Synthesis and realization (personification and presentification): The psychological process of integration of traumatic memories in EMDR psychotherapy
Description
Background and aims
The theory of the structural dissociation of the personality [1] proposes a precise description of the psychological phenomena involved in the integration of traumatic memories. According to this theory, memories are successfully integrated in a narrative—that is, stored in an adaptive memory network—when there has been synthesis of the different elements (affects, cognitions, images, sensorimotor reactions, behaviors) for each moment of a particular event, and when realization has occurred. Realization implies personification (the ability individuals have to feel that they have experienced traumatic events) and presentification (the ability to realize that the event took place in the past and is over now).
Methods
We present these concepts and how they relate to eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) psychotherapy and its underlying hypothesis of adaptive information processing. Clinical vignettes and videos of EMDR sessions will illustrate these concepts and their usefulness in EMDR for simpler cases and for complex cases such as dissociative disorders.
Results
Understanding the concepts of synthesis, personification, and presentification helps EMDR therapists to choose the specific supportive interventions, cognitive interweaves or other adapted EMDR interventions that will best support the adaptive information processing.
Conclusions
Attention should be given to this psychological concept of integration and its usefulness in EMDR clinical practice as a way to enhance the neurophysiological model of adaptive information processing.
The theory of the structural dissociation of the personality [1] proposes a precise description of the psychological phenomena involved in the integration of traumatic memories. According to this theory, memories are successfully integrated in a narrative—that is, stored in an adaptive memory network—when there has been synthesis of the different elements (affects, cognitions, images, sensorimotor reactions, behaviors) for each moment of a particular event, and when realization has occurred. Realization implies personification (the ability individuals have to feel that they have experienced traumatic events) and presentification (the ability to realize that the event took place in the past and is over now).
Methods
We present these concepts and how they relate to eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) psychotherapy and its underlying hypothesis of adaptive information processing. Clinical vignettes and videos of EMDR sessions will illustrate these concepts and their usefulness in EMDR for simpler cases and for complex cases such as dissociative disorders.
Results
Understanding the concepts of synthesis, personification, and presentification helps EMDR therapists to choose the specific supportive interventions, cognitive interweaves or other adapted EMDR interventions that will best support the adaptive information processing.
Conclusions
Attention should be given to this psychological concept of integration and its usefulness in EMDR clinical practice as a way to enhance the neurophysiological model of adaptive information processing.
Format
Conference
Language
English
Original Work Citation
Piedmont-Marin, O. (2021, June). Synthesis and realization (personification and presentification): The psychological process of integration of traumatic memories in EMDR psychotherapy. Presentation at the 20th EMDR Europe Association Conference, Virtual
Citation
“Synthesis and realization (personification and presentification): The psychological process of integration of traumatic memories in EMDR psychotherapy,” Francine Shapiro Library, accessed May 10, 2024, https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/26961.