Preparing for an EMDR intensive.
Setting yourself up for success
EMDR intensives are focused, long format sessions that can effectively address difficult traumatic experiences. While this can be powerful work, it is not easy, and requires a level of planning and preparation.
Discussing with your therapist
It’s important to have appropriate expectations and a general understanding about the process of EDMR intensives.
Mental & Emotional Readiness
Preparing your heart and body for this work can aid
Creating A Safe Container
Intensives can be particularly taxing. Planning for post-treatment care can help
Understanding the Process
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a protocoled modality. This means that there are specific steps that we will follow and phases involved in work.
The first phases involve getting clear on client goals, gathering important information, setting expectations for the process, and beginning to identify and map out the memory, or “target”, being addressed. In this preparatory phase, we will also check in with resources and use practices and techniques to support overall stabilization. Much of this early phase will be completed in the intake session.
The Reprocessing phase involves the active use of Bilateral Stimulation (BLS) while being in contact with the targeted memory. BLS helps facilitate desensitization to the target memory and bring down the emotional and physiological activation that accompanies the memory. We will also work on strengthening positive beliefs associated with the memory and check for lingering somatic symptoms.
Sessions are ended with a goal of returning to a state of calm, containing lingering or unfinished work, and creating a plan for follow up self-care or additional treatment sessions.