Where to start in EMDR Therapy with clients who have a history of abuse

Clients with a history of abuse usually have a series of traumatic memories that continue to cause them difficulties in the present day. EMDR Therapy can be used effectively in these situations but knowing where to start is the challenge for developing EMDR therapists.

[@easyas12388]

Thank you Michael. That was helpful and relevant. . I provide short term therapy in Primary Care and the presentations are often complex. Clients, their families and carers can be desperate for help and can lead us therapists to open up "pandoras box" with as you pointed out risk of self harm and suicide. Thank you again for the reminder. Tom

[@MichaelPatersonOBE]

My pleasure.

[@karianned3211]

Amazingly talented!

[@ohiotherapist]

Hi Michael, I know this video is a year old but I have a related question and hope you see this: a client with a history of emotional neglect by the primary caregiver and emotional abuse by a stepparent - the client cannot conceptualize a Calm State at all, but did an RDI and container…would you proceed to Phase 3 with the client or continue trying to resource the Calm State or no? I am nervous about proceeding although the client seems stable and low DES score. Thank you, if you see this.

[@MichaelPatersonOBE]

I would want my client to have a method of self-soothing. If there is a difficulty installing a calm/safe state I would be wondering, 'Does my client feel unsafe when calm?' If so, RDI can be helpful. If the difficulty is with visualisation, try diaphragmatic breathing. For clients with a history of neglect, I usually do what I describe in the following videos: Healing an attachment wound with EMDR Therapy - kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6ipqXWMpL2orKc Healing the inner child in the EMDR Therapy Preparation Phase - kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWHXe4Owituae9E

[@ohiotherapist]

@@MichaelPatersonOBE wonderful, thank you! I am power-watching all of your videos now and will watch the two referenced videos. I finished basic training two in June and use EMDR Therapy with 80% of my private practice clients now; your videos are extremely helpful. Thank you again for providing pro bono assistance to us newer EMDR clinicians.

[@Alminknowsl]

Summary?