Dyadic EMDR: A clinical model for the treatment of preverbal medical trauma

This paper focuses on the dyadic experience of Preverbal Medical Trauma as a factor in sharpening understanding of symptomatic behavior in young children. It highlights the connection between imssplicitly encoded relationship memories and the development of the child-caregiver attachment relationship before, during and following the medical trauma. Literature relating to the effects of early trauma on the child’s neuropsychological development is discussed, together with a closer look at the unique effect of early medical trauma on the attachment system. A dyadic psychotherapeutic treatment model is proposed, anchored in the EMDR Protocol and the attachment relationship. The case example provides a structured guide to processing of the early medical trauma and treatment of present symptoms, with a suggestion for future research.

Journal

English

Barbara Wizansky
Ester Bar Sadeh

Wizanky, B., & Sadeh, E. B. (2021). Dyadic EMDR: A clinical model for the treatment of preverbal medical trauma. Journal of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy. doi:10.1080/15289168.2021.1940661