On Containment

Some people do better than others between sessions, in part because of the size and severity of what they have to work through, and in part because of their internal coping resources.

We often use special containment or "tucking in" procedures to help minimize between session pain for those who would be overwhelmed by the pain if we didn't "tuck it in". This containment is an important coping skill, and it enhances ego strength.

Some people don't feel overwhelmed if it is left "out", and cogitate, dream, or otherwise work on the material between sessions. For many, EMDR keeps "cooking" between sessions and we see that at the next session, when things have moved to a different status than at the end of the prior session.

So there are alot of individual differences. In short, though, the ability to contain strong emotions enhances the speed with which people can move through their material without being overwhelmed. It takes time for some to learn to "tuck in" at the end of a session, but as Dr. Richard Kluft says, "the slower you go, the faster you get there."

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