Course Description

The evolution of EMDR therapy as a comprehensive psychotherapy approach has expanded its application to clients with complex trauma presentations, including individuals with complex posttraumatic stress disorder (cPTSD). Clinical features commonly associated with complex trauma—such as affect tolerance impairments, dissociation, limited internal resources, and challenges within the therapeutic relationship—can complicate both treatment planning and reprocessing phases of EMDR therapy.

This presentation examines clinical considerations relevant to working with complex trauma within an EMDR framework, with particular attention to case conceptualization, therapeutic relationship factors, and adaptations within the standard EMDR protocol. Attendees will explore how the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model informs flexible treatment planning when affect phobia, dissociation, and relational challenges are present.

Emphasis is placed on understanding when and how procedural modifications may be considered within phases of EMDR therapy, while maintaining fidelity to the AIP model. The session highlights ethical and clinical decision‑making processes that support responsiveness to client needs within complex trauma treatment.

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will be able to describe common clinical challenges associated with complex PTSD presentations in EMDR therapy, including affect tolerance difficulties and dissociation.
2. Participants will be able to identify considerations for adapting case conceptualization when working with clients presenting with complex trauma.
3. Participants will be able to describe EMDR therapy procedural modifications used with complex trauma presentations while maintaining fidelity to the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model.

Session Level: Intermediate

Michael Hase, M.D.

Michael Hase, M.D., trained as a psychiatrist and psychotherapist in 1992. He started his EMDR education in 1997. Hase became an EMDR Trainer in 2007. He is teaching EMDR in Germany and Denmark. His areas of expertise are the application of EMDR Therapy on addiction, depression, trauma by somatic disorder/medical procedures. He published or contributed to protocols in these topics and is lecturing in Europe and abroad. Together with Arne Hofmann, he was awarded the Outstanding Research Award by the board of directors of the EMDR International Association in 2015.