EMDR Eight-Phase EMDR Protocol 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During Phase 2 (Preparation), what is the primary purpose of establishing a 'safe place' or 'calm place' exercise?
- To hypnotize the client before trauma processing
- To provide a resource the client can access if they become overwhelmed during processing (Correct answer)
- To replace traumatic memories with positive ones
- To assess the client's level of dissociation
Correct answer: To provide a resource the client can access if they become overwhelmed during processing
The safe/calm place is a stabilization resource clients can use to self-regulate if distress becomes unmanageable during EMDR sessions.
Question 2: In Phase 3 (Assessment), the Validity of Cognition (VoC) scale measures:
- How accurate the negative cognition is on a scale of 1–7
- How true the positive cognition feels on a scale of 1–7 (Correct answer)
- The client's level of subjective distress on a scale of 0–10
- How frequently the client experiences intrusive thoughts
Correct answer: How true the positive cognition feels on a scale of 1–7
The VoC rates how true the positive cognition feels to the client, from 1 (completely false) to 7 (completely true).
Question 3: Which of the following best describes the 'float-back' or 'affect bridge' technique used during Phase 3 targeting?
- A bilateral stimulation method using auditory tones only
- A method of connecting a current disturbing belief to its earlier memory origins (Correct answer)
- A relaxation technique performed between processing sets
- A way to measure the SUD level across multiple sessions
Correct answer: A method of connecting a current disturbing belief to its earlier memory origins
The float-back technique helps identify the earliest memory linked to a current negative cognition by following the affect or body sensation back in time.
Question 4: A client's SUD level drops from 7 to 3 but stops decreasing after several sets of BLS. This is called:
- Successful desensitization
- An ecological plateau
- A blocked processing response or looping (Correct answer)
- Premature installation
Correct answer: A blocked processing response or looping
When SUD stalls and processing appears stuck, this is referred to as blocked processing or looping, requiring the therapist to use cognitive interweaves or other strategies.
Question 5: Phase 5 (Installation) begins when the client's SUD level reaches:
- 3 or below
- 1 or 0 (Correct answer)
- 0 only
- 5 or below
Correct answer: 1 or 0
Installation of the positive cognition typically begins when the SUD level is 0 or 1, indicating the traumatic memory has been sufficiently desensitized.
Question 6: During Phase 6 (Body Scan), the therapist asks the client to hold both the target memory and the positive cognition together and then:
- Rate the VoC one final time
- Notice any residual tension or sensation in their body (Correct answer)
- Begin a new target memory immediately
- Perform the EMD protocol for remaining distress
Correct answer: Notice any residual tension or sensation in their body
The body scan checks for any residual somatic disturbance that may indicate incomplete processing of the trauma.
Question 7: Which phase of EMDR specifically involves psychoeducation about the trauma response and the model's information-processing theory?
- Phase 1 (History-Taking)
- Phase 2 (Preparation) (Correct answer)
- Phase 3 (Assessment)
- Phase 4 (Desensitization)
Correct answer: Phase 2 (Preparation)
Phase 2 includes educating clients about how trauma affects memory and how EMDR's adaptive information processing model explains symptom formation and resolution.
EMDR Eight-Phase EMDR Protocol 2
During Phase 2 (Preparation), what is the primary purpose of establishing a 'safe place' or 'calm place' exercise?