Wreathing protocol: The imbrication of EMDR and hypnosis in the treatment of childhood onset PTSD

This paper will describe a “Wreathing” protocol which involves the imbrication of EMDR and hypnosis in the structured treatment of individuals who struggle with complex childhood onset PTSD and/or DDNOS and/or DID. In recent years, Shapiro has succesfully promoted the uses of EMDR in patients who suffer from PTSD with the caveat that dissociative disordered individuals ought not undergo such therapeutic methodology. The current authors have devised a protocol which will be respectful of the structured phase based therapies typically associated with Dissociative Disorders and complex childhood onset PTSD. The “wreathing” protocol will be described as it is systematically joined into a therapy informed by hypnosis and where the patients use EMDR to do the abreactive work. This “wreathing” protocol uses as a foundation for elaboration the BASK model of dissociation where each BASK dimension becomes the starting point from which an abreactive event is initiated and eventually integrated into the main stream of consciousness. Clinical examples will illustrate each therapeutic approach and demonstrate that not only will the EMDR used in this manner not destabilize or decompensate the patient, but more importantly it will better facilitate for the patient the integration of dissociated material.

Conference

English

Catherine J. Fine
Ami S. Berkowitz

Fine, C. J., & Berkowitz, A. S.  (1999, November). Wreathing protocol: The imbrication of EMDR and hypnosis in the treatment of childhood onset PTSD. Poster presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies 15th Annual Meeting, Miami, FL