Eating disorders are a pervasive sociocultural phenomenon today, almost exclusively affecting the population of the western world, in particular adolescents and young women. This chapter describes Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy protocol for the management of dysfunctional eating behaviors in Anorexia Nervosa (AN). The purpose of this protocol is to define a specific treatment with EMDR therapy for one of the possible expressions of eating disorders, that is, AN. It is based on the main theoretical contributions concerning the dynamics of eating disorders with particular focus on the risk factors involved in its onset and/or maintenance and a special emphasis on those connected with traumatic life events. The most relevant concepts related to the dynamics of AN explained in the protocol are individual risk factors, attachment wounds and traumatic experiences, dissociative table at mealtime, and parts work.

Fibromyalgia or the fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain disorder characterized by fatigue, muscle pain, tenderness, and sleep difficulties. This syndrome is referred as “soft-tissue rheumatism”. Fibromyalgia is a disorder that intrudes upon the daily life of people and is a worldwide phenomenon. Fibromyalgia might also include other symptoms such as concentration and memory problems, labile mood, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, painful menstrual cramps, and numbness. Because FMS has no relevant organic pathology, it is placed in the realm of medically unexplained physical symptoms. Recent studies are providing early evidence for the use of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for chronic pain patients. Also, EMDR therapy is being used for other pain conditions, including fibromyalgia. Therefore, the EMDR Fibromyalgia Syndrome Protocol created includes the three-pronged protocol and an in-depth history of the client’s FMS and trauma. More research is needed to support this new protocol.

Complex trauma is prevalent in the general therapy population and is rooted in early neglect, and traumas of long duration, resulting in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), dissociative disorders, attachment problems, and personality disorders. This chapter provides information that will help Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapists enhance their ability to provide effective EMDR treatment for clients diagnosed with complex trauma who are also dealing with current health problems. It highlights the use of the adverse childhood experiences (ACE) questionnaire, which provides much needed information on childhood abuse, neglect, attachment disorders, PTSD, and dissociation. This questionnaire, when combined with a broad developmental and health history, will be very helpful in case conceptualization and development of targets for work in phases 4 to 7. Additionally, the chapter describes the links between the ACE issues and later health risks and problems that make these clients difficult to treat.

This chapter explains the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy protocol for eating disorders, detailing everything the clinician must take into consideration in order to proceed step by step throughout the eight phases of treatment. The goal is to process those traumas and adverse experiences that are the foundation of these disorders, using the artichoke metaphor: working layer by layer from the outside in. Each and every layer holds a part, a defense, and a trauma or adverse life experience, as specified in the part/defense/trauma system. Once the part is named and the defense is identified, it is possible to reach the targeted event/trauma and process it with the standard EMDR protocol. As these events are processed, clients integrate the parts of their inner world. This will be reflected directly in an improvement in their relationship with food and, as a result, the disorder will improve.