EMDR crisis response protocol for emergency responders and professionals dealing with COVID19

This presentation is based on elements from EMDR therapy including Shapiro's EMD (1989, 2018). Originally EMD was presented as the treatment for traumatic memories that focused on desensitizing the image of the event. "This procedure is currently used in more circumscribed situations to reduce arousal and/or increase stability. While standard EMDR processing provides more comprehensive effects, EMD can be helpful in initial stages of treatment for more debilitated clients and/or in emergency situations. " (Shapiro, 2017, p. 220). The EMDR Crisis Response Protocol (CRP) uses elements of many therapies and EMDR therapy protocols synthesizing those for what we need in crisis situations with First Responders and Public Safety Professionals. Finally this will include references to case conceptualization from Adler-Tapia (2013) when she wrote about the Parade of Faces of the calls that haunt first responders. The concept of Parade of Faces is used as a metaphor and when appropriate, as the template for identifying and organizing targets for containment and later reprocessing. The CRP is a piece of overall therapy that can be used as a stand alone intervention, but preferably as part of EMDR therapy. The CRP is designed to be deployed with First Responders and Public Safety Professionals who are struggling to function and/or with professionals dealing with COVID19. With the CRP, the overwhelming symptom (OS) may or may not be from the most recent critical incident, but instead it may be sparked/triggered by the call or client that finally overwhelms the Professional's coping mechanisms. The CRP helps to reduce or alleviate the overwhelming symptom in order that the Professional can return to duty. Using the CRP on a regular basis can also prevent the long-term impact of on-going trauma exposure from the career. In 2018, after receiving his Sir Winston Churchill Fellowship, Greg travelled throughout the USA, Canada and UK researching ‘early intervention in mental illness for serving police and peer support for former police employees.’ During his presentation Greg will discuss some of his findings and recommendations. He will also discuss his thoughts on what EMDR practitioners can expect when they have the opportunity to work with police officers suffering from trauma and some of the difficulties it can present. During his research travels Greg was honoured to have the opportunity to meet and learn from his co-presenter Dr Robbie Adler-Tapia. Greg’s Churchill Fellowship report is attached as a handout and he welcomes any questions or feedback.

Confernece

English

Robbie Adler-Tapia
Greg Dean

Adler-Tapia, R., & Dean, G. (2021, October). EMDR crisis response protocol for emergency responders and professionals dealing with COVID19. Presentation at the EMDRAA Conference, Virtual