The emergence of any new method affords the opportunity to look outside existing paradigms and learn new therapeutic tools. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) emerged a little over 30 years ago and is now an accepted therapy for PTSD and potentially a range of other problems. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) has been and remains the ‘gold standard’ of psychological treatment for some 60 years. Although EMDR incorporates elements of traditional approaches (e.g., attention to cognitive processes, exposure, mindfulness, psychodynamic elements) the method rests on a different paradigm – Adaptive Information Processing (AIP model) and utilizes different procedures; e.g., dual attention/bilateral stimulation (BLS). Like other new modalities, EMDR offers opportunities for enhancing therapeutic practice. For example, EMDR emphasizes past events as the primary cause of present problems. While not a new idea, when coupled with identifying and processing the precipitating memory it can provide a quick path to resolution compared with symptom-focused approaches. Associated with this EMDR offers a doorway to learning about trauma including the understanding the difference between PTSD and C-PTSD, dissociation, ego-stages and somatization. EMDR also emphasizes the inherent resources of the patient and seeks to catalyze these with minimal input from the therapist e.g., developing new associations and cognitions based on the effects of dual attention/BLS.
Finally, reflecting its transtherapeutic origins, EMDR is an integrative approach – easily coupled with CBT, ACT, psychodynamic approaches and even hypnosis. In this workshop you will learn 3 strategies derived from EMDR which can enhance your therapeutic practice regardless of whether or not you are EMDR trained. I will demonstrate these strategies and then give participants an opportunity to practice these them. The goal is to develop some insight regarding the most useful elements of EMDR and practical skills which can be incorporated with your existing practices. Participants should bring a set of ear buds and a mobile phone.