History & Development
Who developed EMDR therapy?
Francine Shapiro
What is the first phase of EMDR therapy?
History Taking
True or False: Bilateral stimulation must always be done with eye movements.
False
What model is used in EMDR to guide treatment planning?
Three-Pronged Protocol: past, present, future
What is a common sign that a client is dissociating during reprocessing?
Blank stare, zoning out, no affect
In what year did Francine Shapiro first notice the desensitizing effect of eye movements?
1987
In which phase is the SUD (Subjective Units of Distress) scale first introduced?
Phase Three - Assessment
What might you do if BLS seems to be too activating for a client?
Slow down, reduce the intensity, and/or switch modality
What kind of memory networks does EMDR target?
Maladaptively memory networks
What could you do if a client says “nothing is coming up” during reprocessing?
Pause and check for emotional or physical sensations, use gentle prompts or floatback, and consider if a cognitive interweave or resourcing is needed.
What does EMDR stand for? (Write it on the Whiteboard)
(Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
What is the purpose of Phase 2?
Establish safety, build rapport, teach resourcing
How do you determine the ideal speed and length of BLS sets for a client during reprocessing?
By observing the client’s responses—
BLS should be fast enough to maintain dual attention but not so fast it overwhelms.
What does the "floatback" technique help identify?
Earlier memories related to the present issue
True or False: You should use cognitive interweaves frequently throughout reprocessing.
False
EMDR is based on which theoretical model?
Adaptive Information Processing - AIP
Which phase includes installation of a positive cognition?
Phase 5 - Installation
What’s one way to modify BLS for a client with a traumatic brain injury, seizure history, or extreme sensitivity to stimulation?
Use slower, shorter, or more gentler BLS (e.g., light tapping, reduced volume tones)
Name two types of targets that might be processed in EMDR
Past trauma, current triggers, future fears
Name three types of cognitive interweaves and when each might be used.
Psychoeducational – when the client lacks understanding (e.g., “You were a child; you couldn’t have protected yourself.”)
Empathic – when the client needs compassion or permission (e.g., “What would you say to someone else who went through that?”)
Logical – when the client is stuck in irrational beliefs (e.g., “Does that belief fit with what you know now?”)
What early psychological theory influenced the development of the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model used in EMDR, particularly the idea that unprocessed trauma leads to dysfunction?
Psychodynamic theory
What phase(s) are designed to be repeated?
Phase 7 - Closure & Phase 8 - Reevaluation
What does “dual attention” refer to in EMDR?
Client attends to both the memory and the external BLS)
What is the significance of identifying “touchstone memories” in EMDR therapy?
Touchstone memories are the earliest or most significant memories related to a core negative belief.
Processing them can lead to more global symptom relief and resolution of multiple present-day triggers.
What would you do if a client has strong resistance to processing a specific memory due to fear of the emotional impact?
You could use a gentle interweave that addresses their fears, such as,
“What would it feel like to be able to process this memory without being overwhelmed?”
You might also use the future template to help them see how processing the memory could positively affect their future.