Course Description

Early in the development of EMDR therapy, some clinicians observed that reprocessing more often moved clients presenting with dissociative disorders into dysregulated states rather than toward an expected, adaptive resolution. In recent years, EMDR therapists and trainers have become more broadly aware of the incidence and significance of complex trauma and dissociation. With this shift, many have delved deeper into the dissociative disorders literatures, strived to utilize screening and assessment tools more effectively, and grown increasingly interested to integrate their learnings to reinforce foundational learning and improve treatment outcomes. Current research will inform this discussion—led by Jennifer Madere, MA, LPC-S; D. Michael Coy, MA, LICSW—exploring the different frameworks for understanding dissociation, the importance of diagnostic evaluation in Phase I: History Taking, and conceptualization and treatment of dissociative presentations within an EMDR therapy frame. The future of EMDR therapy and dissociation depends on clinicians and trainers integrating a comprehensive standard of care with nuanced conceptual, theoretical, and practical treatment considerations.

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will be able to describe 3 historical, confounding factors which have contributed to the misunderstandings of dissociation and the dissociative disorders.
2. Participants will be able to explain why the associations that normally occur in EMDR therapy may be destabilizing to persons who experience dissociation of the personality.
3. Participants will be able to identify 3 therapist and training factors which support effective conceptualization and treatment of dissociation and the dissociative disorders.

Presenter(s)

Jennifer Madere, MA, LPC-S

Jennifer Madere, MA, LPC-S, is an EMDRIA Approved Consultant and Trainer and founding partner of Intuitus Group in Cedar Park, Texas. Jennifer co-chaired the group that developed the EMDR therapy training offered by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, and co-teaches this training. She has presented on the MID since 2014, and collaborated with D. Michael Coy and Paul Dell, PhD to update the Interpretive Manual and associated documents for the Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation (MID). Together Jennifer and Michael have made the MID documents and training accessible to clinicians and researchers world-wide.

D. Michael Coy, MA, LICSW

D. Michael Coy, MA, LICSW, is an EMDRIA Approved Consultant who maintains a private practice in Bremerton, Washington. He previously served on EMDRIA’s Standards & Training committee (2014-2017). Michael has collaborated with Jennifer Madere and Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation developer Paul F. Dell, PhD since 2016, co-authored the MID Interpretive Manual, and manages the MID Analysis and MID website. Jennifer and Michael have presented on the MID both in the US and internationally. Michael serves on ISSTD’s Board of Directors and as the Society’s Treasurer. He co-chaired the group that developed ISSTD’s EMDR therapy ‘basic’ training, which he also co-teaches.