Is Emdr Contraindicated When You're Still Struggling With Occasional Si?

[shimmerz]

I started with spirit animals (because I was working with a shaman at the time). I kept seeing a desert island - that's where I wanted to escape to for years (decades maybe). So I created one in my mind. I am interested in how this safe place is created using EMDR though. Any takers?

 

[theshadowoftheliving]

I've been told that EMDR is contraindicated in my personal case - probably due to both self u jury and suicidal ideation. I was told that until I learned to tolerate emotions and distress better, it would be too dangerous for me. I guess threat is that I would become overwhelmed and act on an impulse - I can't say that I disagree.

 

[shimmerz]

Ah! So this these are maybe indicators that EMDR is not suitable. I wondered about this as I have heard that it can be very bad for some CPTSD cases. I wonder about the stage 2 (make a safe place) that was mentioned by another poster in this thread. I wonder how one is able to tell when the safety stage is strong enough to hold a client safe?

 

[DogwoodTree]

I have used EMDR therapy successfully with panic disorders, PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief, body image, phobias, distressing memories, bad dreams, and many other problems. It's a very gentle method with no significant "down-side" so that in the hands of a professional EMDR therapist, there should be no freak-outs or worsening of day-to-day functioning.

Thanks for all the info.

What about using EMDR with people who have autism? I've declined to try EMDR up until recently because I'm not convinced it would work for someone with Asperger's. But now I've decided that I'm at least going to have to give it a try before giving up on it as a possibility, so that's why I asked my T for more info. (He's not trained in EMDR, but will refer me to someone else for the EMDR portion of therapy.)

 

[Patti Levin]

Hola Patti Levin, that was extremely informative. Is it possible does that also apply to self injury,...

yes, it applies to self injury and any issue that requires lots of resourcing to handle the EMDR therapy processing phase.

 

[Patti Levin]

Ah! So this these are maybe indicators that EMDR is not suitable. I wondered about this as I have hea...

An experienced EMDR therapist has the training to help the client know when he/she is ready for the processing phase. There are measures in the protocols that are used to evaluate progress. It actually becomes quite obvious!

 

[shimmerz]

I am wondering @Patti Levin if you could possibly post about things that people could look for in a good EMDR therapist. Back when I was really not well, my psychiatrist told me to 'find an EMDR therapist'. He, nor I, knew how badly traumatized I was. I count my blessings that I didn't go off half cocked looking for a therapist myself. I fear I would have done more harm to myself because I had NO idea what I was working with at the time.

 

[Sandstone]

I realise more and more that it is essential to have a real, working, practised system of safety before getting into any sort of processing work. For me, the problem has been that the NHS puts time constraints on therapy, so successive therapists have moved too fast in both EMDR and other therapies