Integrating EMDR and Ego State Treatment for Clients With Trauma Disorders

This article is an excerpt from Healing the Heart of Trauma and Dissociation with EMDR and Ego State Therapy (edited by Carol Forgash and Margaret Copeley, 2007, pp. 1–59). The preparation phase of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is very important in the therapy of multiply traumatized clients with complex posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dissociative symptoms. EMDR clinicians who treat clients with complex trauma will benefit from learning specific readiness and stabilization interventions that are inherent to Phase 1 of a well-accepted phased trauma-treatment model. Extending the preparation phase of EMDR by including these interventions provides sequential steps for the development of symptom-management skills and increased stability. Additional focus is placed on helping clients work with their ego state system to develop boundaries, cooperative goals, and healthier attachment styles. Following an individually tailored preparation phase, the processing of long-held traumatic memory material becomes possible.