Re:Complicated PTSD and EMDR

First, you need to be clear that we cannot provide case consultation here in this forum. All I can do is provide a few general comments that apply to most people, but may not apply to you.

There is a wide range of difference in how long people take to do their work. People who have already done a lot of traditional therapy work, and have developed a lot of coping skills and ego strength, move faster than those who haven't begun their journey.

People who are bright, open, hardworking, insightful, and have done basic therapy work already are likely to be good at collaborating with the therapist in select the best targets. (EMDR is like laser surgery -- if you point the laser at the perfect coordinates, you get the best results -- voila!). In sum, some people can move faster than others.

On the other hand, people with a complicated history of trauma including childhood trauma can go too fast. This happens when well motivated client (and therapist) are good at identifying targets to process, and proceed to charge through material. Pacing is important, and there is a lot to digest as the work proceeds. Sometimes clients actually push themselves faster than they should, which is the same as failing to self nurture and be gentle with ones self, respecting ones own boundaries and process.

Richard Kluft, MD, a pioneer in the field of dissociation, says, "the slower you go, the sooner you get there" or something close to that. Somewhere between speeding too fast, and delaying process, is a safe, comfortable, self-respecting pace. That's the one that is best.

Sandra Paulsen Inobe, PhD
Walnut Creek, California

Replies:

Re:Complicated PTSD and EMDR, by Grace, 01/13/01

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