After many early cautions about the potential dangers of using EMDR with individuals suffering from dissociative disorders, limited proposals have been offered for adapting EMDR procedures to this specific population. Based on these early cautions, EMDR is still considered by many clinicians as offering interventions that are limited to the treatment of traumatic memories in high functioning dissociative clients and only after a long preparation phase that depends on other treatment modalities. From this conceptualization, the use of EMDR is strongly limited and many survivors of severe traumatization are seen as unable to benefit from EMDR, if at all, only much later in the treatment process.

In this workshop, clinical case examples and video fragments will be used to illustrate interventions with EMDR for dissociative clients following the “Progressive Approach” (Gonzalez & Mosquera, 2012).  Using this model, this workshop will demonstrate how EMDR clinicians can safely utilize a wide range of EMDR interventions from early in the preparatory phase of treatment for patents with dissociative disorders.  Our aim is to provide a comprehensive model for applying EMDR therapy in the treatment of dissociative disorders, extending the AIP model to address the kinds of dysfunctionally stored information found in those with the most severe forms of traumatization and dissociative phobias.  EMDR therapists will learn to integrate new interventions into their clinical work at different phases of treatment.  In particular, they will learn to implement specific clinical interventions, based on ‘progressive protocols’ for dissociative disorders.

EMDR and dissociation. An extended AIP model.

Dissociative phobias: the maintenance of dissociation. How to identify dissociative phobias and work with them in different phases.

Empowering the client: working through the Adult Self with EMDR Therapy.

How to explore the internal system safely in Dissociative Disorders: adaptations and tools.

The Tip of the Finger Strategy and other tools to process trauma gradually and safely.

Learning objectives:

Participants will learn a comprehensive model to approach dissociative clients from the EMDR perspective and the AIP model.

Participants will learn EMDR procedures for dissociative clients, all along the different phases of treatment.

Participants will be able to identify dissociative phobias and how to work with them.

Participants will learn how to explore the internal system safely in complex trauma cases and how to proceed with different presentations.

Illustrate the procedures explained in the book “EMDR and Dissociation: the progressive approach” with clinical examples and video fragments so EMDR therapists can understand when, where and how to apply these procedures in their clinical practice.

Participants will be able to identify subtle dissociative signals and adapt the pacing to needs of each case.