EMDR for Kids: Adapting the 8 Phases of EMDR for Children

Course Overview

What would you do if you had a magic wand to help children heal from trauma? Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) isn’t magic, but it can feel pretty close with its powerful effects. As mental health professionals, many of us are committed to helping others heal from trauma, but finding effective ways to do so with children can be a challenge. EMDR is an evidence based therapy that has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms of trauma in children after adverse experiences. In this advanced training, EMDR trained professionals will learn how to adapt the 8 phases of EMDR therapy with children. Participants will learn a variety of playful and innovative interventions to effectively engage children in all phases of EMDR therapy. Join Christine Mark-Griffin, LCSW, certified EMDR clinician and EMDRIA-Approved Consultant and author of EMDR Workbook for Kids in this 8-hour training to enhance your skills in providing EMDR with kids. 

Learning Objectives

• Describe the 8 phases of EMDR therapy with child friendly verbiage
• Explain how to adapt activities and games in EMDR therapy with children
• Summarize EMDR interventions and techniques that can be implemented for children for each phase of EMDR therapy

Target Audience

• Social Workers
• Psychologists
• Counselors
• Case Managers
• Marriage and Family Therapists
• Therapists
• Other Mental Health Professionals

*Pre-Requisite: Participants must have completed EMDR Basic Training

Duration

Two sessions of 4 hours each. Due to the time difference between US and Singapore, the sessions will be conducted in the mornings (Singapore time)

Workshop Topics

Overview: Child Friendly Explanation of the 8 phases of EMDR (15mins)

Phase 1: My Story and Goals (60 mins)

• Learning the child and family story
• Identifying favorite memories
• Identifying scary, confusing and traumatic memories
• Common target problems
• Making a Plan
• Setting child and family goals

Phase 2: Getting Prepared (90 mins)

• Child friendly psychoeducation about EMDR therapy
• Learning back and forth movement (bilateral stimulation)
• Child friendly emotional regulation interventions

  • Turtle of Tolerance
  • Alarm Systems
  • Stoplight Zones

• Child friendly coping and grounding strategies

  • Safe, Calm Place
  • Lightstream
  • Happy place
  • Container exercise

Phase 3: Activating Targets (60 mins)

• Child Friendly Standard Protocol Activities

  • How to get the 7 components for phase 3

• Child Friendly SUD an VOC scales
• Story telling technique for young children

Phase 4: Discharging the Stress (60mins)

• Adapting bilateral stimulation for children

  • Eye Movement
  • Tactile
  • Audio

• Games and activities for bilateral stimulation
• Technology and programs for bilateral stimulation

Phase 5: Strengthening the Positive (60 mins)

• Identifying positive thoughts and memories
• Before and after self-talk
• Creating mindful mantras with children
• Games and activities to improve child self-confidence

  • I’ve got your back(intervention)
  • Back and forth together(intervention)

Phase 6: Increasing Body Awareness (60mins)

• Child friendly psychoeducation for body sensations
• Activities and games to help children increase body awareness
• Exploring body sensations related to target problems for children
• Helping children connect past trauma to stuck body sensations
• Helping children and caregivers identify body sensations

Phase 7: Finishing and Ending (30 mins)

• Child Friendly explanation for what to expect after an EMDR session
• Preparation with child caregivers to support children in between sessions
• Helping caregivers and children connect after EMDR sessions

Phase 8:  Reviewing and Revising (45min)

• Child friendly activities and games to review & revise

  • Graphing

    • Rating scales 
    • Before and after art

• Collecting information from parents and caregivers
• Helping parents and caregivers evaluate with children 

References

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