Download the preworkshop booklet emdr. You must bring this completed workbook to the training.
This next set of material covers the istory of the discovery of EMDR, review of important theoretical models of trauma processing and lecture material on the first 3 phases of EMDR. You can listen to this material by clicking on each of the audio files below. You can also download them to listen at another time (MP3 file).
If you prefer to read the transcripts instead of listening to the two lectures you can download those 20 pages here.
The theory parts of these recordings relies on understanding information processing models of trauma. In 1996, we published an article in the Australian Psychologist on the association between the information processing that occurs during EMDR and other Information Processing Theory. An abstract of this article and diagram, explaining the concepts is available from the this link. Shapiro proposed the Adaptive Information Processing model to guide an understanding of EMDR. You need to be familiar with this model as there are questions about this in your workbook. Download a summary of this model here. Finally there is an interesting paper (Stickgold, 2002) that describes some hypotheses about what occurs in the brain during trauma resolution, REM sleep and EMDR.
How does EMDR work?
In 2009, Dr Sarah Shubert and Dr Chris Lee published a summary of recent, mechanisms and controversies. Click here to read an extract from the paper that summaries the major theories on underlying mechanisms.
Some clients are curious about their EMDR experience and may benefit from a client handout which you can download here.
Many critics of EMDR have described it as just another form of exposure therapy. However it is clear from both conceptual analysis and published data that EMDR is quite different to traditional exposure. There are conceptual and clinical divergences from exposure which are well described by In 2006 we published the first process study that demonstrated EMDR did not work in the same way as traditional exposure therapy. Click here for our paper. This paper has been very well received as evidenced by it having been cited in over 190 peer-reviewed publications.
Click here for a recent review of all RCTs on EMDR for PTSD. This includes its status as assessed by international practice guideline committees. We have also written a review of EMDR for all other conditions. This paper is still under review and will be available by the time you commence your training.
It will be assumed you have covered the above material as pre-workshop preparation. Completion of the workbook and key theory papers will take you 6 – 8 hours. A reminder that it is required to bring your workbook to the training.