EMDR Therapy and Mindfulness for Trauma-Focused Care

Jamie Marich, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LICDC-CS, REAT, RMT travels internationally teaching on EMDR therapy, trauma, addiction, expressive arts therapy and mindfulness while maintaining a private practice in Warren, OH. Stephen Dansiger, Psy.D., MFT played CBGB and Max’s Kansas City in the late 70’s; drank, played drums in a toy rock band and then got into recovery in the late 80’s; became an international social justice/diversity educator and rocker again in the 90’s; and is now a consultant, trainer, clinician, writer and meditation teacher. Dansiger has become a master EMDR therapist and provider of EMDR Training and Advanced Topics Courses with the Institute for Creative Mindfulness and is a pioneer in the Buddhist recovery field. He is the creator and founder of the MET(T)A Protocol (Mindfulness and EMDR Treatment Template for Agencies) which utilizes Buddhist psychology, mindfulness and EMDR therapy to create an agency's primary clinical practice system. Dansiger is the Head of Health & Wellness Innovation and Partnerships at DropLabs, a leading sound and vibration technology company. He is a Founding Member of the Society for Health Care Innovation, an outgrowth the Master of Health Care Innovation (MHCI) program at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is in the 3rd cohort.

List of Meditation Practices and Experiential Exercises


Foreword by Noah Levine, MA


Preface


Jamie’s Journey: EMDR Therapy Offers a New Solution


Stephen’s Journey: A Mindful Revelation


Acknowledgments


1. Introduction


Shifting From Trauma-Informed to Trauma-Focused


What to Expect From the Book


References


2. Redefining the Paradigm for Trauma-Focused Care


A New Hope


Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy


Mindfulness


The Fusion of Mindfulness and EMDR Therapy


Tying It All Together


Questions for Reflection and Personal Practice


References


3. Developing Buddhist Mindfulness Practice for Trauma-Focused Care


No Correct Path to Mindfulness Practice


Starting a Mindfulness Practice


Mindfulness of Breath/Sensory Grounding


Mindfulness of Feeling Tone


Mindfulness of Mind


Mindfulness of Dharmas/Loving Kindness Meditation


Walking Meditation


Beginner’s Mind Practice


Tying It All Together


Questions for Reflection and Personal Practice


Resources for Further Exploration


References


4. An Introduction to the Creative Mindfulness Practices


Choice and Possibility in Mindfulness Practice


Yogic Breathing Practices


Diaphragmatic Breathing (Belly Breathing)


Complete Breathing (Three-Part or Dirgha Breathing)


Ujjayi Breathing (Ocean-Sounding Victory Breath)


Lion Breathing


Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadhi Shodnan Pranayama)


Clench and Release: A Modified Progressive Muscle Relaxation Experience


Transforming Day-to-Day Activities Into Meditation


Energetic Massage


Noodling: The Art of “Going With” Organic, Expressive Movement


The Expressive Arts as Meditation


Tying It All Together


Questions for Reflection and Personal Practice


Resources for Further Exploration


5. EMDR Phase 1, Client History—Setting the Tone for Trauma-Focused Services


A Mindful Approach to History


The Purpose of Phase 1: Definitions From Shapiro and the EMDR International Association


Honor Possibilities in Phase 1: Gathering Client History in a Mindful Way


Best Practices for Clinical Interaction


Specific Strategies for Phase 1, Client History


How to Avoid Badgering a Client With Narrative


Sample Case Using Worksheets for History Taking


Tying It All Together


Questions for Reflection and Personal Practice


References


6. EMDR Phase 2, Preparation in Trauma-Focused Care


Mindfully Navigating the Preparation Phase


A Trauma-Focused Approach to Preparation


The Broader Context for Healing Trauma


Filling Out the Missing Pieces


Resource Development and Installation


The Relational Imperative in EMDR Therapy


Necessary Skills for Preparation and the Art of Modifying Them


No Such Thing as “One Size Fits All”


Mindfulness and Grounding Strategies


Breathing Strategies


Demonstrating Hyperarousal and Release


Multisensory Soothing


Guided Visualizations


Light Stream Multisensory Visualization Exercise


Tree Grounding Visualization Exercise


Modifications for Creativity


Simple Container Visualization Exercise


Movement, Expressive Arts, and Identification of Other Recovery Capital


Tying It All Together


Questions for Reflection and Personal Practice


Resources for Further Exploration


References


7. EMDR Phases 3 to 6: Principles of Mindful Decision Making


Moving on to Phases 3 to 6


Clinical Decision-Making Points


Access of Preparation Skills


Positive Material in the Client’s Life


Nature of the Living Situation


Drug/Alcohol Use and Psychotropic Medication


Secondary Gains and Related Issues


Number of Sessions Available


Willingness to Examine Past Issues and Potential Target Adjustments


Facilitating a Client’s Journey Through Phases 3 to 6


Mindfulness in Phases 3 to 6


Phase 3: Assessment


Phase 4: Desensitization


Phase 5: Installation


Phase 6: Body Scan


Tying It All Together


Questions for Reflection and Personal Practice


References


8. Special Situations in Phases 3 to 6: Mindful Facilitation Through Abreaction, Dissociation, and Resistance


Potential Frustrations in EMDR Therapy Phases 3 to 6


Maintaining the Calming Presence


Qualities of a Good EMDR Therapist


Mindful Skills for the Journey Through Phases 3 to 6


Handling Abreaction and Dissociation


Interweaves


“I Don’t Want to Do EMDR Anymore”


Tying It All Together


Questions for Reflection and Personal Practice


References


9. EMDR Phases 7 and 8: Mindfully Approaching What We Often Overlook


The Mindful Practice of Transition


Transitions in EMDR Therapy


Transition as Mindfulness Practice: An Exploratory Exercise


Phase 7: Closure


Learning From Mistakes


Ritual Release Breathing: A Simple Breath Practice for EMDR Closure


Flicking: A Simple Energy Practice for EMDR Closure


Best Practices for Mindful Closure


Closing and Debriefing a Session


Implementing a Safety Plan for In Between Sessions


Extraordinary Circumstances in Closure


Phase 8: Reevaluation


Reevaluation and the Art of Transition


Tracking Targets


The Importance of Future Templates


EMDR Therapy Case Conceptualization and Treatment-Plan Review


Tying It All Together


Questions for Reflection and Personal Practice


References


10. Enhancing Your Efficacy as a Therapist: Developing Your Own Mindfulness Practice and Doing Your Own Trauma Work


Interesting Times


Mindfulness and EMDR Therapy: Intimately Connected


Mindfulness: A Way of Life


Finding Your Teachers and Your Community


A Call to Revolutionary Action


Tying It All Together


Questions for Reflection and Personal Practice


References


Appendix: EMDR Clinical Worksheet Templates


Index