Re:emdr,depression and cognitive distortions

I see what you are asking.

I use EMDR to target cognitive distortions rather often, and I don't see a clear pattern or protocol yet in my approach.

Several things I have used, and some work best with some people, others with others, include:

- targetting the negative cognition directly, so the person with insight can explore and think about it.

- holding both the cognitive distortion and its more adaptive replacement in attention simultaneously, to see the implications, feelings, consequences, self-efficacy, etc, associated with each. This is like a split screen strategy.

- vivifying the aspects of the more adaptive cognitive set concretely. For example, for a client with dichotomous (all or nothing, black or white) thinking. I'd have them envision a two-bucket system, one black or one white, and envision the limitations of that system. E.g. If I think of myself as a good person, and make a mistake, am I then a bad person, etc). Then I'd install a ...say, ....26 bucket system with shades of grey, that would more fluidly and accurately accommodate reality.

-- Finally, maladaptive cognitions or cognitive distortions are often acquired during critical periods of life as a result of maladaptive learning. I'd be inclined to seek out the ego state that acquired and holds the belief, determine its age, meet its developmental needs through imagery and/or resource installation, and help it "mature" through installation of more adaptive beliefs, as described above.

Sandra Paulsen Inobe, PhD
Fair Oaks, CA

Replies:

Re:emdr,depression and cognitive distortions, by a client, 09/30/01

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