EMDR reprocessing with attachment disorders & complex trauma: EMDR dialogue protocol - Integrating ego state work and EMDR reprocessing

Attachment disorders, chronic stressful, traumatizing experiences can create dissociative tendencies in the psychic structure. The dissociative spectrum ranges from deep structural dissociation to subtle forms of dissociation like Ego States. My experience as a therapist and consultant for EMDR has shown me that successful reprocessing in these cases depends substantially upon successful ego state interaction and affectively meaningful choice of cognitions in Phase 3 of standard protocol. Defining “good” cognitions can be a significant obstacle (due to activated dissociative states). This can lead to blockade early in Phase 3 and/or the avoidance of using EMDR. The EMDR Dialogue Protocol was developed to facilitate the work with ego states while reprocessing complex issues of attachment disorders and complex trauma at the same time. The workshop will discuss the dissociative /ego state - dynamics behind the difficulties with cognitions and give a short theoretical background. Main focus will be on the procedure of the Dialogue Protocol, which will be discussed in detail and with case examples. Suggestions for the work with cognitions will be provided as well as cognitive interweave enhancing ego state work during reprocessing. Papers on subject: Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, Vol 5, Nr 3, 2011; EMDR Rundbrief No 19 -/2009 in German.

Conference

English

Hanna Egli-Bernd

Egli-Bernd, H. (2014, June). EMDR reprocessing with attachment disorders & complex trauma: EMDR dialogue protocol - Integrating ego state work and EMDR reprocessing. In EMDR clinical practice symposium (Ana Christina Santos, Chair). Symposium presented at the 15th EMDR Europe Association Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland