Historically thorough and culturally sensitive case conceptualization has been shown to increase the effectiveness of EMDR therapy. Case conceptualization within EMDR therapy incorporates diagnostic theory and clinical intervention to help uncover the roots of traumatic distress and empower the client in their embodiment of state and trait change. While there are modality-specific case conceptualization approaches that can support the process of EMDR therapy, EMDR clinicians are still in need of a case conceptualization approach that integrates neurodevelopmental and attachment theory, somatic psychology, and the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model. Somatic Integration and Processing (SIP) is designed to embrace and support the client in their distress, uncover the psychodynamic and somatic origins of their presentation, and empower authentic state and trait change that fosters transformational change. This presentation will introduce participants to the basics of SIP through didactic teaching, a case study, and workshop application.

How often do you have a client who appears to have made progress in processing a target, but the SUDS will not go below a 3? What about clients who appear to be disturbed but report a SUDS of 0. As simple a scale as SUDS appears to be, in many cases clients become confused and report a level of disturbance that is not accurate, causing EMDR processing to be needlessly extended or conversely prematurely terminated. The actual meaning of “distress” in SUDS is not as clear as it seems. In this presentation, common situations will be illustrated through clinical videos, and simple solutions will be offered. If this phenomenon arises for you, this presentation will make you a more efficient and effective EMDR therapist.

Attachment trauma and wounding have a profound impact on the clinical presentation of clients as well as their ability to process trauma targets with EMDR therapy. In this session, we will review the basics of attachment trauma and wounding, discuss clinical presentations of these, as well as discuss how to modify our treatment with these individuals in EMDR Phases 1-8. You will walk away with a deeper knowledge of attachment and its impact on the clinical population, as well as skills and modifications to take these individuals through EMDR Phases 1-8. The emphasis of this presentation will be on clinical presentation and intervention.

Globalization and the omnipresence of social media have increased client exposure to domestic and international crises, from war and political extremism to climate change and pandemics. EMDR is well suited to identify and address the emotional triggers, both past and present, of these events. However, many of these crises bring up existential traumas that clients and clinicians might not be fluent in processing, including questions about morality, mortality, the unknown, and how to come together as interconnected people with a shared humanity. This presentation will help fill the EMDR clinician’s tool chest of interweaves that are specifically aimed at existential-based traumas, drawing from spirituality, religion, philosophy, art, music and literature. The most recent neuroscience about spirituality as a protective factor in crises will be reviewed.

Screening for dissociative symptoms is essential prior to engaging in desensitization and/or reprocessing. Some clinicians find their use of the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) and other tools to be “clunky” or ineffective and may miss the point of the screening process or report that it detracts from the the client’s treatment needs. Available screening and assessment tools will be discussed to support participants in assessing the best fit for each setting, expertise, presenting issue, the person’s known history of symptoms and treatment, and the scope or duration of treatment the client is explicitly seeking. When the ‘right-sized’ tool is selected, appropriate implementation is the next step. Tips to using screening tools most effectively and efficiently alongside information gathered from the client and/or collateral contacts. Participants will be guided to refine and deepen their skills in choosing the best available tool and determining levels of readiness for EMDR therapy.

This presentation will help learners understand mental health challenges experienced by military members and veterans. Mental health professionals have sometimes focused on PTSD, while ignoring other possibilities, such as Moral Injury. Pastoral counselors have sometimes focused on Moral Injury, but ignored the impact of PTSD. This presentation will equip participants to understand the impact of various mental health conditions, how they are similar and how they differ, and how to use EMDR to provide holistic and effective treatment.

1.8 million people are incarcerated in the U.S., and each year 650,000 people reenter society and return to their communities. Many have high ACES scores and childhood neglect histories contributing to the likelihood of reoffending. Many recidivists reenact early trauma or seek serially to maladaptively solve their attachment yearnings or have other unresolved traumatic motives. EMDR is successfully used in prisons, as will be conveyed using interview data with clinicians. As one presenter is a former homicide detective who conducted thousands of interviews/interrogations, case material will poignantly illustrate the psychological reenactment dynamics of offenders. One presenter uses Early Trauma EMDR to repair developmental trauma, and both use standard protocol to intervene in traumatic reenactments and intergenerational transmission of trauma. The audience will glimpse into a future where telehealth or direct EMDR reduces recidivism by resolving developmental trauma and injurious early relationship experiences before prisoners return to society.

There is a growing body of evidence to support the use of psychedelic medications to assist psychotherapy. Clinically, things have moved on significantly since the first wave of psychedelic assisted therapy techniques were developed in the 1950s/1960s. In recent years, the United Kingdom has become a hub of psychedelic research. UK based therapists are using expertise gained from working in clinical research settings to develop novel applications of EMDR therapy and embed these innovative ways of working into their clinical practice. This presentation introduces the emerging potential of EMDR as a psychedelic assisted therapy. It explores the synergistic benefits of combining evidence-based trauma focused toolkits with the healing potential of expanded states. It unpacks the importance of stabilization in paving the way to qualify EMDR as a psychedelic assisted therapy. Vignettes of case material from adverse psychedelic experiences in clinical research settings are used to unpack the developing PsyA-EMDR protocol.

This presentation will outline how compassion-focused EMDR group intervention is used in the treatment of PTSD and Moral Injury. It will highlight the core aspects of the Acute Stress Adaptive Protocol (ASAP) - a modification of the Group Traumatic Episode Protocol (GTEP) developed in conjunction with first responders and emergency workers. Additionally, the integration of core elements from Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) is also used to address community trauma factors and moral injury. This presentation will outline how this intervention is used as part of a four day, intensive treatment intervention. It will also present research data from an ongoing research trial exploring the effectiveness of this treatment intervention with first responders and emergency workers from Vermont, USA. The study is a collaboration between the Vermont Centre for Responder Wellness (USA) and Northumbria University (UK).

The United States is in the midst of an unprecedented mental health crisis. A common factor across the multiple mental health stressors being reported is their traumatic nature, including specifically experiences of identity-based trauma (IBT) stemming from increased marginalization and violence towards groups based on race, sexual orientation, and other fixed and fluid identities. Research indicates that most mental health practitioners (MHPs) lack the self-efficacy, training, and resources to assess and treat IBT. More than 90% of general trauma and IBT cases are missed entirely and go undiagnosed. Most practitioners do not conceptualize identity-based trauma as a treatable mental health issue, and those who do often don't address the issue because they feel ill-equipped to do so. The purpose of this presentation is to empower MHPs who likely encounter including IBT in their practices.