One suicide death exposes many people to a potentially traumatizing experience and increases their risk of dying by suicide and other mental health outcomes. Innovations in EMDR early intervention are research-validated for the reduction of a range of trauma symptoms. This presentation describes the use of early EMDR intervention for suicide loss survivors in groups and individually. Cases of longer-term treatment will be discussed as postvention. EMDR practitioners will learn best practices in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention so that practitioners can serve the unique needs of loss survivors with all that EMDR has to offer. Learning Objectives Participants will…
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This training will provide a deeper understanding of what it means to center Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility (DEIJA) in your EMDR therapy practice. Throughout the training, participants will not only be provided with practical suggestions related to implementing DEIJA principles but will also be invited to develop a plan of action with measurable goals and community accountability considerations. Explore potential barriers to effective EMDR therapy when considering the impacts of oppression, exclusion, targeted identities, and other adverse life experiences. Examine these barriers holistically to understand better their impact on clinical outcomes, EMDR therapy training, consultation, professional satisfaction, and…
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Addiction is a complex issue with both individual and systemic roots. When considering the use of EMDR therapy with individuals who struggle with compulsive behaviors or substance abuse the question most frequently asked is “Can I use EMDR therapy with this client?” The answer is not simple as it is grounded in a personalized case conceptualization process that carefully considers each client. And because these individuals may interface with various treatment settings—ranging from short-term inpatient, residential, outpatient, and environments linked to the legal system—the case conceptualization process also must include the limitations, realities or norms of each setting. The presentation…
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There is an increasing awareness of the critical need to understand culture and societal context within trauma intervention. Therapists are challenged to develop new skills that enhance and refine EMDR case conceptualization and treatment approaches. This presentation offers an array of conceptual and practical considerations so therapists can lean into this work with greater confidence. While maintaining curiosity and humility, EMDR therapists can help guide powerful clinical experiences. The term culturally based trauma and adversity (CBTA) is introduced to distinguish nuances of trauma in which social, cultural, or societal circumstances are a primary or secondary contributor to a client’s presenting…
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Standard Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) protocols for the treatment of anxiety will be presented within the context of the Adaptive Information Processing model (AIP). The primary focus will be on the treatment of anxiety, general anxiety disorder, panic disorder and phobias, based on clinical research and practice. Lean how to integrate anxiety disorder treatments such as interoceptive exposure, psychoeducation, mindfulness, relaxation training, breathing retraining, cognitive techniques, adaptive information processing, and exposure and response prevention with this population. This treatment also integrates the use of future template and behavioral feedback for success in reducing anxiety symptoms. Case examples will…
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Two questions have driven my orientation to therapy: “How does our nature work, and how can we best work with that nature?” This has led me to find ways of working that align with the organic movement and integration of people’s mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual natures. This alignment gives therapists confidence to be in “not knowing” and fully engage emerging dynamics to truly “trust the process.” The observation that we all have a natural drive toward completion and resolution is foundational for effectively working with “process.” Activation into states of overwhelm can exceed ’clients’ resilience and compromise this natural…
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This keynote address will develop a model of a liberatory, intersectional, trauma-informed practice of care for the therapist’s self. Explore the corporatization of this construct and ways in which therapists can take it back from those who have turned it into a cliche and transform self-care into an integral component of our work as trauma healers. Learning Objectives Participants will be able to identify differences between corporatized models of self-care and those emerging from a liberatory model of trauma healing. Participants will be able to identify personal obstacles to self-care arising from internalized and systemic external structures of oppression. Participants…
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Recent mass shootings, acts of terrorism, and war often have a profound and lasting impact on those involved, leaving behind traumatic symptoms that persist for years. This workshop delves into the importance of early intervention, aiming to mitigate the consolidation of traumatic memories and minimize the long-lasting effects. Focusing on a review of the Recent Traumatic Events Protocol and EMD protocols, this workshop will guide participants through stabilizing the initial traumatic reaction and maintaining stability throughout the desensitization phase. Participants will learn to maintain arousal within the window of tolerance by employing telescopic processing. Additionally, specific somatic closure techniques and…
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November 6 - November 14