EMDR Therapy Reverse Protocol

Therapists often encounter patients who are experiencing a foreshortened sense of future that is a common symptom of depression and PTSD. Clients who are dealing with the uncertainty of the future including possible medical issues, victims of crime who have to testify, children in the child welfare system, symptoms of COVID19, and clients who have anticipatory anxiety and negative beliefs about the future will benefit from EMDR therapy with a Reverse Protocol.  This online course will focus on a unique EMDR therapy conceptualization where the therapist begins by reprocessing the future first or reprocessing the 3-prongs in reverse order. Once the negative beliefs and anticipatory anxiety about the future are processed, then current triggers and past events are reprocessed either by using EMD or EMDR therapy.  By using the EMDR therapy Reverse Protocol to address the client’s negative beliefs about their future, treatment can help to elicit hope and direction for therapy. Targets are reprocessed using all 8 phases of standard EMDR therapy conceptualized through the three-pronged approach, but in reverse order. The approach is a recognizable concept, for those familiar with Solution Focused Brief Therapy. This protocol offers an alternative to extended resourcing or avoidance of EMDR therapy treatment altogether. Dr. Shapiro discussed this protocol during one of her EMDRIA Plenary Events and confirmed that this protocol was consistent with EMDR therapy.  Participants may find that this Reverse Protocol is the solution they’ve been looking for in case conceptualization with more complex clients.