EMDRIA-Approved Basic Training Manual Container Seript by Katy Murray “Pd like you to imagine a container that would be strong, secure, and large enough to hold anything troubling or disturbing. It should be well constructed, with a way of closing completely and locking if desired, What comes to mind?” “Bring up that image of I'd like to ask you to allow anything disturbing or troubling to go into it. You can just put it away for now, knowing it will be available later when you are ready to deal with it effectively.” Test the Container: “I'd like to ask you to think of a minor annoyance.” (pause). “Now place that annoyance into your container.” (pause). “Did it close securely? Did it work? (if not, consider what other safety mechanisms need to be in place to help the container be more secure, or ask the client to choose a different container) Ifso, state, to the room. ‘When you are ready, become more aware of your breathing, and allow yourself to come back © Lori Kucharski, PhD, LMFEMDRIA-Approved Basic Training Manual Calm/Safe Place Exercise Seript “I'd like for you to think about a place you have been or imagine being that feels very calm and safe. It can be anywhere in the universe, real or imagined. What image represents your place?” you think of your calm, safe place, notice what you see (pause), hear (pause), and feel (pause) right now. What do you notice?” “Focus on your calm, safe place, its sights (pause), sounds (pause), smells (pause), and body sensations (pause). Tell me more about what you're noticing.” “Hold the image of that place. Concentrate on where you feel the pleasant sensations in your body and allow yourself to enjoy them, Concentrate on those sensations, and follow my fingers. (Do J set of 6-12 BLS). What do you notice now?” If negative: Redirect their attention to another calm, safe place, or consider another strategy, such as the container exercise, mindfulness techniques, or deep breathing. If positive: “Focus on that.” (Do 2+ more sets of 6-12 BLS). Afier each set ask, “What do you notice now?” then, “Go with that.” Cueing: Ask, “Is there a word or phrase that represents your calm/safe place?” Think of (insert the word or phrase here) and notice the positive feelings you have when you think of that. Concentrate on those sensations and (the word or phrase), and follow my fingers.” (Do 1-2 sets of 6-12 BLS, asking after each one, “What do you notice now,” and “Stay with that”). Continue BLS sets as needed until the client is fully accessing/staying with Calm/Safe Place Self-cucing: “Now I'd like you to say (the word or phrase) and notice how you feel.” Repeat and enhance positive feelings with 1-2 sets of 6-12 BLS. Cueing: “Now I'm going to ask you to imagine a minor annoyance (pause) and notice how you feel. Bring up (the word or phrase) and notice any shifts in your body. What did you notice?” [fnot favorable, have the client return to Calm/Safe Place. Continue (if able) with 1-2 sets of 6-12 BLS. Self-cueing: “I’m going to ask you to think of another mild annoyance, notice how you feel, then bring up (the word or phrase) by yourself, noticing any changes in your body when you focus on (the word or phrase).” If not favorable, have the client return to Calm/Safe Place. Continue (if able) with sets of BLS as needed. Remind the client to practice this as often as needed in session or between sessions to maintain stabilization. © Lori Kucharski, PhD, LMFEMDRIA-Approved Basic Training Manual Resource Development and Installation Script “Please tell me about a resource, skill, or strength that would help you deal with this (could be the selected target memory or past, present, or future facets of the memory network) effectively.” “Has there been a time where you used (insert the skill/strength/resource here) successfully?” Ifyes: “Tell me about it.” If no: “Do you know anyone else, real or imaginary, who has?” Then, “What image of (the skill/strength/resource) comes to mind?” “When you think about (the skill/strength’resource) and the image of (this resource), what emotions do you notice?” “What physical sensations do you notic “When you think about the incident (or memory), how helpful would using (this resource) be if 7 is the most helpful and 1 is not helpful?” (less than 7, ensure it's the appropriate resource). “Are you able to think about the skiil/strength/tesource without any negative associations?” If Yes, proceed to Resource Installation below. If No, assess for stabilization or change the resource. “Please bring up (the skill/strength/resource), and the image and emotions associated with (the resource), and notice where you are feeling it in your body.” (Do I short set of 6-12 BLS). Ask after each set, “What are you noticing now? Go with that.” Continue with 2-3 sets of 6-12 BLS if responses are favorable. “Is there a word, phrase, or symbol that best represents this (skill/strength/resource)? “Please pair (the word, phrase, or symbol) with (shill/strengih/resource). Do 1-2 sets of 6-12 BLS if responses are favorable. Continue to use sets of 6-12 BLS to strengthen the resource as needed. Ask the client to practice bringing up the skill/strength/resource on their own between sessions Re-evaluate strength and usefulness in future sessions as needed. © Lori Kucharski, PhD, LMFEMDRIA-Approved Basic Training Manual Diaphragmatic Breathing © Ask the client to take a deep breath and to fill his or her lungs completely. Request that they place their hand on their stomach and push their hand out By pushing on their stomach. State, “Hold that deep breath for a slow count of 5 and exhale very slowly.” Repeat several more times. If touching their stomach causes negative feelings or experiences to arise, or if they appear distressed or uncomfortable doing so, encourage them to just focus on their breath Light Stream Technique: Var Lori Kucharski ake a moment to close your eyes, if comfortable, and take several deep breaths, lengthening your exhale. Continuing to breathe, notice any sources of stress or pain in your body. Notice how much space the stress or pain takes up. Notice its color. Notice its weight. Its temperature. Its color. Its movement and direction. Its texture, Now, while continuing to breathe, imagine a light is pouring over your head and down your body. It goes down your arms and legs all the way to your fingers and toes. ‘The light surrounds you over and under and on all sides. The light courses through your skin Notice the color of the light. Its temperature. Its movement and direction. Its texture, Its weight. Now notice the space that the light stream takes up. Notice what it does to your stress or pain. Notice if the stress or pain gets smaller. Ifits color changes. Its temperature. Its movement and direction. Its texture. Ifyou would like, notice the source of the light, You may feel gratitude, or peace, or calm. Take a moment to notice these feelings. And when ready, come back to the room. © Lori Kucharski, PhD, LMFEMDRIA-Approved Basic Training Manual “4 Elements” Exercises for Stress Reduction: Earth, Air, Water, and Fire by Elan Shapiro EARTH : Grounding & Safety in the Present Reality © “Take a minute or two to ‘land’ and to be here now. Place both feet on the ground, and feel the chair supporting you...” © “Look around & notice 3 new things. What do you see? What do you hear?” (Don t ask this if it draws attention to ongoing dangers). © “Notice your reality of being safe in the present moment.” AIR: Breathing for Centering eathing deeply from the center/core of your being for 12 deep breaths.” © This is a good place to teach lengthening exhaling as needed for ventral vagal response) © WATER: Calm & Self-Regulated © Switch on the ventral vagal response. © “Do you have saliva in your mouth? Make more saliva.” © “When you are anxious or stressed, your mouth often dries because of the stress emergency response, and the sympathetic nervous system will shut off the digestive system. When you start making saliva, you switch on the digestive system again, and you will activate the parasympathetic nervous system and the relaxation response.” © That is why people are offered water (or anything to drink) afier a difficult experience. We've intuitively learned that when you make saliva, your mind can also more optimally regulate your thoughts & your body responses. It relaxing Light up the Path of your Imagination “Bring up an image of your Safe Place (or some other resource,such as a memory when you felt good about yourself). What do you feel, and where do you feel it in your body?” © Install with brief slow BLS or butterfly hugs © Creativity is often one of the first things to dissipate when we're stressed. Encourage creative outlets, especially in conjunction with these skills, for stress management. © Ideas: © Wear a 4 Elements bracelet* (coloured silicone band) on your wrist, & every time you notice it, take a quick reading of your current stress level (SUD) & perform the 4 Elements Exercises & then take a second SUD reading. The rubber band can be stretched gently and released to stop negative thoughts & to ground quickly in the present. m= Alternative: Place a small sticker or label on your computer, desk, fridge, phone, ete. m= The sequence of the 4 Elements (Barth, Air, Water, Fire) is designed to follow the body up from the feet, to the stomach & chest, to the throat & mouth, to the head. © Lori Kucharski, PhD, LMFEMDRIA-Approved Basie Training Manual Resourcing Figures © May include figures representing: © Wisdom © Nurturance © Protection © Any other positive sensation © May consist of: © Humans m Living or Deceased = Real or Imaginary (Literary Figures, Action Heroes, TV/Movie Characters, ete). © Deities/Spiritual Figures o Animals m Living or Deceased m= Real or Imaginary (Fantasy Creatures, etc.) © Symbols © May use: © Pictures, postcards, free/open-ace images, calendars, ete. © CLs should have access to resourcing figure reminders easily (e.g., pictures on phone) © Lori Kucharski, PhD, LMFT, LPC p.51