Tree of life: A visual resource intervention for EMDR therapy

Adapted from the Pillars of Life (Raimundo, 1999), the Tree of Life for EMDR Therapy (EMDR-ToL) incorporates elements from resource development installation and narrative therapy into a collective visual representation of a tree. Often used in the preparation phase of EMDR Therapy, the EMDR-ToL is a protocol that focuses only on positive autobiographical memories, associating them with a positive cognition, activating positive associative networks, and making salient the positive life narratives that might have been neglected. An overview of the background, development, and application of the EMDR-ToL are illustrated with step-by-step explanations and case examples. This protocol is easily adapted to working with children and adults, groups or dyads, and other visual variations can be interchanged. The preliminary results of a pre- and post-test study conducted with university students has shown EMDR-ToL to increase the number and quality of positive cognitions, lower levels of perceived academic burnout and appears to be effective for both in-person and online settings. This protocol serves as an additional resource that EMDR Therapy clinicians can use when working with clients from various cultural backgrounds, ages, and settings.

Conference

English

Raquel Hoersting

Hoersting, R. (2022). Tree of life: A visual resource intervention for EMDR therapy. Presentation at the EMDR Canada Annual Conference, Virtual