EMDR & Dissociation: Learning from the Past, Looking to the Future

Abstract
Early in the development of EMDR therapy, some clinicians observed that reprocessing more often moved clients presenting with dissociative disorders into dysregulated states rather than toward an expected, adaptive resolution. Neuroscience research has since provided biological evidence for dissociation, in areas of the brain also shown to be related to the mechanisms of EMDR therapy.

In recent years, EMDR therapists and trainers have become more broadly aware of the incidence and significance of complex trauma and dissociation. With this shift, many have delved deeper into the dissociative disorders literatures, strived to utilize screening and assessment tools more effectively, and grown increasingly interested to integrate their learnings to reinforce foundational learning and improve treatment outcomes. Current research will inform this discussion, exploring the different frameworks for understanding dissociation, the importance of diagnostic evaluation in Phase I: History Taking, and conceptualization and treatment of dissociative presentations within an EMDR therapy frame. 

Present-day EMDR therapy practice with dissociative individuals reflects importation from other techniques, methods, and therapies, resulting both in modifications to traditional EMDR therapy approaches and the development of new, hybridized interventions to ensure safe treatment of clients with dissociative symptoms. However, most of this integration has been unidirectional, seemingly in service of an attempt to treat complex trauma and dissociative disorders solely within an EMDR therapy paradigm. This approach appears to be dissociated from a number of complicating factors that will be explored. Integration that is bi-directional or integrating EMDR therapy into modalities more suited for comprehensive treatment of dissociative disorders has been recommended since 1995 and the first publication of the EMDR Dissociative Disorders Task Force Recommended Guidelines, which is printed in each following iteration of Francine Shapiro’s textbook.

The future of EMDR therapy used to treat dissociation depends on clinicians and trainers integrating a comprehensive standard of care with nuanced conceptual, theoretical, and practical treatment considerations. This workshop will conclude with a discussion of clinician and training factors which may inform the future of EMDR therapy and dissociation. (Please note that this workshop presumes that attendees have completed EMDR therapy training and are familiar with basic concepts related to dissociation and the dissociative disorders).

This session was originally presented as a live conference session in April 2022.

Target Audience

Advanced

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  • Explain why EMDR therapy may operate differently in the brain experiences of persons experiencing dissociative symptoms and dissociative disorders
  • Explain why the associations that normally occur in EMDR therapy may be destabilizing to persons who experience dissociation of the personality
  • Analyze established modifications to standard EMDR therapy for application in the treatment of persons with dissociative symptoms and disorders
  • Describe the rationale for utilizing EMDR therapy within a broader treatment frame that is more suited for comprehensive conceptualization and treatment of dissociation
  • Identify three therapist and training factors which support effective conceptualization and treatment of dissociation and the dissociative disorders
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.50 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.
Course opens: 
11/30/2022
Course expires: 
12/31/2050
ISSTD Member cost:
$0.00
Part of: 
Bonus Content
Rating: 
0
Presenter: Jennifer Madere, MA, LPC-S, EMDRIA AC/AT
Presenter Bio: Jennifer Madere is a LPC-Supervisor, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, and Approved Training Provider in private practice. She is a founding partner of Intuitus Group in Cedar Park, Texas. She has accompanied child and adult survivors of trauma on their journey of healing and recovery in psychotherapy since 2003. Jennifer supervises graduate and post-graduate clinicians, and consults and conducts training related to treatment of complex trauma, pathological dissociation, and EMDR therapy. Jennifer also trains fellow clinicians in the ethical integration of faith and spirituality in clinical practice. In addition to numerous professional presentations in local, national, and international conferences, Jennifer is the published author of several scholarly works on the topics of consultation and screening and assessment for dissociative disorders. Her other professional work includes collaborating with D. Michael Coy, LICSW, and Paul Dell, PhD to update the interpretive manual and associated documents for the Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation, and make the MID documents and training accessible to clinicians and researchers world-wide. Visit the MID website to learn more. Professional organizations: International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation - Jennifer currently serves as co-chair of the EMDR Therapy Training Committee of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, and is one of the lead developers and trainers for this program. As of 2021, Jennifer is recognized as a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. EMDR International Association – Jennifer is an active member, an EMDRIA approved provider of EMDR therapy training, and currently serves on the EMDRIA Council of Scholars in the Training and Accreditation/Certification Group. Catholic Psychotherapy Association – Jennifer has served on the CPA Board of Directors from 2018-2021 in the capacities of conference chair, membership chair, and board president (2020).
 
Presenter: D. Michael Coy, MA, LICSW
Presenter Bio: D. Michael Coy, MA, LICSW, (he/they) is a clinical social worker and maintains a private practice in Bremerton, Washington, USA. Psychodynamically grounded, Michael integrates EMDR therapy with additional training in clinical hypnosis, Ego State Therapy, and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. Michael is an EMDR Certified Approved Consultant through the EMDR International Association and served on EMDRIA's Standards & Training committee from 2014 to 2017. From 2017-2020, Michael co-chaired the ISSTD EMDR Therapy Training Task Group, which created ISSTD's EMDR therapy 'basic' training. He now co-chairs the EMDR Therapy Training Committee and co-teaches the training. Since 2016, Michael has collaborated with Jennifer Madere and Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation developer Paul F. Dell to make the MID more accessible. He co-authored the MID Interpretive Manual, 3rd Edition, and manages the MID Analysis and MID website. Since 2017, Jennifer and Michael have taught hundreds of clinicians how to employ the MID, both in the US and internationally. More recently, Michael has presented original material, in the form of the EMDR Introject Decathexis (Id) Protocol, to unbind perpetrator parts from their traumatic wounding and harmful behaviors, as well as a framework for recognizing, contextualizing, and resolving clients' dissociated memory material communicated non-verbally through dissociative attunement. He also provides consultation on the use of the MID and clinical practice with complex clients more generally, as well as O'Shea and Paulsen's Early Trauma Approach, in individual and group formats. Michael has been a member of the ISSTD Board of Directors since 2019, and became Treasurer in 2018, a role in which he continues to serve.
 
 

Available Credit

  • 1.50 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.

Price

ISSTD Member cost:
$0.00
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"Your Price" above reflects your final price based on your membership status and career level. 

  • ISSTD defines a student as those enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree or certification in the mental health field and who have an interest in trauma and dissociation. 
  • ISSTD defines an emerging professional as mental health professionals who have completed an advanced degree and are in the first three years of their career (or first three years after graduation for researchers).
  • If you do not fall into one of the above categories please register as Professional/Retired. 

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