Overview
Day 1
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.
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. 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.
Participants will 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)
Day 2
Building on day 1, Ad and Suzy explain how clinicians can use special EMDR techniques which can be applied to treat patients with a variety of mental health conditions, including Complex PTSD. They will show how to deal with the ingrained avoidance patterns of patients who are too afraid and avoidant to get started with trauma-focused therapy.
Through extensive - and step-by-step - demonstrations the presenters will illustrate the application of these EMDR 2.0 consistent (i.e., including deliberate taxation of working memory) techniques - as well as various titration techniques designed to help patients manage the affect associated with EMDR procedures to help patients to continue effective reprocessing.
Additionally, this workshop will teach, with examples, the use of the Flashforward technique, which addresses anticipatory anxiety. The effectiveness and versatility of the Flashforward technique have been strongly scientifically substantiated. In this workshop, you will learn how to use the Flashforward technique in combination with the Mental Video Check, another technique, which is used as an indispensable method in the treatment of anxiety disorders with EMDR therapy. You will also learn how to use the Flashforward technique with patients who are inclined to dissociate, such as those with complex PTSD or borderline personality disorder features. All techniques can be used in both “on-site” and virtual therapy and the “how-tos” for each will be discussed.
Day 1 Schedule
- 07:45 – 08:00: Arrival and Registration
- 8:00 – 09:30: Working memory theory, consequences for treatment and exercise
- 09:30 – 10:00: Morning tea
- 10:00 – 11:30: Trauma activation, desensitization, modality-specific taxing and exercise
- 11:30 - 12:30: Lunch break
- 12:30 – 14:00: Different working memory taxing tasks, practical tips and demonstration
- 14:00 - 14:15: Afternoon tea
- 14:15 - 15:45: Dealing with mnemophobia, “EMD-bomb” and exercise
- 15:45 - 16:00: Closing remarks
Day 2 Schedule
- 07:45 – 08:00: Arrival and Registration
- 8:00 – 09:00: Introduction to the EMD bomb, Flash 1.0 Techniques
- 09:00 – 09:30: Titration techniques to keep processing memories
- 09:30 – 10:00: Morning tea
- 10:00 – 10:45: Memory-taxing tasks (e.g., fast eye movements and spelling tasks)
- 10:45 – 11:30: How the “EMDR bomb” and “Flash 1.0” can be used in individuals suffering from Complex PTSD, both face to face and remotely.
- 11:30 - 12:30: Lunch break
- 12:30 – 13:00: Step-by-step demonstration
- 13:00 – 13:30: Use of the Flashforward technique in combination with the Mental Video Check
- 13:30 – 14:15: Practicum
- 14:00 – 14:15: Afternoon tea
- 14:15 – 14:45: Use of the Flashforward technique in patients who are inclined to dissociate, for example those with complex PTSD or borderline personality disorder.
- 14:45 – 15:00: Flashforward technique and online therapy
- 15:00 - 15:15: Q & A
- 15:15 – 16:00: Networking
Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to:
- Describe the indication areas for which the “EMDR bomb” and “Flash 1.0” can be used.
- Describe possible advantages of using the “EMDR bomb” and “Flash 1.0”.
- Describe how the “EMDR bomb” and “Flash 1.0” can be used in individuals suffering from Complex PTSD in both on-site and virtual therapy.
- Have knowledge of several titration techniques to maintain successful reprocessing of memories.
- Describe the indication areas for which the Flashforward technique and the mental video check can be used.
- Describe possible advantages of using the Flashforward technique and the mental video check.
- Describe how the Flashforward technique can be used when dissociation is preventing access to traumatic memories.
- Describe how the Flashforward technique can be used via virtual therapy.
Presenter(s)
Dr Ad de Jongh and Dr Suzy Matthijssen
About the presenter(s)
Ad de Jongh, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and professor of Anxiety and Behavior Disorders at the University of Amsterdam. He holds honorary and visiting professorships across several UK universities and co-founded the Psychotrauma Expertise Centre (PSYTREC), where he worked in research. An expert in anxiety disorders and trauma treatment, he has published over 500 scientific works on evidence-based therapies for diverse populations, including traumatised children, people with intellectual disabilities, and those with complex psychiatric conditions. He is also an EMDR Europe-approved trainer and a former member of the EMDR Council of Scholars.
Suzy Matthijssen, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist-psychotherapist, senior researcher, CBT consultant, EMDR Europe trainer, and psychotraumatherapist (NtVP). She is vice president of the Dutch EMDR Association, sits on the EMDR Europe scientific committee, and is former co-chair of the EMDR Council of Scholars. She directs both the Enhancing Trauma Treatment Institute and the PSYTREC Academy, where she oversees research and education. Her work focuses on optimising trauma therapy, intensive treatment programs, and understanding therapeutic mechanisms.
Notes
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