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EMDR History

This document outlines the process for conducting an EMDR history taking with a client. It involves identifying the presenting issue, current triggers, a "touchstone" memory from the past, the negative belief associated with that memory, and the desired positive cognition and future outcome. The client is guided to recall earlier incidents and the earliest memory is selected as the initial target for EMDR reprocessing. A summary plan is then created documenting this targeting sequence.

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Eliza Beth
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193 views

EMDR History

This document outlines the process for conducting an EMDR history taking with a client. It involves identifying the presenting issue, current triggers, a "touchstone" memory from the past, the negative belief associated with that memory, and the desired positive cognition and future outcome. The client is guided to recall earlier incidents and the earliest memory is selected as the initial target for EMDR reprocessing. A summary plan is then created documenting this targeting sequence.

Uploaded by

Eliza Beth
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PHASE 1: EMDR-FOCUSED HISTORY

Presenting Issue (EMDR Reprocessing Specific):


“Tell me what issue or situation you’d like to address?”
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Present Triggers
“Tell me a little more about it.”
Ask questions such as:
“When does it happen?”
“When did it start?” or “How long has it been an issue?
“How do you contribute to the situation?”
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

“Tell me a recent situation when this happened?”


________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

“What represents the worst part of this situation?” (This could be represented by a picture,
sound, smell emotion, sensation, etc.)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

“As you think of that situation, what emotions or sensations are you feeling right now?”
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Negative Core Belief
“As you think of that situation and the sensations you are experiencing right now, what
words best describe yourself negative belief about yourself?”
________________________________________________________________________

Past (Use direct questioning, float back and/or affect scan to identify the earliest incident
(Touchstone Event).
“Focus on the sensations your are experiencing and that negative belief and allow yourself
to float back (or scan back) to an earlier time when those thoughts were experienced. What
memory comes up?”
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Additional questioning/float back/scans may be needed to identify the earliest experience


the client is able to recall (*Touchstone).
Caution: Repeated eliciting of strong emotions and physical sensations may
over-access and activate memory networks and flood the client.
“Any earlier?”
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
“Any situations as a child with either of your parents, siblings, school?”
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

*Touchstone: (Record the earliest recalled experience – identified above)


________________________________________________________________________

Positive Cognition: (as the client thinks of the touchstone)


“As you think of the earliest (or worst) incident, how would you like to think about yourself?”
________________________________________________________________________

Future Desired Outcome:


“As you think of your present problem, how would you like to see yourself handling the
situation?”
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
EMDR TARGETING SEQUENCE PLAN
(A Summary Of The EMDR History Taking Process)

PRESENTING PROBLEM
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

TARGET for first EMDR reprocessing session:


TOUCHSTONE (or worst)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
NC: _____________________________________________________________________
PC:_____________________________________________________________________

PAST INCIDENTS:
AGE INCIDENT
_____ ________________________________________________________________
_____ ________________________________________________________________
_____ ________________________________________________________________
_____ ________________________________________________________________
_____ ________________________________________________________________
_____ ________________________________________________________________
_____ ________________________________________________________________
_____ ________________________________________________________________

PRESENT TRIGGERS
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

FUTURE GOALS
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

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