Overview
Having learned the fundamental skills to deliver EMDR Therapy, many attendees elect to join with experienced EMDR therapists to further their skills and knowledge by taking specialist workshops with us. Evaluations of these masterclasses show that participants have taken their confidence to new levels and they later report a significant enhancement of their delivery of EMDR Therapy.
On this page:
Healing Complex Trauma and Dissociation with Ego State Therapy
EMDR Enhance Your EMDR Therapy Practice
EMDR therapy in the treatment of chronic pain, depression and adults abused as children
Healing Complex Trauma and Dissociation with Ego State Therapy and EMDR
This workshop initially provides an overview of dissociation and how it impacts on EMDR processing. There will be an explanation of Ego State Therapy (EST) and how it fits with EMDR to provide the stabilization clients need, as well as dealing with blocked processing. Clinical case material is used throughout to illustrate learning points. Through demonstration and practice participants will learn how to build resources for clients, access ego states in a controlled way and effect therapeutic change. In the latter part of the day, participants will see videos of live cases where EST is used effectively in the Preparation Phase of EMDR to: 1) identify the part-selves and 2) moderate the malevolence displayed by two difficult ego states. Versions of this workshop were delivered pre-conference for ESTD in 2010 and EMDR Europe in 2014, both highly acclaimed by attendees.
Learning objectives
- Understand how complex trauma and dissociative disorders impact on processing
- Understand the concept of working with part-selves as a way of preparing clients for the standard EMDR protocol.
- Learn how to access ego states in a controlled way and effect therapeutic change and stability.
- Learn techniques to deal with difficult ego states.
Rationale
We all display particular patterns of thinking, feeling and acting, depending on the situation. The transition is usually seamless in well-adjusted people, but where there has been disrupted attachment or sustained early life trauma the result is often the formation of particular ego states, also known as alters, parts, or schema modes. These states perform roles usually geared towards survival, but in adulthood they can be dysfunctional. Depending upon a client’s early life experiences some ego states can be malevolent, wanting bad things for the client such as willing them to suffer in some way. These clients present us with the greatest challenges through what we know as complex trauma and dissociative disorders. It is necessary for clients to remain stable during EMDR sessions and contained between sessions, particularly with complex trauma and dissociative disorders. There is a need, therefore, to learn techniques to work in the Preparation Phase with more difficult clients so they too can benefit from the full EMDR protocol. It is also helpful to know how to deal with blocked processing in the Desensitization Phase due to the interference of an ego-state.
The Presenter
Dr Michael Paterson is a Clinical Psychologist based in Belfast specialising in the treatment of multiply traumatised people. It was largely based on his clinical work with EMDR Therapy that he was awarded the OBE in 2008 for Services to Healthcare in Northern Ireland. Always an advocate for EMDR, Michael sat on CREST in 2003 (Northern Ireland) and played a key role in ensuring the recommendation of EMDR Therapy as an effective treatment for PTSD in adults; the guidance from CREST subsequently fed into the NICE deliberations and their recommendation in 2005. He was invited by Dr Shapiro to train with her as an EMDR Institute Trainer, joining the Institute’s Faculty in 2006. Michael is a past President of the EMDR Association of UK & Ireland. Michael has authored a chapter in the landmark book, Healing the Heart of Trauma and Dissociation with EMDR and Ego State Therapy. He has also published articles on stress, and on trauma in the emergency services. He has presented at conferences on treating complex PTSD, and also conferences specialising in dissociation. Awarded 6 EMDR Europe CPD points.
Enhance Your EMDR Therapy Practice
Join Dr Paterson for a highly evaluated workshop designed to take your EMDR Therapy practice to a higher level. This is for therapists who have done their EMDR training and have used the therapy with clients, either regularly or on occasion. It would suit relatively new EMDR therapists wanting to develop their skills, as well as those working towards Accredited Practitioner status or existing Accredited Practitioners considering the goal of Accredited EMDR Consultant. Those who are a bit rusty in their EMDR practice could benefit from this as a refresher; they would need to have been using the therapy with clients in the past as some retained knowledge is essential.
Learning objectives
- Gain a fuller understanding of the AIP Model and its application for client selection and treatment planning
- Gain additional Preparation Phase skills
- Develop the ability to identify blatant and subtle errors in Phases 3 to 7
- Reinforce correct application of the three-pronged protocol of past, present and future
6 EMDR Europe CPD points applied for.
The Trainer
The course will be presented by Dr Michael Paterson OBE, a Past President of EMDR Association UK & Ireland. He is a clinical psychologist who specialises in treating trauma in emergency services, dissociative disorders and also people suffering chronic pain. He was specially selected to be a Trainer with the EMDR Institute and has been personally trained to the highest standard by Dr Francine Shapiro, the founder of EMDR. Michael’s mix of humour and learning during trainings leads to an enjoyable experience for all; he consistently receives positive feedback and high ratings.
The Venue
Online via Zoom
Tel: 028 9066 1110 (UK) 048 9066 1110 (RoI) to register interest or email us
EMDR therapy in the treatment of chronic pain, depression and adults abused as children
Join Dr Michael Paterson for a highly evaluated and stimulating interactive workshop where you will learn ways to treat presentations by clients with different problems and needs. The workshop is delivered in Michael’s particular style which will include handouts, demonstrations and case examples. This aims to improve your knowledge of working with these populations and increase your confidence in using EMDR therapy to treat them. This workshop will suit therapists at all levels of EMDR training and practice.
Learning objectives
Understand the different presentations in terms of the AIP model. Learn how to apply the 8 phase protocol appropriately for each of these client groups.
Rationale
Brain structures involved in the processing of psychological trauma also play a role in the experience of pain. Because of this, the pain one experiences is influenced by emotion and the personal meaning it holds, in addition to actual physical injury. EMDR therapy works well with pain sufferers usually reducing the intensity of pain experienced or eliminating phantom limb pain. With depression there are neurobiological, behavioural, emotional and physiological symptoms accompanied by negative automatic thoughts. When these arise in response to life events the AIP model can be applied to understand the client’s history and predisposing factors. EMDR therapy can be used to target past events and process to resolution. For adults abused as children there is often a complex presentation with significant dissociative features. Knowing how to approach this is crucial in determining the success or failure of our intervention. Used appropriately, EMDR therapy is effective in treating this population. 6 EMDR Europe CPD points awarded