Re:SUDS

The SUDS scale is the same one that was developed by Dr Joseph Wolpe in the 60's or so. You have it right, except that we usually say, "where 0 is completely neutral or no disturbance at all, and 10 equals the highest disturbance you can think of."

As to how one knows what the right number is, that's not generally a problem. After all, the client's subjective experience of disturbance is what is being treated. It isn't usually critical whether a client says 5 or 6. What's important is that there is still considerable disturbance if the client reports 5 or 6, for example, and we watch the general direction of the SUDS.

If the SUDS score goes down over the course of EMDR, and ends up at 0, that's pretty clearly a good result, no matter whether the report was perfectly accurate.

If the SUDS goes down and then gets stuck, or "loops," that fact has specific meaning, even if the number doesn't.

Or, if the SUDS turns around and goes back up, we know we have tapped into a new channel of disturbance, and we continue accordingly.

So not to worry about the exact number, it all comes out in the wash.

So.....you aren't wondering about the VOC too?

Replies:

Re:SUDS, by ed, 05/31/04

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