The clinician awareness questionnaire in EMDR

Whenever an EMDR treatment session becomes problematic, consider this self-administered instrument when reflecting on this session. EMDR consultants can also use this measure in their consulting groups to assist consultees in understanding when work with clients have an impact on the clinician. The purpose of using the Clinician Awareness Questionnaire includes the following: (1) To assist in raising awareness of what may be triggering the clinician; (2) To assess what may be coming from the clinician and what may be coming from the client; and (3) To develop EMDR Relational Strategies. Different problems can arise in different phases of the protocol. Sometimes, problems for the clinician may occur in Phase 1 when a client shares information that evokes negative arousal; or Phase 2 when the client has trouble understanding the elements of preparation or wants to get going processing trauma prematurely and the clinician has a negative response; or Phase 3 when there is a problem structuring the Assessment piece. Sometimes, client information may not evoke negative arousal in the clinician until Phase 4 when the client is actively processing. Often times, the clinician's triggers are from old memories. These memories may be explicit; at other times, implicit (somatosensory). As clinicians begin to notice these moments in themselves, they may aid themselves and their clients in continuing productive processing by using the Clinician Awareness Questionnaire. The Clinican Awareness Questionnaire Script is provided.

Book Section

English

Mark Dworkin

Dworkin, M. (2009). The clinician awareness questionnaire in EMDR. In M. Luber (Ed.), Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) scripted protocols: Basics and special situations (pp. 401-408). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Co