The breastfeeding and bonding eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) Protocol refers not only to breastfeeding but also to bonding because they are interconnected. If breastfeeding is not only considered as a challenging performance, but its difficulties are seen as critical knots that should be processed because they are linked with dysfunctionally stored memories, the effects will be much more evident and pervasive. The Breastfeeding and Bonding EMDR Protocol addresses the state of crisis, the difficulties, and the distress connected to breastfeeding similar to a recent traumatic event even if it would not be considered a major traumatic event. The selective use of EMD, EMDr, and EMDR depends on the level of focus and the installation of resources useful to deal with the mother’s new role and tasks. This timely focused intervention for breastfeeding difficulties may have high great preventive value and very significant consequences on her psychophysical health.

This chapter discusses illness and somatic disorders protocol. This protocol addresses both psychological and physical factors related to somatic complaints. This is an adjunct to appropriate medical care. For many, addressing the psychological dimensions will cause partial or complete remission of the physical symptoms. When primarily organic processes are involved, psychological issues may be exacerbating physical conditions. While physical symptoms may not remit, the clinical emphasis is on improving the person’s quality of life. The steps involved in illness and somatic disorders protocol are: teach affect regulation techniques and create an action plan to address real needs, identify and target intrusive thoughts and secondary gain; identify and reprocess relevant memories, present situations, and fears of the future; run “videotape” of the next 1 to 5 years and process disturbance and fears and incorporate positive future templates; use log and self-care procedures; if appropriate, use adjunctive imagery with cognitive groundwork.

The reenactment protocol is primarily an interweave and a variation to the standard eye movement desensitization and reprocessing protocol. Its goal is to help the client build a new narrative, which allows the client to be active and in control of the situation. All traumatic experiences have the common element of loss of control. It is most helpful to have the client engage the memory and take control of the outcome of the event. If a client responds positively to the reenactment protocol, it can be effectively used as a stand-alone protocol in future sessions. The reenactment protocol is often effective for relieving the targeted discomfort of painful memories, the first time the new narrative is imagined. This protocol relies on the use of the subjective units of disturbance score, the positive cognition score, and the body scans to determine if the traumatic and painful memory has been processed.

Somatic illness is often life-threatening and even if not it can bring along many stressful life experiences for one self and relevant others. Somatic disorders are of course very physical in experience. Also, medical treatment with its intensive use of medication can add a special flavor to the formation of the memory nodes later to be addressed in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. EMDR has demonstrated its efficacy in the treatment of patients traumatized by somatic disorders or medical treatment. Examples are the treatment of survivors of life-threatening cardiac events, the treatment of cancer patients, and the treatment of chronic regional pain syndrome. The treatment of patients traumatized by somatic disorders or medical treatment provides some challenges that one would like to address in this scripted protocol. This scripted protocol is designed to improve the treatment of these patients in need of help.