EMDR – Practical applications and different treatment protocols for different needs

Eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) was introduced by Shapiro (1989) as a cognitivebehavioural therapy for clients with trauma a little over 20 years ago. After an initial period of intense controversy and scepticism regarding its proclaimed evidence base, EMDR has been studied extensively, its efficacy has been confirmed (Van Etten & Taylor, 1998; Shepherd et al. 2000, Alto, 2001; Davidson & Parker, 2001; Maxfield & Hyer, 2002; Bisson & Andrew, 2005; Bradley, et.al., 2005; Bisson, Ehlers, Matthews, Pilling, Richards, & Turner, 2007) and is one of the effective treatments of PTSD recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) of the UK Department of Health in March 2005. It has been estimated (Farrell & Keenan, 2010) that in the United Kingdom and Ireland approximately 6,000 mental health clinicians have been trained in EMDR. Although studies have evaluated EMDR as a distinct therapeutic modality, during the course of their different levels of EMDR training, clinicians are encouraged to integrate the EMDR treatment protocol into their predominant therapeutic orientation. Thus, EMDR can be used across different psychological therapies, including the Cognitive Psychotherapies. While this makes EMDR a highly versatile modality, it can pose a practical challenge to clinicians in terms of when and how to integrate EMDR into their work with clients. Further, for therapists not trained in EMDR, the concepts may seem strange and scepticism may remain to this date. This workshop seeks to close the gap between false perception and reality about EMDR, by drawing on the facilitator’s 14 years of practical experience in the use and integration of EMDR alongside her work as a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist. This practice-oriented workshop will explore different applications of EMDR across the trauma spectrum, as well as, some treatment protocols for other client problems. The important roles of resource installation and interweaves will be introduced. Several forms of bilateral stimulation (DAS - Dual attention stimulus) and an EMDR-based protocol for the installation of a Safe Place for complex trauma (Herbert, 2002) will be practically demonstrated. Learning Objective • To learn about different EMDR applications both in the treatment of different types of trauma, as well as, other psychological problems. • To alleviate scepticism and encourage understanding on how EMDR can be integrated alongside the Cognitive Psychotherapies. • To gain some practical exposure on how EMDR is applied. Training Modality • Training will be practice-oriented and will include some experiential exercise.

Conference

English

Claudia Herbert

Herbert, C. (2011, June). EMDR ? Practical applications and different treatment protocols for different needs. Presentation at the 7th International Congress of Cognitive Therapy, Istanbul, Turkey