EMDR master series - II: Ego state therapy and EMDR: Activating, modifying and containing dissociated neural networks

Chronic childhood trauma may lead to chronic dissociation which in turn produces a highly conflicted self-structure. Since conflicted self systems may not process smoothly in EMDR, it behooves practitioners to assess for degree of dissociation and other “red flag” indicators prior to EMDR. To work with clients with conflicted selves, the practitioner needs a means to access disowned parts of self. Although Ego State Therapy (EST) is based upon psychoanalytic theory, it is not slow as psychoanalytic treatment is. EST is a way to rapidly access internal structures, mediate conflicts, navigate around defenses and mobilize resources. Therefore EST is ideal as either: 1) a cognitive interweave in EMDR looping; or 2) as part of a preparation for clients in the high end of the dissociative continuum (the ACT-AS-IF approach). This workshop will illustrate case formulation and EMDR preparation and processing using the concepts above.

Conference

English

Sandra L. Paulsen

Paulsen, S. L. (2004, September). EMDR master series - II: Ego state therapy and EMDR: Activating, modifying and containing dissociated neural networks. Presentation at the 9th EMDR International Association Conference, Montreal, QC