EMDR therapy for somatic disorders and medical issuesSummary Sheet:  EMDR therapy for somatic disorders and medical issues (Luber)

This chapter addresses the general use of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (MD) psychotherapy with somatic disorders and medical conditions using the Standard EMDR Protocol. EMDR is an established, evidence-based psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder. When reviewing the evidence for the use of EMDR for medical issues, one needs to consider the research on the use of EMDR with the specific medical issue, but also concomitant issues including physical/behavioral, emotional/psychological, and cognitive aspects of the condition that impact treatment and prognosis. The adaptive information process model allows that cognitive, behavioral, affective, and physiological factors that perpetuate and prolong symptoms in medical illness can be targets for treatment. The chapter provides case conceptualization incorporating EMDR into a comprehensive treatment plan for medical patients, along with how each of the eight phases of EMDR treatment can be adapted for use with medical issues. It helps the EMDR therapists to discover or build upon the approaches he or she already uses to facilitate improvement and quality of life in medical patients and their families.

Book Section

English

Jamie Zabukovec

Zabukovec, J. (2019). EMDR therapy for somatic disorders and medical issues. In M. Luber (Ed.), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Scripted Protocols and Summary Sheets: Treating Trauma in Somatic and Medical-Related Conditions (pp. 49-110). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Co