Despite the potential benefits, children are often very reluctant to participate in EMDR therapy. Best standards for trauma work with children require a playful phase-based approach with the goal of supporting trauma exposure/trauma narrative work.  This workshop will establish 8 essential considerations in fully integrating EMDR in a prescriptive play therapy setting. We will share clinical examples of using a play-based approach to developing internal resources in the preparation phase and examine the idea that active play may be the preferred avenue to access and reprocess with EMDR the implicit memories involved so often in complex trauma in children. Fully involving parents in assessment, preparation, processing and re-evaluation will be illustrated with case examples and scripted interventions. We will use attachment theory and polyvagal theory to understand how to use grounding and attachment repair to promote the interoception of safety for the child. Finally, we will apply dissociation theories through the use of play and expressive therapy interventions to prepare and support highly dissociative children in EMDR reprocessing.

Presenters: Annie Monaco & Ann Beckley-Forest