Standard protocol or EMD for complex clients in EMDR Therapy

When working with more complex clients you need to ensure you keep them within the window of tolerance when reprocessing their their early life abuse and/or neglect experiences. The Preparation Phase work tends to be extended with this population, meaning it could be months of regular appointments before the client is ready or able to go there. With sufficient stabilisation work done,you will have succeeded in widening the window of tolerance enough for the client to work on a recent past event, or present trigger, using EMD.

The EMD variation is the original form of EMDR Therapy. Here it can be used to achieve desensitization of a memory, or part of a memory, keeping your client contained and not going down any associative channels. Join Dr Michel Paterson OBE, EMDR Europe Accredited Senior Trainer, as he not only guides you in making the decision whether to use the standard protocol or use EMD, but explains how EMD is done.