TTC EMDR Therapy Protocols 2 ā Questions and Answers
Question 1: During the Desensitization phase of EMDR, what does the clinician ask the client to track simultaneously with the traumatic memory?
- Their breathing pattern only
- The dual attention stimulus (e.g., bilateral eye movements) (Correct answer)
- A written timeline of the trauma
- The therapist's verbal interpretations
Correct answer: The dual attention stimulus (e.g., bilateral eye movements)
The Desensitization phase uses dual attention stimuliāsuch as bilateral eye movementsāwhile the client holds the traumatic memory in mind to process it.
Question 2: Which EMDR phase specifically involves identifying the Negative Cognition (NC) and Positive Cognition (PC)?
- Phase 1: History-Taking
- Phase 3: Assessment (Correct answer)
- Phase 5: Installation
- Phase 7: Closure
Correct answer: Phase 3: Assessment
Phase 3 (Assessment) is where the clinician identifies the target image, Negative Cognition, Positive Cognition, emotions, body sensations, and baseline SUDS/VOC scores.
Question 3: The Validity of Cognition (VOC) scale in EMDR measures what on a 1ā7 scale?
- How distressing the memory feels
- How true the Positive Cognition feels in the body (Correct answer)
- The number of trauma memories to process
- The client's motivation for therapy
Correct answer: How true the Positive Cognition feels in the body
The VOC scale (1ā7) measures how true the Positive Cognition feels to the client on a body/gut level, with 7 being completely true.
Question 4: In EMDR's Standard Protocol, what is the primary purpose of the Body Scan phase (Phase 6)?
- To introduce relaxation techniques for homework
- To identify any residual physical tension or disturbance after Installation (Correct answer)
- To reassess the original trauma narrative
- To practice future-template scenarios
Correct answer: To identify any residual physical tension or disturbance after Installation
Phase 6 (Body Scan) asks the client to scan their body while holding the target memory and Positive Cognition to identify any remaining somatic distress.
Question 5: When a client's SUDS does not decrease after several sets of BLS during Desensitization, this is referred to as:
- Abreaction
- Looping or blocking (Correct answer)
- Rapid processing
- Spontaneous remission
Correct answer: Looping or blocking
When processing stalls and SUDS remains elevated without movement, it is called looping or blocking, often requiring a cognitive interweave or protocol adjustment.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes a 'cognitive interweave' in EMDR?
- A structured relaxation script used before BLS
- A therapist-initiated statement or question to jumpstart blocked processing (Correct answer)
- The client's spontaneous insight during desensitization
- A written reframe the client completes as homework
Correct answer: A therapist-initiated statement or question to jumpstart blocked processing
A cognitive interweave is a therapist-introduced statement, question, or information used to restart stalled processing during the Desensitization phase.
Question 7: Which EMDR protocol modification is specifically designed for clients with dissociative disorders?
- The Floatback Technique
- The EMD (Eye Movement Desensitization) restricted protocol
- The Dissociative Table Technique and phase-oriented stabilization approach (Correct answer)
- The Future Template Protocol
Correct answer: The Dissociative Table Technique and phase-oriented stabilization approach
For clients with dissociative disorders, EMDR is modified to include phase-oriented stabilization, ego-state work, and tools like the Dissociative Table Technique before trauma processing.
TTC EMDR Therapy Protocols 2
During the Desensitization phase of EMDR, what does the clinician ask the client to track simultaneously with the traumatic memory?