Course Description

This presentation—given by Gary Brothers, LCSW—will provide both the theoretical background and a model of care for the integration of the attachment system and the AIP Model to treat clients with chronic health syndromes including autoimmune disorders and chronic pain conditions. Specific focus will be on: 1) theory and the neurobiology of the attachment system including Polyvagal Theory; 2) advances in neuroscience as it relates to components of perception (exteroception, interoception, and neuroception); 3) how perception and the AIP Model are interrelated and integrated; 4) how maladaptive attachment experiences lead to maladaptive internal subjective neural templates perpetuated by maladaptive memory networks; 5) how these maladaptive internal subjective neural templates underlie and perpetuate chronic health syndromes; and, 6) practical ways to conceptualize this for the therapist and client (both are critical) and to utilize this information through the 8 phases of EMDR to promote the healing of chronic health syndromes (yes, it is possible!).

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will be able to describe at least three ways in which stress impacts the immune system and health states.
2. Participants will be able to identify the two internal subjective neural templates based on nurture deprivation and the neurocircuit/autonomic nervous system gear of each template based on Polyvagal Theory.
3. Participants will be able to incorporate the Attachment Based Processing model proposed and Interpersonal Interoceptive Resonance discussed within the 8 phases of the EMDR Standard Therapy Protocol.

Presenter(s)

Gary Brothers, LCSW

Gary Brothers, LCSW, is EMDRIA-certified and previously presented at EMDRIA 2019 on how to best utilize EMDR for chronic pain conditions. He has over 25 years of experience, with over 12 years specializing in treating chronic pain and chronic health conditions in addition to trauma and PTSD. He has developed and directed programs and curriculums for both mental health and chronic pain treatment from the ground up. In addition to treating clients in his daily practice, he teaches workshops and trains others in his model of care that utilizes EMDR in conjunction with other strategies based in neuroscience and neurobiology.