Decisions, decisions…Forks in the road in EMDR:  What, when and who

Following EMDR training, clinicians experience a steep learning curve when they attempt to implement the protocol with clients. Anecdotal evidence points to a significant reduction in numbers of EMDR trained clinicians actually utilizing it correctly with clients on a regular basis. EMDR is much more complex than it first appears; therefore those who use the protocol only occasionally or loosely will miss significant opportunities to grasp the subtleties and effective application. There is a need, even for experienced EMDR clinicians, to learn and apply a structured way of identifying the decisions we make both before and as we proceed through the protocol. A growing body of researcs exists to back up our decisions; however, some choices are made based on intuition and clinical judgment. Topics will include a self-evaluation (passions and expertise); why we sharpen our phone skills up-front; rationales for tightening up intake and case conceptualization; decisions during preparation, safe place, resource development, assessment, desensitization, and later phases of the protocol; decisions regarding cognitive interweaves; and decisions regarding time management and flexing a treatment plan. Participants will be encouraged to sharpen their thinking about how they do EMDR with their clients, by means of identifying the most important "forks in the road" before and during treatment; be able to name at least one decision point pertaining to each of the Phases covered; and finally, to provide a rationale for the choices they do make at these critical moments.

Conference

English

Susan Curry

Curry, S. (2006, June). Decisions, decisions?Forks in the road in EMDR: What, when and who. Presentation at the 7th EMDR Europe Association Conference, Istanbul, Turkey