Don Rosenberg

Research suggests EMDR can help reconsolidate memories. While activating the brains memory center and dulling the fight-or-flight response, we can see a window of tolerance that is ripe for processing and healing from difficult memories. Whether the memories feed PTSD or depression symptoms, addictive behavior, or performance blocks - EMDR can support people in finding resolution and optimizing their ability to thrive in life.

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​Before diving into EMDR reprocessing, it's essential to ensure that clients are fully prepared and that any potential obstacles are addressed. The Work Before the Work (VOC) resource from EMDR Chicago offers therapists a structured approach to identify and resolve blocking beliefs or protective parts that may hinder the therapeutic process.​ This tool aids in enhancing client readiness, ensuring a smoother and more effective EMDR experience.​ Access the resource here:​https://lnkd.in/gAmtFMGM #EMDR #TherapistResources #ClientReadiness #EMDRChicago #PaulaMerucci #TraumaTherapy #MentalHealthTools​

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WHAT IS EMDR THERAPY? Theory: Effectively reduce clinical complaints by processing the components of the triggering painful memories. When a traumatic or very negative event occurs, information processing may be incomplete, perhaps because strong negative feelings or dissociation interfere with information processing. Learn more about Dr. Shapiro's groundbreaking work: https://lnkd.in/gyZBW2W7 #emdrbasictraining #emdrfromthesource #emdrinstitute #emdrtherapy #transformwithemdrtherapy

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐬 · #𝟎𝟏 Five reasons I decided to move more intentionally into supervision and consultation in 2026. 𝟏. 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐲. Modalities and training matter. But in complex trauma work, technique cannot compensate for unexamined trigger points, coping modes, and attachment patterns in the clinician. 𝟐. 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭’𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭. Our own unfinished material shapes pacing, boundaries, emotional availability, and clinical judgement, often quietly but decisively. 𝟑. 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤. They determine what is avoided, over-held, rushed, or over-interpreted, yet they are still too often treated as secondary rather than central. 𝟒. 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐚-𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐮𝐩𝐬��𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦. Before an intervention reaches a client, it passes through a person, a team, and a system. When those layers are strained or unsupported, no technique can compensate. 𝟓. 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞. Sustainable trauma care depends on supervision, consultation, and ethical containment, not only individual skill. I wanted to work where decisions are shaped, not just where they are applied. This shift isn’t a departure from clinical work. It’s a commitment to the level where trauma care is formed before it is delivered. More to follow. -------- Dr Julia A. Andre | Clinical Psychologist Complex trauma & dissociation | Co-Founder, Trauma Directory | Links in 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐚 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐮𝐛 #ClinicalSupervision #TraumaInformed #ComplexTrauma #ReflectivePractice

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Another study finding various #addiction support groups work as well as 12-steps: "Findings suggest comparable effectiveness for the targeted second-wave alternatives (vs. 12-step) among community members attending [mutual help groups], indicating that alcohol service providers, courts, and policymakers should consider referring to and supporting these alternatives." https://lnkd.in/gBv-Wbts

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EMDR is powerful work. And in the therapy room, knowing the protocol is not the same as knowing what to do next. Many clinicians tell me this quietly: ↳ “I know the 8 phases… but sessions don’t always follow the book.” ↳ “What if dissociation shows up?” ↳ “Should I continue, pause, or stabilise?” That’s exactly why the EMDR Therapy Cheat Sheet was created. This is a session-ready, trauma-informed clinical guide designed to support therapists, trainees, students, and supervisors in making safe, ethical, and confident decisions in real time—especially when processing becomes complex. ✨ What this cheat sheet supports you with ↳ Knowing when to proceed vs pause ↳ Responding to dissociation, overwhelm, or stuck processing ↳ Maintaining pacing, titration, and safety ↳ Staying within the window of tolerance ↳ Supporting clients during and between sessions ↳ Practising EMDR with clarity instead of urgency 🧠 What’s inside (evidence-based & session-useful) ✔ Clear sequencing of the 8 EMDR phases with therapist cues ✔ IF–THEN clinical decision guidance ✔ Proceed vs Stabilise-First rules ✔ Dissociation screening & in-session adaptations ✔ Interweaves, pacing, and titration support ✔ Between-session aftercare protocols ✔ Therapist scripts + senior clinician insights Grounded in: • Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) • Trauma neuroscience & memory reconsolidation • Window of Tolerance principles • EMDRIA-aligned, trauma-informed standards 🌿 Who this is for ↳ EMDR-trained therapists ↳ EMDR trainees & students ↳ Clinical supervisors ↳ Trauma-informed practitioners working with complexity Many clinicians say: “This feels like supervision on one page.” 📄 Format • 8-page PDF • Print-friendly, digital-ready • Easy to keep open during sessions EMDR helps the brain finish what trauma interrupted. This guide helps you know how to support that process—safely. 🔗 Download the EMDR Therapy Cheat Sheet here: https://lnkd.in/gfyTf6EW

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What if incoherence in DID isn’t a failure, but a form of protection? This series explores how narrative separation can preserve coherence under unbearable conditions. A reframing for clinicians, companions, and systems alike.

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The Protective Role of Self-Compassion in Trauma Recovery A recent study (Adonis, Loucaides, Sullman & Lajunen, 2025) highlights how self-compassion not only buffers the impact of trauma but also moderates post-traumatic symptoms and supports post-traumatic growth. In my work with Somatic Experiencing®, I witness this intersection daily. Self-compassion creates the nervous system conditions for healing: -Reducing self-criticism and hyperarousal -Allowing clients to safely notice and process bodily sensations -Supporting resilience and growth beyond survival Trauma recovery is about cultivating the resources that allow individuals to thrive. Self-compassion, combined with body-based practices, appears to be a powerful moderator in this process. 🔎 Question for my colleagues: How are you integrating self-compassion practices into trauma-focused work? #SomaticExperiencing #TraumaRecovery #SelfCompassion #PostTraumaticGrowth

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EMDR Techniques for Clinical Therapeutic Intervention (What if your brain could heal from trauma; without needing to relive the pain?) Understanding EMDR ☑ Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychotherapeutic modality. Why EMDR Is Clinically Significant ☑ Leverages bilateral sensory stimulation (e.g., eye movements, tactile taps) ☑ Stimulates the brain's natural healing capacity ☑ Aims to desensitize emotionally charged memories ☑ Promotes adaptive information processing and psychological integration The Structured 8-Phase Protocol 1. ☑ Client History & Case Conceptualization → Assess presenting issues, trauma history, and client readiness 2. ☑ Preparation Phase → Develop therapeutic alliance, teach grounding and containment strategies 3. ☑ Assessment Phase → Identify target memory, negative self-beliefs, and associated emotions 4. ☑ Desensitization → Employ bilateral stimulation to reduce emotional intensity 5. ☑ Installation → Strengthen and install positive adaptive cognitions 6. ☑ Body Scan → Facilitate somatic awareness and release residual distress 7. ☑ Closure → Re-establish emotional equilibrium and ensure client stability 8. ☑ Re-evaluation → Measure progress, assess treatment effects, and determine next steps Clinical Applications of EMDR → Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) → Complex Trauma and Dissociation → Anxiety and Panic Disorders → Childhood Abuse and Neglect → Grief and Bereavement → Phobias and Performance Anxiety Why It Works → EMDR targets neurophysiological blockages within the memory networks → Facilitates the reconsolidation of traumatic material → Allows clients to reprocess events without emotional overwhelm → Empowers individuals to integrate healthier cognitive and emotional responses PS: ♻ Repost to help others ************* Salman Khan

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What we label as “defensive” or “closed” in addiction treatment is often something else entirely. Yes, clients may shut down, challenge feedback, or push back. But when we use terms like resistant, guarded, manipulative, or unwilling, we risk describing trauma responses as character flaws. These words imply a chosen stance, a deliberate refusal to engage. But more often, what we're seeing is: -Shame that hasn’t found language --Fear disguised as defiance ---The nervous system in survival mode ----A history of not being safe enough to trust Instead of naming the behaviour as a barrier, we can shift to framing it as information: **What might this person be protecting themselves from? **What’s underneath the reaction? **How can I stay regulated enough to stay curious? This doesn’t mean we don’t hold boundaries or invite accountability. But it does mean we slow down and make space for meaning before judgment. Therapeutic work begins where our language makes room, not just to describe, but to understand. #AddictionTreatment #TraumaInformedCare #ClinicalCuriosity #ReflectivePractice #CompassionateCare #LanguageMatters #RecoveryWork #TherapeuticRelationship #MentalHealthProfessionals #EthicalCare #NervousSystemAwareness

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Foundations for Parenting Infants and Toddlers - an ACAMH Learn Learning Series https://bit.ly/4mLn6IH Compare and contrast key developmental theories—including behaviorist, maturational, psychoanalytic, cognitive, and attachment models—and explain how they conceptualize the infant's role in development with this fantastic Learning Series on 'Foundations of Parenting Infants and Toddlers' from Dr. Porpavai Kasiannan. ACAMH members and ACAMH Learn account holders can receive a FREE CPD certificate for watching this recorded lecture. https://bit.ly/4mLn6IH #CAMH #CAMHS #MentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Wellbeing #Science #Evidence #Research #ACAMHLearn #Parenting #Infancy #InfantDevelopment #Attachment #InfantParenting #EarlyDevelopment

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3 Myths About EMDR I Need to Clear Up After years of practicing EMDR, I still hear these misconceptions. Let's set the record straight: Myth #1: "EMDR erases your memories" ❌ FALSE. EMDR doesn't erase anything. The memory stays—but the emotional charge attached to it decreases. You remember what happened without being re-traumatized by it. Myth #2: "It's just waving your hands around—it can't really work" ❌ FALSE. EMDR is backed by decades of research and is recognized by the WHO, APA, and Department of Veterans Affairs as an evidence-based treatment for trauma. The bilateral stimulation activates the brain's natural processing mechanisms. Myth #3: "You have to talk about your trauma in detail" ❌ FALSE. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn't require you to describe traumatic events in detail. You can heal without reliving every painful moment out loud. The truth? EMDR is a scientifically validated approach that helps your brain do what it's naturally designed to do: process and heal from difficult experiences. Curious about whether EMDR is right for you? Let's have a conversation. Book a free consultation and get your questions answered. #EMDRTherapy #MentalHealthMyths #TraumaInformed #EvidenceBasedTherapy #TherapyFacts

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Check out our newly accepted research study on psychodrama as a treatment for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and traumatic grief from Mirmont Treatment Center’s inpatient addiction program. Abstract This study (n = 148) examines psychodrama as an effective group therapy in an inpatient substance use setting as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and traumatic grief. Overall quantitative outcomes indicate an average reduction in PTSD by 52.71%, depression by 61.76%, anxiety by 53.72%, traumatic grief by 31.39%, and prolonged grief disorder (PGD) by 32.36%. Results also show an increase in spontaneity by 31.08% and high patient satisfaction scores related to the experience of participation in the trauma-focused psychodrama groups. Qualitative findings from patient surveys support the quantitative outcomes and provide additional insight into participants’ experiences of the sessions. The outcomes of this mixed-methods study further contribute to the research base of psychodrama as an effective treatment for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and traumatic grief, while also highlighting the essential role of spontaneity – the curative agent in psychodrama psychotherapy. While there are multiple limitations in this study, the overall results point to psychodrama as a viable group therapy modality in inpatient addiction treatment to address co-occurring disorders. Read the pre-proof here - https://lnkd.in/e3sGRYxe

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"The SSA should amend criteria to recognize substance use disorders as disability at all recovery stages. A legal precedent exists, as substance use disorders were formerly a primary disabling condition. Aligning SSDI with ADA definitions by recognizing functional impairments caused by substance use would promote equity, reduce stigma, and address structural barriers, including financial instability, impacting recovery" https://lnkd.in/euWiYsEG

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