Have you had those moments in therapy where you feel stuck or there is looping on issues related to negative life experiences?
Those moments can be discouraging for both the client and the therapist. It is not uncommon for clinicians who are not trained in EMDR therapy to want to refer their clients for EMDR therapy and still maintain their role as the primary therapist to their client. EMDR is a powerful supplement for traditional psychotherapy. I regularly partner with therapists to help their clients resolve their traumatic material, phobias, and recurring sympathetic nervous system activation to move treatment forward.
During this process, I target clients’ specific memories, body sensations, or limiting beliefs with EMDR. By narrowly targeting specific traumatic memories or intrusive material, brief adjunct EMDR Therapy can accelerate progress in traditional therapy, help the client and the primary therapist to resolve stuck points, and enrich their ongoing work. This is an excellent collaboration if it is managed well by both therapists, using a team approach to benefit the client.
Adjunct therapy does not replace or interrupt ongoing treatment; it is supplemental to the primary therapeutic relationship. With adjunctive EMDR and Ego State therapy, clients remain under the care of their primary therapist and continue to receive treatment. Usually, adjunct therapy is short-term (4-12 extended sessions) and desensitizes single-incident trauma or simple phobias that interfere with the client’s therapeutic gains. Treatment is typically scheduled in an intensive format, with sessions ranging from 2 to 6 hours. The success of therapy is based on clearly defined goals for the EMDR therapist, which are established in collaboration with the primary therapist and the client.
Ready to be your Adjunct EMDR Therapist!
Adjunctive EMDR therapy may also be needed as a longer-term approach where EMDR is integrated in the ongoing treatment of the client, especially for clients with complex trauma or dissociation. This form of therapy requires more collaboration and is viewed as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for a client, and is obviously different from a short-term approach, which is generally used to overcome a specific stuck point.
For this to work effectively, therapists should respectfully share their insights about the client and the progress being made. Regular 15-30 minute calls between therapists will need to be scheduled to maintain effectiveness.
Good candidates for brief adjunctive EMDR are generally:
Well-functioning individuals who have a good working relationship with their therapist.
The primary therapist and client have expressed interest and a willingness to actively collaborate with the EMDR therapist.
·The client and therapist can identify a clear target or stuck point they wish to have addressed with EMDR.
Clients without active substance abuse, self-injury, or safety risks,
Clients are in a stable living situation.
Roles of Primary Therapist and EMDR Therapist
The primary therapist remains the therapist of record and maintains their treatment plan. The primary therapist manages crisis calls or client emergencies.
The EMDR therapist maintains responsibility for the impact and effectiveness of the EMDR work both in and out of session.
Active collaboration is crucial to the client's success in this partnership.
Feedback about EMDR sessions is regularly provided to the primary therapist by the adjunctive EMDR therapist.
I maintain professional ethics and will only continue to work with the client if they are engaged in therapy with the primary therapist. I will not encourage clients to leave services with the primary therapist.
HOW TO GET STARTED WITH ADJUNCTIVE EMDR THERAPY
The primary therapist obtains a Release of Information from the client for Kerr Counseling, PLLC, and Annette Kerr, LPC, and then faxes the ROI to 817-483-6169 or contacts me by email or phone to determine the best method for delivering the ROI.
Primary therapist and Annette Kerr discuss issues related to referral and develop potential targets for EMDR processing.
The client makes an appointment with me. The client can visit this website, use the contact form, email me at annette@annettekerrcounseling.com, or call me directly.
Client and Annette Kerr discuss/complete the following: issues for treatment, develop clear targets for therapy, explanation of EMDR treatment and the process, client signs open release of information between both therapists, and discuss EMDR therapist role in the treatment, importance of the primary therapy relationship.
The primary therapist and Annette Kerr agree upon a method for active and reciprocal communication to coordinate the therapy.
Client, Annette Kerr, and the primary therapist agree upon the frequency of EMDR sessions and primary counseling sessions. Then we get into the nitty gritty!
EMDR therapy is such a tremendously valuable approach that it warrants referrals. As therapists, we each bring something unique to the table, and clients benefit from the diverse approaches to treatment and from the confidence that develops through multiple positive therapeutic relationships.
Referring therapists or clients interested in adjunctive EMDR therapy, please call or email me to discuss your needs.