EMDR Therapy and the Treatment of Complex PTSD in Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse and Neglect

* Please note, this course is designed for therapists who have begun or completed an EMDR basic training program. It is appropriate for EMDR therapists at all levels of experience - from senior EMDR consultants to those who have been trained more recently. At least some previous clinical experience with EMDR therapy is a prerequisite.

EMDR therapy with survivors of childhood abuse and neglect can be extremely rewarding yet, at the same time, quite challenging. It demands a robust set of clinical skills and a solid conceptual framework to guide moment-to-moment decision-making. In recognition of clients’ limited affect tolerance, rigid defenses, overdeveloped avoidance patterns, and extreme emotional dysregulation, it also requires strategies for modifying and supplementing standard EMDR protocols. “Staying out of the way” is typically not an option as these clients often need significant relational support, assistance with emotional and somatic regulation, and active interweaves to facilitate effective trauma processing.

In this workshop, we will begin by examining the impact of early neglect, abuse, and attachment disruption on the development, functioning, and identity of the individual. We will then introduce various clinical “maps” to guide assessment, case conceptualization, and treatment planning. We will review the range of dissociative presentations associated with complex and prolonged trauma and will highlight the kinds of phobias and ego state conflicts that require attention early in treatment.

We’ll discuss the role of EMDR Resource Development and Installation (RDI), the importance of the therapeutic relationship, and the modulation of hyper- and hypo-arousal in EMDR trauma processing. We'll also review strategies for helping clients decrease dissociation and maladaptive defenses, allowing them to access and transform their core affects and beliefs. Significant time will be devoted to identifying common blocking beliefs and delineating different types of interweaves, each with their own functions and goals. Through watching numerous excerpts from videotapes of clinical sessions, participants will have the opportunity to see how the proposed treatment “maps” can be used to guide decision-making and how interweaves can be used with precision to deepen processing and accelerate developmental repair.