You Know It Ain’t Easy: Phases 1 and 2 Another Look

When we are first trained in EMDR therapy, we have a great deal of material that we are trying to comprehend and be able to begin to use. Phases 1 and 2 may appear very simple and not in need of much explantion. Often, since practicum is done with a truncated Phase 1 and 2, participants can be confused on how to actually do those phases well with real clients. However, we have found in our work with consultees that there is often a need for a stronger conceptualization of their clients in order to do effective work. Unfotunately, many people have not received the training necessary on how to conceptualize clients via AIP, especially with complex cases. Once we begin to put these phases into practice, many questions arise. How do I do a trauma informed intake? How do I do an EMDR treatment plan? How do I know where to begin or what target to do first? How do I do a good Phase 2? Once I have finished Phase 2, can I ever come back to it? All of these questions and more will be answered in this workshop, including tools using Polyvagal theory to help our clients stay within their window of tolerance and ways to recognize dissociation.

Learning objectives:

1. Recognize and apply three ways to conduct a trauma informed intake.
2. Recognize and apply three ways to create an AIP informed treatment plan and determine an appropriate client-centered target selection.
3. Identify three ways to screen for dissociation and be able to recognize when clients are out of their window of tolerance using Polyvagal theory.
4. Recognize and name three strategises to determine when it is approprite to return to Phase 2 for more resourcing.

Percentage of EMDR Content: 100%