Preparing Dysregulated, Dissociative, Attachment-Wounded Clients for EMDR

Dysregulated, dissociative, attachment-wounded clients need careful preparation to ensure the best possible EMDR outcomes. This workshop will introduce a collection of ego state therapy interventions, from the Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy (DNMS), for stabilizing these clients. It will demonstrate how to mobilize loving, attuned, vetted, internal Resources. It will describe ways to talk directly to triggered wounded child parts—to welcome them, get their story, orient them to present time, and reassure them that their perception of “reliving” an old trauma is just a harmless recording playing back. It will demonstrate how to get wounded child parts in a dialogue with Resources who are able to help them feel safe while meeting their emotional needs. When these interventions are provided together, in the right order, they stabilize wounded child parts—bringing them out of trance and into the safety of the present. As more and more wounded parts are stabilized this way, triggering episodes happen less often. When they do happen, they’re less intense and resolve more quickly. Over time, dissociative clients develop the emotion management skills needed for EMDR success.

Learning objectives:
1. Participants will be able to describe how childhood trauma and attachment wounds affect the development of foundational stability and the emotion regulation skills clients need before beginning EMDR.
2. Participants will be able to describe how to guide clients to mobilize a team of vetted Resources.
3. Participants will be able to describe ego state therapy interventions for stabilizing wounded child parts.

Percentage of EMDR Content: 50%