The EMDR Therapist Weekly aims to provide a weekly dose of insights, tools, and opportunities for EMDR therapists; designed to support your growth, sharpen your practice, and connect you with what's next. To achieve this, we occasionally invite subject matter experts as guest writers. I'm excited to introduce another guest writer this week: Dr. Amber Quaranta-Leech, LPC-S

Dr. Quaranta-Leech is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor, EMDRIA Approved Consultant and Trainer, and COO of CompassionWorks, LLC. She researches the use of EMDR protocols in high conflict situations and has delivered EMDR trainings to thousands of licensed therapists and EMDR practitioners.

Without further ado, Dr. Amber Quaranta-Leech writes:

Back to the Basics

EMDR is an amazing field. We as clinicians work with theories and protocols that are built on decades of research while also working on the cutting edge of more discoveries and new treatments coming available every year. It is easy to become lost in the what’s next and what’s new in our work. Those who are entering the field can easily become disoriented in the many options available to them and the mixes and matches of it all.

There are many options of EMDR fusion therapy trainings available out there. I want to take a moment and bring us back into the foundation of what is EMDR Therapy.

The AIP Lens

EMDR is far more than just the eye movements and bilateral stimulation of whatever flavor your client prefers. In EMDR we make a perspective shift from the presenting problem as the problem to the presenting problem as the symptoms. The presenting problems of depression, anxiety, PTSD, addiction or any other diagnosis is how the client’s nervous system is responding to what has happened to them.

My question is: “When or where did the nervous system learn that this is what is needed for survival”? This response, this “problem” is how our client’s system has learned to survive. At some point in their life this is what was needed for them to live through whatever their experiences were.

Beyond bilateral stimulation, EMDR therapy involves understanding the roots of presenting concerns and facilitating the reprocessing and integration of maladaptively stored experiences while strengthening adaptive networks and ways of engaging with oneself and the world.

Eight-Phases and three-prongs

After the AIP model we need to remember that EMDR is all 8-phases and working in the three prongs of Past-Present-Future. What does this mean to us as clinicians?

It means we gather history and develop a map of where we are headed with our client. Without good goals how do we know that we have arrived at a conclusion? What does healing look like for this client in front of us?

We stay in preparation phase as long as needed, as short as possible. We want to balance the support and relaxation and facing the maladaptive memories. We are looking for readiness for their nervous system to move into the challenging memories while being aware of what internal and external supports are needed for building to the upcoming change.

When we are moving into Phases 3 and beyond, we are maintaining connection to our client and maintaining a supportive neutral to hold space for their experience. It is an honor to walk through these memories with our clients and see them arrive at the other side! Once we process a past memory or present trigger, don’t forget the future. Let’s set our client’s nervous system up for success as they face challenges that will arise.

Clients often anticipate future situations through the lens of fear and past learning. The future template allows us to help clients rehearse responses so that they can approach upcoming challenges with greater confidence and flexibility.

Case Conceptualization and Trusting the Process

EMDR therapy is not simply choosing memories and applying bilateral stimulation. The AIP model gives us a roadmap for understanding how experiences connect across time and how current symptoms are maintained.

Thoughtful target sequencing helps us identify feeder memories, developmental themes, and present triggers while keeping treatment aligned with the client’s goals and capacity. Protocols provide structure while case conceptualization provides direction.

The gift of attunement

I’ve already said that it is more than just the bilateral, but I want to emphasize even more. It is more than just the protocols, questions, and blue ball. EMDR is attunement to our client. It is a dance between our nervous system and theirs as we use our voice, our tone, inflection, intonation, volume, speed, rate, and rhythm to let our client know that as they are walking along the pathway of the past, present, and future - they are not alone.

There is a lot that can be conveyed in two words. “Notice THAT” compared to “NOTICE that”. We can ask with curiosity, affirmation, or gentle support. We can maintain fidelity to the protocol while supporting our client with the humanness that is unique to our profession. The person of a therapist that we bring to our work. Fidelity to EMDR therapy and attunement are not competing values. The protocols provide structure, but presence, pacing and relationship provide safety.

In Closing

As we continue to grow our skills and learn all of the adjustments to protocols and EMDR fusion therapies, let’s not lose track of the foundation of the work that we do. Let’s stay connected to the basics and check in on occasion to see just how far we have come. Remember, we are not the agent of healing. EMDR therapy is not the agent of healing. The client is their own agent of healing.

We create the conditions for adaptive information processing to occur. Rather than relying on interpreting, analyzing, or leading a client towards a predetermined insight, we trust the clients innate capacity for healing of the nervous system and remain curious about where the process is going.

Dr. Amber Quaranta-Leech

If you or someone you know is ready to dive into the world of EMDR with the Basic Training, or going to step up your game with Advanced trainings, join the CompassionWorks crew in-person, hybrid, or fully online. Train with Experts, Heal with Compassion.
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Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only. This is not legal or clinical advice and we make no guarantees about the outcomes or results from information shared in this document. Proceed at your own risk and discretion.​

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