Integrating EMDR and couples therapy

Clients engage in couples therapy to resolve issues in their relationship and improve their connection. However, partners’ developmental traumas often undermine their goals—or worse, partners may use one another to re-enact their traumas. Thus, it can be said that many clients enter couples therapy to find a relational solution to an intrapsychic problem. This workshop explores the integration of EMDR into couples therapy, addressing the challenges therapists face when combining these modalities. Participants will learn to integrate individual and systemic dimensions, addressing horizontal (current patterns) and vertical (historical influences) axes of inquiry. Patterns of pathological dependency—the foundation of couples’ conflicts—will be described. Participants will learn a five-step method for transitioning from horizontal to vertical assessment and contracting for EMDR therapy. Participants will learn critical treatment considerations for implementing this integrative approach, including session management, avoiding common pitfalls, and conjoint EMDR (phase four with the partner present).

Conference

English

Barry Litt

Litt, B. (2025, September). Integrating EMDR and couples therapy. Presentation at the 30th annual EMDRIA conference, Anaheim, CA