More on this book
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Read between
August 12, 2020 - December 31, 2021
the body that goes into action to heal a wound. When confronted with a trauma, the information processing system gets interrupted—like a blocked wound in the body—causing an ongoing array of PTSD symptoms. Just as the body is not able to heal a wound when there is debris in it, the brain often cannot process a trauma memory. In order for a wound to heal, we must clean it so the body can do its job.
They learn to feel what is true for them. During EMDR processing they sort through what others have told them about themselves, what they believe they should think or feel, and then arrive at what they feel to be true.
These networks are webs of associations radiating from key experiences called nodes.
Early abusive experiences are stored in the right hemisphere of the brain separately from the language centers of the left brain; the right side of the brain holds the negative affective states.
When a person experiences a trauma, the left anterior frontal lobe known as Broca’s area—the language part of the brain—is deactivated.
THE ESSENTIAL EMDR PROTOCOL Create safety Stimulate the memory network Add BLS and process End with safety CREATE SAFETY
(2001) is that it helps the therapist and client assess the validity of the PC. It serves
cognitions. What
Omit the NC if it causes an empathic break if clients struggle too much to find it if it takes too much time if it is not clinically appropriate if it is inappropriate for some children
Omit the PC and VoC if they will cause an empathic break if clients are struggling to find them if you are short on time if it will cause the client to intellectualize too much
if it causes clients to lose the charge if it is too confusing for clients if it is not helpful if clients are children Omit the SUDS if clients are clearly distressed if it will cause an empathic break if clients have told you in words that they are distressed if it t...
This highlight has been truncated due to consecutive passage length restrictions.
clients to close their eyes and go inside. Then I ask them what picture represents the worst part. Next I ask them what emotions they feel. Then I ask what they notice in their body.
For clients who tend to chain one memory to another, it can be helpful to tell them that they will process one memory and that it will have a beginning, a middle, and an end.
As you watch the movie you can remind yourself that it is just a movie.”
“Remember, you are safe in the present, processing old memories from the past.”
Why are the clients seeking treatment at this time?
How old were they when they experienced them? What happened? What was their response at the time? What was the system’s response? Were they soothed and taken care of,
Introducing it later to clients changes the therapeutic frame and can activate transference issues.
There are places where clients are stuck. Perhaps the clients have insight, but the emotions and behaviors have not changed, and the therapists and clients realize this. It can be helpful to bring this up with clients and then tell them that you have learned something new that you believe will help with these stuck places.
are enthusiastic and confident about EMDR. If the therapists introduce it reluctantly, with doubts, the clients will be less open to
“keep going” so that if therapists stop the BLS before the clients are ready, clients can signal to keep going without being disrupted.
In EMDR clients have to learn to process their memories at a pace they can tolerate so they will not feel overwhelmed and revictimized.
Adjunctive EMDR works best if: the work is time limited, focused on a specific trauma or symptom; the primary therapist and EMDR therapist know each other and work well together; the client has good ego strength; the client is not borderline or attachment disordered.
Spending more time in the development and installation of inner resources increases the success rate with traumatized clients and decreases the chances of retraumatizing them.
substitute the words comfortable or peaceful instead.
Shapiro (2001) recommends the use of a cue word with the installation of the safe place. For example if the clients’ safe place is a beach,
GUIDED RELAXATION TO SAFE PLACE Have clients sit in a comfortable relaxed manner with the legs uncrossed and the hands gently resting on their knees. Let them know that you will be doing a guided imagery and that when the image and feeling are strong, you will do some BLS to make them even stronger. Ask them to close their eyes and take a deep breath. Tell them that they are going to go down a flight of 10 steps, and at the bottom they will find a place where they feel totally safe and protected.
Safe place:stairs script
each step they take down, they will feel more and more relaxed, letting go of all tension. The therapist counts down one step at a time, with suggestions about the clients getting more relaxed, tension melting away, and so on. When the clients get to the bottom of the stairway, you instruct them to go and find their safe place, a place where they feel totally safe and protected. It can be a real or imagined place. You can help them to increase the intensity of the experience, making it more vivid for them by asking them to notice what they see, hear, feel, smell, and taste. You want to be sure
...more
This highlight has been truncated due to consecutive passage length restrictions.
comfortable, peaceful, or relaxing can be substituted for the word safe.
I began to inquire about activities he enjoyed, things that helped him feel calm, whole, and good.
Schmidt (2002) recommended installing a nurturing adult self for clients who have unmet developmental needs.
You can then begin a dialogue between the adult and child selves to evaluate the nature of their relationship. Generally the clients keep their eyes closed
Clients can also process and strengthen spiritual experiences.
The inner adviser or wise self is an aspect of the ego that represents wisdom and offers a balanced perspective (Rossman, 1987). It can be
As you relax in your safe place, invite your inner adviser to join you in this special place…just allow an image to form that represents your inner adviser, a wise, kind, loving figure who knows you well…. Let it appear in any way that comes and accept it as it is…. It may come in many forms—man, woman, animal, friend, someone you know, or a character from a movie or book. Accept your adviser as it appears, as long as it seems wise, kind, loving, and compassionate…you will be able to sense its caring for you and its wisdom…. Invite it to be comfortable there with you, and ask it its name….
...more
point begin the BLS. Do short sets and check-ins to see how the client is doing. If it continues positive, do longer sets. When you are ready tell it about your problem…ask any questions you have concerning this situation…now listen carefully to the response of (name of adviser/advisers)…. You may imagine (name of adviser/advisers) talking with you or you may simply have a direct sense of its message in some other way…. Allow it to communicate in whatever way seems natural…. If you are uncertain about the meaning of the advice or if there are other questions you want to ask, continue the
...more
Script for Meeting Inner Strength I would like to invite you to take a journey within yourself to a place that feels like the very center of your being, that place where it is very quiet…and peaceful…and still. And when you’re in that place…it’s possible for
yourself…a part that I will refer to as your inner strength. This is a part of yourself that has always been there since the moment of birth…even though at times it may be difficult for you to feel…and it is with you now. It’s that part of yourself that has allowed you to survive…and to overcome obstacles wherever you face them. Maybe you’d like to take a few moments of time to get in touch with that part of yourself…and you can notice what images…or feelings…what thoughts…what bodily sensations are associated with being in touch with your inner strength. And when those images or thoughts or
...more
Clients can be asked to imagine a positive goal state or future self
Positive experiences the client brings into session from their week can be installed. These can include their success at handling triggers, tolerating distress, and being assertive. As
as they
RESOURCE INSTALLATION FOCUSING ON A CHALLENGING CURRENT LIFE SITUATION, BLOCKING BELIEF, OR MALADAPTIVE SCHEMA
1. Therapists can begin the identification of the needed resource by asking clients to focus on a current life situation that is difficult for them, a blocking belief, or a life issue. 2. Next the therapists ask the clients what quality or qualities they would need to better deal with the situation, belief, or issue.
Explore with the clients times when they had that quality or qualities. If they cannot think of one, they can think of someone else dealing effectively with this type of situation. The person could be someone they know personally, someone from a movie, TV, book, history, or religious figure, or anyone else. It could even be a symbolic representation of this resource. 3. Next ask the clients to describe the images or memories they have chosen in more detail. Have the clients provide sensory detail: What do they see, hear, feel, smell, or taste? What emotions do they feel and what do they feel
...more
is used (6 to 10 passes or taps are used initially). Watch the clients for changes. If they look distressed, stop immediately. Otherwise, after the set ask them what comes up for them. If they report that the positive feelings have gotten stronger, continue for 2 to 3 sets of BLS. Stop the BLS when you feel that the resource has been strengthened. If the processing has become negative, stop immediately and consider choosing another resource. 6. You can repeat this process for many different qualities the clients...
This highlight has been truncated due to consecutive passage length restrictions.
GROUNDED BREATHING SCRIPT Find a comfortable way to sit so that your back is straight but relaxed and your feet are uncrossed and resting on the floor. You may also sit cross-legged if you wish. Close your eyes and be aware of how your body feels. Notice the places of contact…your bottom on the seat and your feet on the floor. Be aware of your breathing. Where do you feel it? What is its rhythm? Now imagine that as you inhale a deep full breath, you are taking the air from deep within the earth. This breath comes up through your legs and fills your belly…then your chest…and now your throat.
...more
body. If your mind wanders away, gently bring it back to the breathing. Smooth and gentle. Be present. The goal is attained moment to moment.
This simple reporting without interpretation or discussion seems to aid clients in disidentifying with the psychological
pendulation in which clients bridge with their awareness back and forth between areas of discomfort and places of relative expansion in the body.
“Bring up an image of a container that is large enough to hold every disturbing thing, but do not focus on any particular thing or image. Be sure it has a lid that is secure. You can label the container. Imagine a valve on it that allows you to take out what you want and to put in what you want a little at a time. It can be opened only when it will serve your healing. If you want, you can arrange for a place to store the container. Make sure no part of you is in the container. Then imagine these things passing into the container. Now seal the container.” The imagery can be installed with short
...more
Container exercise
