EMDR 2.0

An enhanced version of EMDR therapy?

Presenter: Ad de Jongh

Presentation/workshop training title

EMDR therapy prospers in a climate that supports innovation but insists upon corroborating research to validate findings. To this end, EMDR 2.0 is a version of EMDR therapy that is based on the EMDR standard protocol, but with a number of adjustments with regard to the implementation of EMDR therapy. These adjustments are based on clinical experience with the treatment of patients with complex PTSD, and scientific research into the working memory theory, and the effects of working memory-taxing tasks on traumatic memories. More specifically, EMDR 2.0 is based on the premise that if the client is better motivated, if the memory is better activated, and if the patient’s working memory is taxed more strongly, this has a positive influence on the effectiveness and efficiency of EMDR therapy. The purpose of this workshop is to gain new inspiration for the treatment of patients suffering from chronic and severe PTSD and/or with severe comorbid psychopathology who display high levels of anxiety and dissociation, and with whom limited treatment effects were reached. In this lecture effective new applications will be demonstrated varying from modality-specific working memory-taxing techniques, and other techniques that are meant to destabilize memories. This will be done through video fragments of treatments in clinical practice.

1. Time schedule of the day (optional); See below

• 08.00 - 09.00 am – Registration
• 09.00 – 10.30 am - Working memory theory, consequences for treatment and  exercise
• 10.30 – 10.45 am - Coffee break
• 10.45 – 12.15 am - Trauma activation, desensitization, modality-specific taxing and exercise
• 12.15 – 13.30 pm - Lunch break
• 13.30 – 15.00 pm - Different working memory taxing tasks, practical tips and demonstration
• 15.00 – 15.15 pm - Tea break
• 15.15 – 16.00 pm - Dealing with mnemophobia, “EMD-bomb” and exercise

2. "Key features"

Research supported concepts presented

• The greater the working memory load, the greater the desensitizing effects
• More arousal appears to have a stronger desensitizing effect
• Modality-specific taxation can provide an additional effect
• Unexpected ("surprise") intervention techniques can interrupt the reconsolidation of the memory

Learn a range of memory-taxing tasks including

• super-fast eye movements with varying patterns (V),
• spelling tasks (V/A),
• saying words out loud (A),
• shock effects (V/A), tapping complex rhythms (K),
• V-steps (K) and
• the “EMD bomb” (V/A/K)

3. Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

1. Describe the working memory theory
2. List research findings supporting the working memory theory
3. Identify ways to motivate clients for processing memories that have a high level of disturbance
4. Describe techniques for enhancing activation of traumatic memories
5. Identify and employ multiple memory-taxing tasks to aid in reprocessing traumatic memories.
6. Describe techniques for destabilizing memories including the “EMD bomb”.