EMDR for cptsd w/dissociation.

[wanttohide]

It seems that I have enough flashbacks on my own without having induced mental images even with a worker being present. Sometimes I think the thought of this happening during therapy is what keeps me from having therapy...

[relieved]

I am an EMDR therapist, and agree that anyone going for EMDR treatment should pick their therapist carefully.  A really skilled EMDR therapist is not going to rush into processing memories with someone with serious CPTSD but spend loads of time doing resource installation work (building the strengths of a client) and using distancing techniques that protect the client from flooding of trauma memory.
I would recommend Daniel Siegel's book "the neurobiology of we" as a fascinating study on the reasons for attachment injury, what actually happens in the brain that creates PTSD and the nature of memory.  It makes a whole lot of sense why EMDR works because of brain function.

Anyway, it's always good not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.  EMDR is incredibly effective at healing trauma in a way that few other therapies can match.

[relieved]

Hi Andi,
yes, I would suggest anyone looking ask if they have experience with complex trauma and how long they have practiced, how much resource installation they give to enhance safety.  Also, do they give enough time for sessions (often EMDR takes more than an hour) and what the policy is. If a therapist stops at 50 minutes or an hour when the client has not fully processed it is not great, though it can be contained til the next session if done skillfully.  A certified therapist is important too. One does not have to be certified to practice EMDR, and it takes 20 hours of consultation to get certified, with 50 client hours expected.
If anyone has any specific questions other than that, please feel free to ask me.
relieved

[chris]

Thanks relieved.
That’s not in the us yet rite.

[relieved]

Hi Chris,
yes, EMDR is in the US. 
www.emdria.org has lists of therapists in all areas.
I am in Massachusetts and use EMDR in my practice.

[chris]

Massachusetts is only a few minutes from me…. hum.

[relieved]

interesting. I am in the Berkshires.

[chris]

That’s sounding close. That’s near the ski resort.

[chris]

 Ok… she’s pretty close. How many of us have just mad a new best friend……. and she supplies the drugs legally……..lol

[teresa]

~ BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ~ 

[relieved]

which ski resort? Catamount? Butternut? Jiminy Peak?  I am close to the first 2.
Sadly, therapists like myself do not dispense meds, but refer to psychiatrists who do :-)

[Apple]

Relieved
So you are a therapist ?
I'm getting confused now. Will have to read your posts again to remind myself.

Can you tell me what are you experiences treating those with cptsd with emdr.

Many thanks

[chris]

I’m close to Catamount. How do you do MDMA therapy with out mdma.

[chris]

ok. no clue how i saw thous letters.Don’t think I’m that dyslexic. What the hell am I thinking of. Sorry relieved if I totally screwed up. I have to go back and look through this.

[relieved]

I have been trained in EMDR for 4 years and have treated many children and adolescents with CPTSD at the residential school where I worked for 4 years. In my private practice which I have been in part time for about a year and a half I have treated several adults with PTSD and only a couple with CPTSD. It is a long process and one has to go very slowly with lots of positive resource work to be done prior to delving into trauma.  My experiences overall have been very positive.
Prior to EMDR I did work with many with CPTSD as well as other diagnoses when I worked on the crisis team, but EMDR and hypnosis/guided imagery help treatment to progress.  I like working with hypnosis and imagery to bolster up an individuals inner strengths and resources- helping them deal with emotions that seem out of control at times.
Eventually I would like to take Somatic Experiencing training, but that is going to wait til next year I think.