EMDR as a Transpersonal Therapy: A Trauma-Focused Approach to Awakening Consciousness

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-43
Author(s):  
Irene R. Siegel
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Functioning ◽  
Spiritual Awakening ◽  
Case Examples ◽  
Energy Field ◽  
Mindful Awareness ◽  
Transpersonal Psychotherapy ◽  
Human Functioning ◽  
Spiritual Tradition ◽  
Early Trauma ◽  
Emdr Therapy

This article introduces the integration of a transpersonal psychological approach into the standard eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) protocol. The history and philosophy of transpersonal psychology is explained as an expanded context for healing. The applications of a transpersonal context to EMDR therapy are discussed as it applies to taking the client from trauma to healing beyond adaptive functioning leading to exceptional human functioning, as depicted in Native shamanism and Eastern spiritual tradition where consciousness is awakened. The influence of the consciousness of the therapist is explored, as the convergence of science, psychology, and spirituality address the interpersonal nature of a shared energy field. Elements of transpersonal psychotherapy are presented, and transpersonal therapeutic skills are described to enhance the range of tools of the therapist from egoic intervention to an expanded range of perception based in mindful awareness, attunement, and resonance. Comprehensive case examples take us through the standard EMDR protocol where these two approaches integrate and flow as healing unresolved early trauma becomes the doorway for spiritual awakening.

EMDR Case Formulation Tool

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-231
Author(s):  
Ines Santos
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Clinical Applications ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Case Formulation ◽  
Clinical Tool ◽  
Case Examples ◽  
Negative Beliefs ◽  
Psychological Difficulties ◽  
Adaptive Information Processing ◽  
Emdr Therapy

This article describes a diagrammatic clinical tool to be used when formulating cases in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Based on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, the EMDR Case Formulation Tool is a way of illustrating psychological difficulties, mapping out the relationships between six key elements: unprocessed traumatic experiences, triggers, intrusions, negative beliefs, and symptoms, as well as resilience. From the diagrammatic formulation, a narrative formulation can be developed. The case formulation tool can be shared with the client, used to guide treatment planning, in supervision, and in case consultations. The use of the tool is explained and its clinical applications demonstrated with case examples.

Mindful Attunement

2019 ◽  
pp. 58-67
Author(s):  
Catherine P. Cook-Cottone
Keyword(s):  
Goal Setting ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Care Process ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
Case Examples ◽  
Mindful Awareness ◽  
Representation Model ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Internal Integration

Mindful attunement is the integration of mindful awareness and healthy, sustainable connection with both the internal and external experiences of self that drives intentional thinking and behaviors that support well-being. This chapter details how physiology, emotions, and cognitions influence a sense of internal integration and attunement. Mindful self-care is introduced as a method for cultivating mindful attunement among the internal aspects of self, within the context of external (e.g., social) challenges using the attuned representation model of self (ARMS). The connections between mindful attunement, mindful self-care, and positive embodiment are illustrated using case examples. The Mindful Self-Care Scale, a tool for the assessment of the aspects of self-care addressing each area of the ARMS through actionable practices, is reviewed. This chapter ends by detailing the mindful self-care process, which involves mindful awareness of self-care as essential to well-being, assessment of self-care domains, assessment-driven self-care goal setting, and engagement in self-care.

Dissociation of the Personality and EMDR Therapy in Complex Trauma-Related Disorders: Applications in Phases 2 and 3 Treatment

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Onno van der Hart ◽  
Mariëtte Groenendijk ◽  
Anabel Gonzalez ◽  
Dolores Mosquera ◽  
Roger Solomon
Keyword(s):  
Complex Trauma ◽  
Adaptive Functioning ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Phase 3 ◽  
Traumatic Memories ◽  
Structural Dissociation ◽  
Emdr Therapy ◽  
Phase Phase ◽  
Subsequent Integration

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) psychotherapy can play a major role in phase-oriented treatment of complex trauma-related disorders. In terms of the theory of structural dissociation of the personality and its related psychology of action, a previous article described Phase 1 treatment—Stabilization, Symptom Reduction, and Skills Training—emphasizing the use of EMDR procedures in this phase. Phase 2 treatment mainly involves applications of EMDR processing in overcoming the phobia of traumatic memories and their subsequent integration. Phase 3 treatment focuses on further integration of the personality, which includes overcoming various phobias pertaining to adaptive functioning in daily life. This article emphasizes treatment approaches that assist therapists in incorporating EMDR protocols in Phases 2 and 3 of phase-oriented treatment without exceeding clients’ integrative capacity or window of tolerance.

Letting Steam Out of the Pressure Cooker: The EMDR Life Stress Protocol

2020 ◽  
pp. EMDR-D-20-00032
Author(s):  
Deany Laliotis
Keyword(s):  
Life Stress ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Recent Experience ◽  
Case Examples ◽  
Posttraumatic Symptoms ◽  
Standard Procedures ◽  
Memory Network ◽  
Emdr Therapy

The standard protocol of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has been well established as an efficacious brief treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addressing past, present, and future aspects of a traumatizing event. This article provides instruction in the administration of the EMDR Life Stress Protocol, which targets a significant recent experience or a life scenario that is not necessarily remarkable as a stand-alone event (getting up every morning with dread, feeling anxious about leaving the house) and which causes distress and impaired function such as has been commonly reported during the COVID-19 crisis. This protocol involves minor but significant modifications within EMDR therapy’s standard procedures. It uses the present-day experience as the Target Memory while accessing briefly, the memory network of historical experiences that inform the client’s reactions to their present circumstances. Successful processing is immediately followed by a Future Template to generate an alternative pattern of response, optimizing the client’s capacity to respond adaptively to continued life demands. The EMDR Life Stress Protocol differs from EMDR’s various recent events protocols, which seek to reduce posttraumatic symptoms following a recent traumatic event or crisis. Those protocols focus on the critical incident and ancillary events, and typically do not intend to activate memory networks of related historical experiences. The article describes case conceptualization to offer a rationale for this approach and provides a detailed description of this protocol, illustrated with case examples, highlighting its application both as a psychotherapy approach and as a brief intervention.

scholarly journals Use of the Flash Technique in EMDR Therapy: Four Case Examples

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 195-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Manfield ◽  
Joan Lovett ◽  
Lewis Engel ◽  
David Manfield
Keyword(s):  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Memory Reconsolidation ◽  
Emotional Intensity ◽  
Anecdotal Evidence ◽  
Case Examples ◽  
Traumatic Memories ◽  
Preparation Phase ◽  
Flash Technique ◽  
A New Technique ◽  
Emdr Therapy

This article introduces the flash technique, a new technique used during the preparation phase of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to facilitate processing of intense, traumatic memories that clients might otherwise be resistant to access. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this technique may make it possible for clients to access these memories initially in a minimally disturbing way, reducing their emotional intensity so that they can then be more easily and fully processed using EMDR therapy. The technique appears to be easily tolerated by clients of all ages, including children; and to be rapid and relatively painless for clients, even those with particularly disturbing target memories; and can be easily taught to clinicians. It has the distinct feature that clients who are avoiding a terribly disturbing memory can be offered a way of processing it without having to bring it clearly to mind. Four case examples, in which the technique was used by four different clinicians, are presented briefly. Suggestions are made for further study. This article hypothesizes various mechanisms of action and discusses the effects in terms of memory reconsolidation theory.

Using EMDR Therapy to Treat Clients Remotely

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-84
Author(s):  
Naomi Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Eye Movement ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Bilateral Stimulation ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Evidence Based Treatment ◽  
Case Examples ◽  
Supervision Practice ◽  
Emdr Therapy

During the COVID-19 pandemic, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapists have been faced with the choice of either abruptly terminating therapy with their clients or moving to working remotely, usually by videoconferencing. This poses particular challenges to therapists who may have never worked online. The standard EMDR protocol can be effectively delivered remotely when therapists are aware of how to make necessary adaptations. Based on clinical and supervision practice, this article describes ways in which EMDR therapists can adapt their ways of working in order to work effectively with clients remotely. This ensures that clients can still benefit from this effective and evidence-based treatment during a global health crisis. It suggests a number of ways in which bilateral stimulation can be achieved remotely, as well as discussing special considerations which arise with online therapeutic work. It considers adaptations which need to be made at each stage of EMDR therapy. It uses case examples from children and adults to illustrate how these adaptations work in real life. The case examples discussed in this article are illustrative of the techniques and adaptations necessary for remote EMDR and therefore reflect composites rather than individuals.

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