Amelioration of death-related trauma with traumatic incident reduction (TIR) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)

The author notes the significance of the child-adult system and the effects of the death of either person on the other. She describes two treatment approaches: traumatic incident resolution (TIR) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Both approaches are reviewed, beginning with the theoretical model on which they are based. In a synthesis of both TIR and EMDR, the author offers "clinical traumatology skills" to overcome the potential bias introduced by the therapist. She discusses three focusing drills to develop practitioners' effectiveness in focusing on the most critical issues and procedures of trauma work. Acknowledgement and closure drills enable practitioners to more effectively end trauma work sessions. The author also discusses what effective trauma treatment should look like. These end points help assure both client and therapist that the distress associated with the memories has been removed permanently. After discussing the role of emotions in processing traumatic events, the chapter focuses on TIR and then EMDR regarding assessment and treatment procedures. This is followed by a discussion of what can go wrong when applying the treatment procedures. The chapter ends with presentation and discussion of a case example.

Book Section

English

Teresa Descilo

Descilo, T. (1999). Amelioration of death-related trauma with traumatic incident reduction (TIR) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). In C. R. Figley (Ed.), Traumatology of grieving: Conceptual, theoretical, and treatment foundations (pp. 153-182). Philadelphia, PA: Brunner/Mazel