Overview

This 2-part webinar series introduces introduces psychologists trained or interested in either Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) or Internal Family Systems (IFS) to aphantasia, the lifelong inability to form voluntary mental imagery, affecting an estimated 0.9–5% of clients, most of whom go unidentified in practice.

The aim is to show that both modalities default to visualisation at their most pivotal moments the EMDR safe/calm place and target image, and IFS inductions that ask clients to picture a part's appearance or watch an origin scene and that this can silently compromise therapy for clients who cannot visualise.

The content will cover:

• the prevalence and clinical presentation of aphantasia,
• a brief conversational screening approach, and
• one immediately-usable non-visual adaptation for each modality, using somatic, auditory, externalisation, and "knowing" channels in place of imagery.

Participants will be provided with a screening question and at least one technique to trial in their very next session.

• Webinar 1: EMDR and Aphantasia: Wednesday 2 December 2027, 12:15pm-1:15pm AEDT
• Webinar 2: IFS and Aphantasia: Wednesday 9 December 2027, 12:15pm-1:15pm AEDT

The session closes with a pathway into a fuller 6-hour training covering both modalities in depth.

Level of Learning

Foundational. This activity is targeted to those new to the topic.

Duration of access

These webinars will be recorded. Access to the recordings and presenter slides is for 12 months from the date of confirmed registration.

APS CPD-Approved

This activity has been assessed against the APS Standards for CPD activities and approved for its education quality. Learn more about the APS CPD Approval process.

CPD Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to the APS CPD Frequently Asked Questions for general and technical information when undertaking APS Professional development activities.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of these webinars, participants should be able to:

• identify the prevalence, subtypes, and clinical presentation of aphantasia, and apply a brief conversational screening question to detect it in a client,

• adapt at least one core EMDR phase (safe/calm place or target assessment) and one core IFS step (Flesh Out or Witnessing) using a non-visual technique, without altering the clinical function of the original phase or step, and

• differentiate between therapeutic instructions that are visually dependent and those that are not, across both EMDR and IFS protocols.

Presenter(s)

About the presenter(s)