A Therapist's Guide to EMDR: Tools and Techniques for Successful Treatment

by Laurel Parnell

BRIDGING FROM PHYSICAL SENSATIONS Sometimes clients present with physical symptoms that appear to be body memories or have a psychological origin. When clients have somatic experiences that are distressing to them in some way, you can use the body’s experience as the entryway into the processing. You can ask the clients to focus directly on the physical sensations, then ask for the emotions, body sensations, and NCs, and then process. But, in my experience, it is preferable to bridge back and find specific memories associated with the symptoms. It is also easier on the clients as it produces fewer surprises that can be upsetting. In addition, it is much easier to contain a specific memory than an entire network of associations that can be activated if you go in on body sensations that have multiple contributors. Ask clients to close their eyes and bring their attention to the body sensation. As they feel the sensation, what emotions come up for them? What do they believe about themselves now? “Trace it back in time. Let whatever comes up for you come up without censoring it.”