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.

The Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy model of self-care for clients was developed by González and Mosquera. Typically, self-care has reduced to physical self-care, namely, food, sleep, and exercise. It is important to take into consideration the person’s mental and emotional needs, including the following: realistic view of self, protecting self from any harmful figures, maintaining appropriate boundaries while interacting with others, recognition and validation of own emotions, finding time to dedicate to self, asking for and being capable of accepting help, treating self well, enhancing rather than destroying well-being. The chapter explains the ways to help clients relate to themselves in a more compassionate way by learning a completely new way of looking at themselves with acceptance, comprehension, and care. This type of works helps repair attachment wounds and introduces new adaptive information that client’s lack, which is a great preparation for future processing of traumatic events.

The chapters of the book examine neuroplasticity as it manifests in maturation, development, information processing, and the disorders associated with each. Growth, development, and integration of neural networks, as manifestations of neuroplasticity, are the mechanisms underlying consciousness, parenting, interpersonal relationships, and the healing process of psychotherapy. Today, neuroplasticity is increasingly understood to be an underlying mechanism of neurofunction at any age. The adult brain appears to possess a tendency toward neural stabilization, while at the same time maintaining a potential for plastic reorganization. More and more, we see evidence that the brain is capable of reorganization in response to changes in stimulation. Some examples of these changes are dramatic and result, in great part, from the application of sensory stimulation. The robust effect of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in type I posttraumatic stress disorder is one such example.

Investigating the human mind as an abstract concept is very difficult. Exploring its biological foundations—especially consciousness—is an even more daunting task. If developing a map of the mind is the final frontier of the life sciences, the cartography of consciousness will be its last and most important accomplishment. The study of the conscious mind alone could not lead to a complete understanding of the brain. Consciousness and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) have long been intimately related, albeit under a different name. Whereas the field of neurobiology has utilized the term consciousness to denote the processes of sensation, perception, learning, cognition, emotion, somatosensory integration, and memory, the discipline of psychology has chosen to use the term information processing. EMDR has evolved into a comprehensive therapeutic approach guided by the adaptive information processing model. This introductory chapter discusses consciousness and EMDR and provides a brief description about the book.

The standard Three-Pronged Protocol for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy guides the overall treatment of the client. It consists of a “three-pronged” (past, present, and future) approach in which initially past events, then present issues, and finally anticipated future situations are targeted in therapy. The Flashforward Procedure has appeared to be an effective application of EMDR therapy to deal with the second of the three-pronged approach. It is a procedure to address clients’ irrational fears and anticipatory anxiety responses that persist after the core memories of past events have been fully processed. The fear of future catastrophe is a key component in several psychological conditions--obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and specific phobias. When clients have been carefully prepared and therapists know their clients well, the Flashforward Procedure can become another valuable tool in the EMDR therapist’s toolkit.

Recent studies on preventing postpartum depression (PPD) and on childbirth-related post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have identified the risk factors, including anxiety and depression related, trauma related, family and/or relationship related, and financial and/or work related risks. Primary PPD prevention can take place in a group setting or in an individual setting. The Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy Protocol for the prevention of birth trauma and PPD in the pregnant woman was designed improve the woman’s performance and reduce risks of childbirth trauma, and strengthen the woman’s resiliency while reducing the negative effects of stress suffered in childbirth. By means of bilateral stimulation (BLS), expectant mothers can both reprocess any maladaptive encoding information that would interfere with future childbirth performances, and anchor positive information associated with images and scenes, which represent personal resources to be used in coping with the critical moments of childbirth.