looking at trauma and anxiety through€¦ · shapiro f. getting past your past: take control of...
TRANSCRIPT
Looking at Trauma and Anxiety through the EMDR Framework
Tonya White, LMHCEMDR Trained TherapistExpressive Arts Therapist
Amherst, [email protected]
What is EMDR?
Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
A structured treatment protocol used to alleviate stress of traumatic memories.
What is EMDR?
Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
The original bilateral stimulation
Now we use many kinds, including:
Eye-Movements, Tapping, Buzzers, Headphones
What is EMDR?
Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
Participants experience a decrease in the level of distress experienced when recalling the memories that are targeted in the procedure.
What is EMDR?
Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
Participants identify their negative cognition (thought) related to the memory and choose a new positive cognition (thought) they would prefer to believe.
The 8-Phase Protocol
1. History2. Preparation 3. Assessment 4. Desensitization 5. Installation 6. Body Scan7. Closure8. Reevaluation
Example:1. History: Bullying in School
Example:2. Preparation
a. Educationb. Safe Space/Container
Example:3. Assessment
a. Target Memory: 4th grade when another kid picked on me in front of the class. b. Negative Cognition: “I am unlovable.”c. Positive Cognition: “I am lovable.” d. Body Sensations/Emotions: Client feels tight chest, heart racing, feels scared and sad.
Example:3. Assessment
a. Target Memory: 4th grade when another kid picked on me in front of the class. b. Negative Cognition: “I am unlovable.”c. Positive Cognition: “I am lovable.” d. Body Sensations/Emotions: Client feels tight chest, heart racing, feels scared and sad.
Example:3. Assessment
a. Target Memory: 4th grade when another kid picked on me in front of the class. b. Negative Cognition: “I am unlovable.”c. Positive Cognition: “I am lovable.” d. Body Sensations/Emotions: Client feels tight chest, heart racing, feels scared and sad.
Example:3. Assessment
a. Target Memory: 4th grade when another kid picked on me in front of the class. b. Negative Cognition: “I am unlovable.”c. Positive Cognition: “I am lovable.” d. Body Sensations/Emotions: Client feels tight chest, heart racing, feels scared and sad.
Example:4. Desensitization (Bilateral Stimulation):
Memories, Thoughts, Images, Body Sensations, etc.
“That kid was just trying to show off in class, their opinion of me is not more important that all of the people who have loved me. I also think that there are some pretty great things about me that make me lovable.”
Example:
5. Installation (Positive Cognition)
“I am lovable”
Example:
6. Body Scan
Example:7. Closure
a. Debriefb. Safe Space/Container
Example:
8. Reevaluation:
How does the target memory feel now?
Does “I am loveable” still feel true?
What about related memories? Current situations?
Let’s target these memories that are still distressing...
Imagine...
What is Trauma?
Sometimes experiences are too intense or too shocking for our brains to process.
This is why those memories, or experiences that remind us of them, can be so triggering -- because our brains still haven’t made peace with them and let go.
What is Trauma?
“Big T” “Small t”
Trauma & Anxiety
Anxiety exists so that we can prepare for and respond to actual threats.
Anxiety becomes problematic when it is overworking.
Thoughts & Beliefs:“Something wrong with me,” “I don’t have control,” or “The world is not safe.”
Stored in the body.
What could make EMDR a good fit for ASD?
More flexibility to work non-verbally
Structured ways of developing skills in verbalizing emotions
Sensory (Bilateral Stimulation)
Addresses memories - ASD can have vivid memory recall
Client directed - therapist does not try to change client's beliefs, client chooses what they would like to believe
More internal process vs. conversational
Possible Adaptations
More practice verbalizing emotions and experiences
Sensory adaptations
Visual resources to understand process
More emphasis on positive resourcing to develop emotional regulation skills
Extra practice shifting focus between positive and negative stimuli
ResourcesShapiro F. Getting past your past: take control of your life with self-help techniques from EMDR therapy. New York: Rodale Books; 2012. [Google Scholar]
F. Shapiro (2001). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, basic principles, protocols and procedures (2nd ed.). New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing in a Patient With Asperger’s Disorder: Case Report | Springer Publishing https://connect.springerpub.com/content/sgremdr/8/1/13
Episode 1 – Trauma, EMDR Therapy, and Asperger’s Syndromeby Bud Clayman & Laura Farrell | Mental Health Interviews, Mental Health Podcasthttps://oc87recoverydiaries.org/mental-health-podcast-1/
Ella Lobregt-van Buuren at the Dutch EMDR Conference 2017, talking about a recent research project on adults with autism and PTSD.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QabSzGbN-7E
How to Find an EMDR Therapist?EMDRIA https://www.emdria.org/page/findatherapistmain/Find-an-EMDR-Therapist-Directory.htm
Psychology Todayhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us
EMDR Institute, Inc. http://www.emdr.com/SEARCH/
EMDR Therapist Networkhttps://www.emdrtherapistnetwork.com/find-an-emdr-therapist.html