Kevin Smith: Personal Experience with Trauma & EMDR
Kevin Smith: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBvc7Ny4iUk

EMDR Overview
EMDRIA:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pkfln-ZtWeY


Trauma Definition: 
A wound that occurs when a person experiences too much too soon; too much for too long; and/or too little for too long.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Please scroll down for links and videos describing EMDR

EMDR is a "bottom up" clinical therapy that helps clients to more fully reprocess trauma wounds including: disturbing thoughts, memories, emotions, and behaviours. Traditionally mainstream trauma therapy has relied on talking and changing the way we see the world by addressing cognitive distortions. This can be effective to a certain degree but only as long as we can access our "thinking brain". The problem with this unimodal approach is that the thinking brain can go "offline" when we are activated/triggered. Countless trauma therapists have written about the importance of addressing trauma at all levels of the body, mind and spirit. You might be interested in looking up: epigenetics, polyvagal theory, somatic psychology, the hand model of the brain, the triune brain, and the vagal nerve. Countless books explore how trauma and chronic stress is stored in the body: The Body Never Lies by Alice Miller, Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma by Peter Levine, By Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem, Trauma and the Body (two-book set) by Pat Ogden, The Body Remembers by Babette Rothchild, When the Body Says No by Dr. Gabor Mate, The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk and many more. Research has shown that by engaging the whole brain (thinking brain; feeling brain and the brain stem) and the whole body, that we can more fully heal trauma within the whole body. 

EMDR combined with somatic psychology, parts work (aka IFS, Schema Therapy, Inner Child work, wounded child work, inner critic work), attachment theory, polyvagal theory, movement (walking, stretching, yoga, dancing...), expressive arts and mindfulness can be more effective in healing the whole being, including the parts of us that automatically go "offline" when we are activated or triggered. One EMDR therapist/trainer says EMDR's 8-phases is an approach "that doesn't just clean the house - it clears out all the dust bunnies". Most traditional talk therapies are what happen in phase 1-2 in of EMDR therapy which has another 6-phases for a more thorough cleaning so to speak. 
 
EMDR was developed by Psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987 to treat survivors of sexual violence and Vietnam War Veterans. Since then, EMDR has evolved and can be used to treat an endless variety of issues from Complex PTSD, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, confidence, chronic pain and chronic illness and the effects of chronic stress. EMDR is a three pronged approach based on the idea that challenging emotions, thoughts, memories, behaviours and so forth are rooted in past experiences. As such EMDR therapy addresses early childhood experiences (less than nurturing or attuned parenting, bullying, illness, abuse...). Treatment continues by addressing present stressors and challenges and finally anticipated challenges in the future.  EMDR aims to reduce subjective distress and strengthen adaptive beliefs to traumatic events. The treatment involves a standardized 8-Phase protocol with additional protocols and procedures for special situations. The procedures include focusing simultaneously (dual awareness) on:
  1. spontaneous associations of traumatic images, thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations from past events
  2. while also experiencing therapist guided bilateral stimulation in the form of eye movements, tapping and sounds
 
I was first introduced to EMDR therapy in 1998, during the first year of my MSW program at Wilfrid Laurier University. I completed Basic Training in 2001; EMDR Certification requirements in 2007; and am now an EMDRIA approved consultant. I am a network member of the Institute for Creative Mindfulness (ICM) and am in the process of applying to be an EMDRIA approved trainer licensed through the Institute for Creative Mindfulness.  

As a therapist trained in multiple modalities, and as a client that has obtained therapy from various experts, I have found EMDR therapy (combined with somatic psychology, polyvagal theory, attachment theory, expressive arts, meditation and yoga and an anti-oppressive analysis) to produce the most comprehensive, profound, validating, self-esteem boosting, trauma resolving results for achieving overall mental health and post-traumatic growth.  
 
I believe EMDR therapy combined with the modalities listed above is the most thorough approach to therapy to date. 
​
EMDR 8-Phase Protocol:
Please note the first two phases are typical of most therapy approaches
Phase 3-8 are what distinguishes EMDR therapy from other modalities.  
 
  1. Client history: readiness, safety factors (level of rapport, emotional disturbance, stability, life supports, general physical health, shutdown strategies, calming strategies, timing, medication needs, dissociative disorders), treatment planning, history-taking transcript.
  2. Preparation: form a solid therapy/client bond, teach/enhance calming skills, help clients befriend their nervous system, learn the difference between shutdown and calm, learn and/or enhance new ways to create safety and security, create internal stability (“parts work”), describe the model, set expectations, address client fears and test preferred bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, sounds).
  3. Assessment: select the memory, identify the negative cognition, develop a positive cognition, identify the emotion, estimate the disturbance, identify body sensations.
  4. Desensitization/Removal of disturbance: during this phase it is necessary to process the dysfunctional stored memory that lives in various memory channels associated with the targeted event. Reprocessing memories/experiences in EMDR therapy has some very positive by-products including restructuring negative beliefs (I am unworthy of love…), naturally occurring insights (I am worthy of love just as I am) and a more adaptive understanding of the targeted event.
  5. Installation: Concentrates primarily on the full integration (body, mind, spirit) of newer positive beliefs specifically linked with the original target issue/event.
  6. Body Scan: targets any remaining disturbance that may be stored in the body
  7. Closure: use of visualization, calming skills cultivated in phase 2, safety assessment, and debriefing to ensure the client does not leave the session in a high level of disturbance.
  8. Re-evaluation and Use of the EMDR Three-Pronged Protocol Approach: assesses if the target has been completely resolved that any associated material that might have been activated is addressed, that all necessary targets have been reprocessed to allow the client to feel at peace with the past, empowered in the present and able to make more desirable choices for the future.
 
EMDR Information and Links
Other Modalities that I Use with EMDR to Trauma, Anxiety and Depression
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) &
Post Traumatic Growth