The Structure of EMDR Therapy: A Guide for the Therapist

Course overview

Course Description: This course is based on material published in Frontiers in Psychology and is available as an open-access article. Since the introduction of EMD by Dr. Shapiro in 1987, which led to the development of EMDR Therapy, clinical experiences and research contributed to a variety of protocols and procedures. While this dynamic evolution within EMDR Therapy is offering more options to treat a variety of patients suffering from various disorders, there is a greater risk of deviations from the core framework of this approach that would no longer be understood as EMDR Therapy. While research shows that following Shapiro's standard protocols and procedural steps is important to achieve positive treatment effects, it seems prudent to define the core elements in EMDR Therapy beyond adherence to the standard protocol given the complexity of clinical demands in a variety of treatment contexts. The author proposes that best practices requires not only an adherence to the fidelity of the model, but a willingness to adapt the model in order to best meet the needs of our clients in a variety of clinical contexts. Defining the core elements that constitute EMDR Therapy offers both a structure that has been well established and offers a foundation from which clinical adaptations can be made that are within the realm of what is widely accepted as EMDR Therapy. Such a structure could also be used to define research as well as clinical applications. Additionally EMDR Therapy as a comprehensive psychotherapy approach implies that the therapeutic relationship is an important component and should be considered a core element of this methodology. This course on eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy is designed for clinical social workers, psychologists, professional counselors, nurses, and substance abuse counselors who do clinical work. This course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop their expertise with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy. The course material includes a literature review of interventions. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require continuing clinical education courses for license renewal. The course is based on a journal article that includes research. It contains statistical analysis and data that some clinicians enjoy reading and others do not. A significant benefit of reading peer reviewed research-based articles for continuing education is that they provide practitioners with the latest findings in their field. Authors: Hase Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy. Specifically, a professional will: Describe the adaptive information processing model of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy. Identify the eight phases of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy. Recognize the importance of the therapeutic relationship in the context of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy. Citation: Hase M. (2021). The Structure of EMDR Therapy: A Guide for the Therapist. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 660753. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.660753