This book provides a standard that reflects the basic elements of the 11-Step Standard Procedure; and the Standard 3-Pronged EMDR Protocol as they are applied to different populations. The diverse population includes children and adolescents; couples; clients suffering with complex post-traumatic stress disorder and dissociative disorders; clients with anxiety; clients who demonstrate addictive behaviors; clients who deal with pain; clinicians themselves. The book serves as a basis to encourage research into these various applications for EMDR. It is divided into seven parts. Part I is devoted to the scripted EMDR protocols such as olfactory stimulation, which are used to develop resources for children and adolescents who may have suffered traumatic events in their life. The protocols take into account the particular difficulties of this developmental group and help minimize common difficulties and major hurdles. Part II describes scripted EMDR protocols designed by couples therapists and sex therapists to further the progress of their patients precisely targeting templates of relational interaction, anxiety, or sexual dysfunction. Part III concerns the scripted protocols for dissociative disorders and complex post-traumatic stress disorder. The protocols represent the structured scripted efforts of many trauma therapists over a considerable number of years. Parts IV and V of the book address the concretization of much needed scripts for the EMDR treatment of addictions and pain—two interconnected public health worries. Part VI looks at the world of people’s adaptation to fears and tackles the usage of scripted protocols to detoxify the impact of specific phobias. Part VII demonstrates the usage of scripted EMDR protocols in clinician care and in the management of secondary post-traumatic stress disorder and vicarious traumatization.

This book has two main goals: to provide descriptions of specific eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapeutic “tools” and, by incorporating these tools, to develop an overview of an Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model of the treatment of complex PTSD. The development of EMDR-related tools has been ongoing since the introduction of EMDR three decades ago. What will EMDR be in 2030? Unfortunately, the field—the field of psychotherapy for trauma-related disorders—has at times had a kind of dissociative disorder. Some therapists identify with one theoretical approach, and others are strong adherents of another identity. Often, these two “identities” do not communicate sufficiently, and sometimes they mistakenly think they have to fight with each other. Clearly, the author’s primary identification as a therapist is with EMDR-related methods based on an AIP approach, but the author attempting in the following chapters to also integrate the concepts and methods of cognitive approaches—approaches that are not only useful, but at times essential in the treatment of dissociative clients. The chapters of this book are divided into four parts. The first, comprising Chapters 1 and 2, is an overview of the application of the AIP model to complex PTSD and other dissociative conditions. The second part, Chapters 3 to 6, presents ways of treating (i.e., resolving) psychological defenses that are often linked intrinsically to disturbing memories but can be conceptually defined as separate entities because defenses typically contain dysfunctional positive affect, as opposed to the disturbing affect within memories of traumatic events. The third part, Chapters 7 to 14, focuses on several issues important in the EMDR treatment of dissociative conditions. And Chapters 15 to 17 are detailed case reports illustrating how these AIP “tools” can be employed in actual treatment sessions.

This book focuses on applying eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) scripted protocols to medical related conditions. It delivers a wide range of step-by-step protocols that enable beginning clinicians as well as seasoned EMDR clinicians, trainers, and consultants alike to enhance their expertise more quickly when working with clients who present with medical-related issues. The scripts are conveniently outlined in an easy-to-use, manual style template, facilitating a reliable, consistent format for use with EMDR clients. The scripts distill the essence of the standard EMDR protocols. They reinforce the specific parts, sequence, and language used to create an effective outcome, and illustrate how clinicians are using this framework to work with a variety of medical related issues while maintaining the integrity of the Adaptive Information Processing model. Following a brief outline of the basic elements of EMDR procedures and protocols, the book focuses on applying EMDR scripted protocols to key medical issues. The book is organized into four parts comprising ten chapters. Chapter one presents protocol for EMDR therapy in the treatment of eating disorders. Chapter two describes EMDR therapy protocol for the management of dysfunctional eating behaviors in anorexia nervosa. Chapter three discusses EMDR therapy protocol for eating disorders. Chapter four presents the EMDR therapy protocol for body image distortion. Chapter five discusses EMDR therapy and physical violence injury: “best moments” protocol. Chapter six describes EMDR therapy for chronic pain conditions. Chapter seven presents EMDR therapy treatment for migraine. Chapter eight discusses EMDR therapy for fibromyalgia. Chapter nine describes the impact of complex posttraumatic stress disorder and attachment issues on personal health. The final chapter presents the EMDR therapy self-care protocol.