Clients who have experienced traumatic events and seek EMDR therapists
rely on them as guides through their most vulnerable moments. Trauma
leaves an imprint on the body, and if clinicians don't know how to stay
embodied in the midst of these powerful relational moments, they risk
shutting down with their clients or becoming overwhelmed by the process.
If the body is not integrated into EMDR therapy, full and effective
trauma treatment is unlikely.
This book offers an integrative model of treatment that teaches
therapists how to increase the client's capacity to sense and feel the
body, helps the client work through traumatic memories in a safe and
regulated manner, and facilitates lasting integration.
Part I (foundational concepts) offers a broad discussion of theory and
science related to trauma treatment. Readers will be introduced to
essential components of EMDR therapy and somatic psychology. The
discussion then deepens into the science of embodiment through the lens
of research on emotion, memory, attachment, interpersonal neurobiology,
and the impact of trauma on overall health. This part of the book
emphasizes the principles of successful trauma treatment as
phase-oriented, mindfulness-based, noninterpretive, experiential,
relational, regulation focused, and resilience-informed.
Part II (interventions) presents advanced scripted protocols that can be
integrated into the eight phases of EMDR therapy. These interventions
provide support for therapists and clients who want to build somatic
awareness through experiential explorations that incorporate mindfulness
of sensations, movement impulses, breath, and boundaries.
Other topics discussed include a focus on complex PTSD and attachment
trauma, which addresses topics such as working with preverbal memories,
identifying ego states, and regulating dissociation; chronic pain or
illness; and culturally-based traumatic events. Also included is a
focused model of embodied self-care to prevent compassion fatigue and
burnout.
