Re:EMDR and multiple trauma PTSD?

Dr. Shapiro has asked me to sit in on her behalf while she is on sabbatical. The following comments are general ones, apply to many readers, and can't be tailored to your specific needs since this site can only be for general information rather than clinical advice.

First, you may wish to review the archives of this list, which includes prior discussion on the important topic of multiple trauma PTSD. You'll see there some cautionary statements about how survivors of multiple traumas that occur in childhood 1) are candidates for EMDR, and 2) should work only with EMDR therapists well experienced with the issues associated with childhood trauma.

When the traumas occur in adolescence rather than earlier childhood, the processing tends to be more straightforward than if it had occurred earlier in life. Anyone seeking treatment with EMDR, however, and most certainly those with multiple traumas, should always be assessed for the presence or absence of a dissociative condition as well (not saying you have one, simply that everyone should be checked). The EMDR protocol is different when there has been multiple childhood trauma. If the EMDR therapist is experienced with early childhood trauma and treating it with EMDR, even those with severe chronic childhood trauma histories can expect marked improvement, based on my experience.

Generally, EMDR works well with people with multiple traumas that occur after childhood as long as the multiple traumas are adequately addressed with EMDR. That is, one can't treat one trauma with EMDR and expect that all the traumas will be resolved. On the other hand, there isn't necessarily a one trauma/one EMDR relationship either -- Sometimes there is what psychologists call generalization of effect that occurs for some clients using EMDR. This means that there is some spillover of good results from one trauma to others, even though the others may not have been directly targeted.

The above statements are based on clinical experience of myself and other experienced EMDR professionals. The existing EMDR research is almost completely on single-trauma PTSD, however.

Based on my experience, I hope you try EMDR, as it is quite likely to provide relief from PTSD and other anxiety symptoms. If you need a referral, you can get names from www.emdria.org or www.emdr.com.

Good luck to you.

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