WELCOME
Welcome visitors to your site with a short, engaging introduction. Double click to edit and add your own text.
EMDR
Trauma Processing
Ripples Allied Health Consultancy
Stage 3 of EMDR: Within this stage the goal is to map the targets like making a roadmap to help your child navigate through their emotions and memories.
Understanding the Journey
Just like planning a trip, we work with the therapist to understand where your child is starting from emotionally. This involves talking about what bothers them and what they want to feel better about.
Identifying Negative Beliefs
Together with the therapist, we identify negative beliefs your child has about themselves because of these upsetting experiences. These beliefs are like roadblocks that stop them from feeling good about themselves.
Discovering Positive Beliefs
We then uncover positive beliefs your child desires. These beliefs oppose the negative ones linked to their concerns and serve as guiding lights toward increased happiness and confidence.
Reinforcing Positive Beliefs
The therapist helps your child strengthen these positive beliefs by focusing on times when they felt very aligned to these beliefs, such as when they have been strong, brave, or happy. This helps your child see themselves in a more positive light.
Implementation of Resources
We identify and practice practical actions to manage distress and grounding techniques. This includes techniques like calm breathing, reorientation strategies, mindfulness, or engaging in enjoyable activities to help your child cope with difficult emotions.
Ready to use the Map in Stage 4
Armed with their understanding of both negative and positive beliefs, your child is prepared to explore their emotions and enter Stage 4 of EMDR. Depending on time availability, this may occur in the same session as Stage 3, or be scheduled for the next session.
Homework before Stage 4
Between Stage 3 and Stage 4 in EMDR therapy, homework assignments play a crucial role in supporting your child's progress. These assignments may include journaling, practicing relaxation techniques to manage distress, and engaging in self-care activities to promote well-being.
Feedback and Communication
Parents should maintain open communication with the therapist during this time, providing feedback on the child's engagement with homework assignments and any challenges they may be facing. This feedback helps the therapist tailor future sessions to meet the child's needs effectively.
Reasons to slow down between Stage 3 and Stage 4
Overwhelm or Distress
If the child is feeling overwhelmed or distressed by the therapy process, it may be necessary to slow down and provide additional support. This could involve extending the time between sessions or revisiting earlier stages of therapy to build resilience.
Lack of Readiness
If the child is not fully prepared to move forward with Stage 4, it is important to respect their pace and readiness. Slowing down allows the child to process their emotions at a comfortable pace and ensures that therapy progresses in a safe and supportive manner.
Complex Presentation
Children with complex trauma or multiple presenting issues may require more time and support to work through their experiences. Slowing down the therapy process allows for thorough processing and reduces the risk of retraumatisation.
Overall, open communication between parents and the therapist is key to ensuring that the child's needs are met and that therapy progresses in a way that is safe and effective.
Ripples Allied Health Consultancy
Stage 4 EMDR: The desensitisation stage, typically begins once the therapist and the child have established a solid therapeutic rapport, the child feels safe and prepared, and specific targets for processing have been identified
Establishing Safety and Trust
Before beginning desensitisation, the therapist ensures that the child feels safe and supported in the therapeutic environment. They have built a trusting relationship with the child, and the child understands the therapeutic process.
Understanding Processing Targets
The therapist and the child have identified specific memories, events, or experiences that are causing distress and are appropriate for processing. These targets may be traumatic events, negative beliefs about themselves, or overwhelming emotions.
Preparation for Desensitisation
The therapist prepares the child for desensitisation by explaining what to expect during this stage of therapy. They reassure the child that they will be in control at all times and can stop the process if they feel overwhelmed.
Bilateral Stimulation
Desensitisation involves bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, taps, or auditory tones, which activate both sides of the brain. The therapist guides the child through bilateral stimulation while they focus on the targeted memory or thought.
Engaging with Targeted Memory
The child is asked to recall the targeted memory or thought while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation. This process may bring up emotions, physical sensations, or other experiences related to the memory.
Processing and Integration
As the child continues to engage with the targeted memory and bilateral stimulation, the therapist helps them process and integrate the memory in a new way. This may involve identifying and reframing negative beliefs, releasing emotional distress, and fostering adaptive coping mechanisms.
Monitoring Distress Levels
Throughout the desensitisation process, the therapist closely monitors the child's distress levels. If the child becomes overwhelmed or dysregulated, the therapist provides support and helps them regain a sense of safety and control.
Closure and Grounding
Once the targeted memory has been processed to a satisfactory level, the therapist guides the child through closure exercises to ground them in the present moment and ensure they feel stable and secure before ending the session.
Ripples Allied Health Consultancy
Stage 5-8 EMDR: These stages focus on consolidating progress, fostering closure, and preparing for continued growth.
Installation of Positive Beliefs
The therapist guides the child in strengthening positive beliefs and emotions related to the processed memory. This involves reinforcing adaptive coping strategies and self-affirmations to replace negative beliefs.
Body Scan and Relaxation
The therapist guides the child to conduct a mind based body scan to ensure that any residual tension or discomfort related to the targeted memory has been addressed. Relaxation techniques are used to promote a sense of calmness and stability.
Closure
The therapist leads the child through a structured closure process to ensure that they feel grounded and safe before ending the session. This may involve summarising key insights and providing reassurance.
Re-evaluation and Feedback
The therapist reassesses the client's progress and evaluates the effectiveness of the EMDR treatment. Feedback is provided to the client, highlighting changes in symptoms and encouraging reflection on their journey.
Homework Assignments
The therapist may assign homework tasks for the client to complete between sessions. These assignments could include practicing relaxation exercises, journaling about their experiences, or engaging in self-care activities.
Integration and Reflection
The client reflects on their experiences during the session and integrates any insights gained into their understanding of themselves and their healing process. This promotes deeper self-awareness and personal growth.
Continued Support
The therapist offers ongoing support and encouragement to the child, addressing any concerns or challenges that arise. Additional resources or referrals may be provided to support the client's ongoing healing journey.
Empowerment and Resilience
Through stages 5 to 8, the child develops a sense of empowerment and resilience in navigating their trauma. They are equipped with new coping skills, a stronger sense of self, and a hopeful outlook for the future.
Summary & Further Information
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an evidence-based approach used to help individuals process distressing memories and experiences. It involves eight stages, including history-taking, preparation, assessment, desensitisation, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation. EMDR utilises bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, to facilitate the reprocessing of traumatic memories, leading to decreased emotional distress and symptom relief.​
