, while working with children whose school had been destroyed by the hurricane, Lucy asked them to draw how they felt in the sand. The children shared that they were still afraid when they thought about the hurricane. After teaching them the Butterfly Hug and allowing them to process their experiences at their own pace, she asked them once again whether they felt afraid. The children's response was simple: they did not.
This moment marked the birth of the world's first EMDR Therapy Group Protocol.
The Importance of Research
One of the most interesting moments described in the article comes from a conversation between Jarero, Artigas and EMDR founder Dr Francine Shapiro.
After witnessing the positive outcomes of their humanitarian work, they questioned why research was necessary. Dr Shapiro's response was powerful: research would allow their work to become empirically validated and recognised internationally, ultimately enabling thousands more people to benefit from it.
They took her advice seriously.
According to the article, their protocols and treatment interventions now have over 100 peer-reviewed publications spanning nearly 60 clinical populations, making them among the most researched approaches within the field of EMDR early intervention and ongoing traumatic stress.
This commitment to combining compassion with scientific evidence is one of the reasons EMDR continues to evolve as an evidence-based therapeutic approach today.
Meeting Trauma Where it Exists
The history of the Butterfly Hug is also a story about adapting trauma care to meet people's needs.
Over the years, Jarero and Artigas developed additional protocols to address different forms of traumatic stress, including:
EMDR-IGTP for early intervention following traumatic events
EMDR-IGTP-OTS for ongoing traumatic stress
EMDR-PRECI for recent critical incidents and ongoing traumatic stress
ASSYST treatment interventions for acute stress symptoms following disasters
Online adaptations developed during the COVID-19 pandemic
Each development emerged from a practical question: how do we make effective trauma support more accessible to those who need it?
That question remains highly relevant today.
The Importance of Understanding Police Culture
Successful treatment requires more than clinical expertise—it requires an understanding of the realities of law enforcement. Officers are more likely to engage in therapy when they feel understood by clinicians who appreciate the demands of shift work, hypervigilance, critical incidents, and the unique pressures of the profession.
This is why culturally informed care is so important. Building trust creates the foundation for meaningful therapeutic progress.
What This Means for Mental Health in the Workplace
While the Butterfly Hug was born from humanitarian disaster response, trauma isn't limited to catastrophic events. Many people experience ongoing stress and adversity that affects how they feel, think and perform every day.
Workplace pressures, burnout, organisational change, critical incidents and unresolved past experiences can all impact mental health and wellbeing.
Trauma-informed care recognises that people's experiences do not stay neatly separated from their professional lives. When trauma and chronic stress go unaddressed, they can contribute to difficulties with concentration, emotional regulation, relationships and resilience.
At Shift Change, we understand that supporting mental health means looking beyond symptoms and considering the experiences that may sit beneath them.
Our EMDR-based therapeutic approaches are grounded in evidence-based trauma treatment and are designed to help individuals process difficult experiences safely and effectively. We also recognise the importance of making mental health support accessible, compassionate and responsive to people's unique circumstances.
A Legacy of Compassion
The Butterfly Hug began as an answer to a child's question. Today, it represents something much larger—a reminder that innovation in mental health care often starts with empathy.
The article closes with the words, "Today, we are ready for the next challenge."
At Shift Change, that sentiment resonates strongly with us. Mental health challenges continue to evolve, and so must the ways we support people. Whether we're helping individuals navigate trauma, supporting workplaces to prioritise psychological wellbeing, or delivering evidence-based therapeutic interventions, our commitment remains the same: providing meaningful support that creates lasting change.
Because behind every protocol, every piece of research and every therapeutic approach is something wonderfully human—the desire to help people heal.
To learn more about how Shift Change can support your team, get in touch with us below!