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The resistance I had been encountering was with clients expe-
riencing “little t” trauma. “Little t” trauma refers to the numerous,
negative experiences that occur over time. These experiences have
been weaved into personal histories and core systems of beliefs and
emotions. For resistant clients, the process of cognitive disconnect
has occurred, for example: “I know this
rationally
(that I
am
safe, wor-
thy and whole), but I am not getting over this
emotionally
, (the
feeling
that I am safe, worth and whole)”. I wanted to help these clients
through their resistance. I also desired to have a therapeutic approach
for clients who had experienced major, or “Big T” trauma (such as
what occurs with PTSD).
I would like to highlight two cases, one which exemplifies using
EMDR to treat “little t” trauma (the case of “Mary”) and the other
to exemplify the use of EMDR to treat “Big T” trauma (the case of
“Helen”).
“Mary” initially presented to therapy with chronic depression and
anxiety. When we first started working together I was not yet trained
in EMDR and was treating Mary primarily with CBT, from a Chris-
tian-foundation of belief systems. Mary had been chronically abused/
neglected by her parents throughout her childhood and adolescent
years. At her core was a deep sense of worthlessness, abandonment
and fear, and a chronic sense of trauma, all which continued to be
triggered when in conflict situations with her husband and other loved
ones. In EMDR terms, her present triggers were activating a well-de-
veloped, tight negative neural network that took root in early child-
hood years and continued to gain strength as new trauma occurred.
Mary’s response to present triggers was to internalize “I am worthless;
I am not lovable, I am not safe”; behaviorally she would break down
in despair and not recover for days, pathologically apologizing and
seeking her loved ones’ assurances.
Seven months into CBT, Mary articulated that the cognitive
behavioral processing had increasingly allowed her to acknowledge
the possibility that she was “important enough to God” and “lov-
able and worthy”. Nine months into therapy, and for the next several
months which ensued, Mary appeared to be stuck. She was having
trouble accessing the positive neural networks which pointed to her
being lovable and worthy. We continued to explore and use CBT and
mindfulness techniques, and also did some inner child work; all fairly
helpful. However Mary still struggled.
Right around this time, I had started practicing EMDR. Mary
and I explored the possible benefits of trying EMDR to help her
overcome resistance to treatment. We talked through the 8 phased-
protocol of EMDR that would be closely followed in this therapeutic
model. Our target was Mary’s responses to when her husband lost his
temper. In these instances she would be triggered (remember, your
past is your present), prompting a behavioral response of pathologi-
cal begging/pleading for forgiveness /reassurances from her husband,
rendering her dysfunctional for long periods of time. As this negative
neural network was activated, she traced the roots of this disturbance
back to a touchstone memory of standing in her crib as a two-year
old, experiencing total fright at her mother’s outburst towards her.
The core “negative cognition” that was identified was “it’s my fault; I
deserve to die or to be hurt”. As we embarked upon the active phase
of EMDR processing, Mary’s progress was steady and formidable. As
positive neural networks were accessed through EMDR, irrational
and negative assumptions and beliefs that she had not been able to
overcome through cognitive therapy were desensitized. Critically, she
was able to access the positive neural networks allowing her to
believe
that she was worthy of God’s love, overcoming the cognitive discon-
nect between
knowing
(rationally) God loves her and
feeling
(experien-
tially) that He does. In her own words “I now
feel
worthy…my energy
is not occupied by doing something every day to prove I am deserving
to live. I was always afraid my husband would leave me. I don’t think
he will, and I can handle myself if he does”.
The second case is the EMDR experience with “Helen.” This case ex-
emplifies recent adult, “Big T” trauma. Helen, her husband and little
boy were held at gunpoint in a store. Fortunately no physical harm
ensued. Helen managed to repress this experience continuing on
through the rest of the year, busy with home and work. Five months
after this incident she was put on a new medication to manage an
ongoing medical condition. This medication seemed to trigger an
onslaught and persistence of intrusive, violent thoughts relating back
to the original incident. Four months later when she presented for
treatment, she was living in a state of high anxiety and dysfunction,
bombarded by fears of the intrusive thoughts and exhibiting many
other symptoms of PTSD.
Complying to the 8-phase EMDR treatment protocol, an
EMDR-focused history was conducted; the client was prepared for
EMDR processing; then active processing (including the processing of
past, present and future disturbances) was completed. Helen cleared
out the power that these disturbances had on her neural networks.
By the completion of 8 sessions, Helen reported relief from intrusive
thinking; diminished hypervigilance, diminished somatic symptoms,
and the beginning of a return to normal living.
I have now been practicing EMDR for two years, honing my skills
through further training. Because my early experiences in using
EMDR were so successful, I have been receiving additional supervi-
sion and training to work towards EMDR Certified Therapist level, a
certification I hope to complete at the end of this year. I continue to
see so many people improve using this form of treatment. I would like
to encourage Christian counselors to explore the potential benefits to
your practice. Visit
for details on EMDR efficacy,
practice, training and more.
Elizabeth Weinhold, M.A., LPC, BCPCC,
spe-
cializes in anxiety and depression counseling
and works with clients on overcoming the im-
pact of psychological trauma. In addition, she
practices relationship and marriage counseling
at her private practice in Wake Forest, N.C.
Through the bilateral stimulation of the brain, which is a central EMDR component, negative
neural networks become unblocked and the brain is released to do what the brain is good at
doing, which is to process these memories, thoughts and emotions adaptively.
