Inverted Protocol

At the EMDRIA Conference this past fall, I took the workshop - "Advanced Applications of EMDR and Child Psychotherapy" taught by Robbie Adler-Tapia and Carolyn Settle. They presented a modified protocol called the Inverted Protocol which they recommended using with children. Think of this protocol in terms of:  FUTURE/ PRESENT/ PAST (which is the opposite of traditional EMDR protocol - PAST/ PRESENT/ FUTURE)

Use this protocol to help a child handle trauma work in a more resourced way. They recommended that with children to think episodic treatment - one session at a time to make the greatest impact - always end on something positive for the child to leave a session.

1.  FUTURE first - use future templates to help resource child to begin with. This is great for kids you don't know how long you will have them in therapy.

2.  PRESENT second - monitor triggers, stressors, and self soothing. Target urges in the present and in the installation replace behaviors with mastery experiences - example "Tell me one time you did not act out when you had that feeling?" Install that.

3.  PAST third - target past traumas with standard protocol.

This was adapted from Hofmann, A. (2004, June). Treatment of complext PTSD and EMDR, Plenary session speech during the Fifth European EMDR conference, Stockholm, Sweden.

I would love to hear how this protocol goes for those of you who choose to use it.