Processing resistant body sensations in EMDR Therapy

The body keeps the score! Often somatic sensations will process spontaneously in EMDR Therapy but, on occasion, they remain stuck. Join Dr Michael Paterson OBE, EMDR Europe Accredited Senior Trainer as he takes you through things you can do to help your client process the resistant body sensations. Think of these techniques as cognitive interweaves for the body.

[@missjenny2907]

I would be freaking out at all those questions.

[@juliehammond1992]

Thank you. This is very useful for a client I’m working with currently, specifically the jaw sensation. 🙌🏼

[@lovingthisagain]

Did it work for the client?

[@jonniemaemiddletonlotte6747]

Thanks.

[@BigPhil2024]

Thanks for posting. Very interesting and helpful.

[@EMDRMasterclass]

My pleasure!

[@porl3004]

This is brilliant stuff and incredibly helpful-thank you so much

[@EMDRMasterclass]

You're very welcome!

[@drjustinhavens5919]

Very helpful

[@maryannrichard7643]

Thanks Micheal, Very helpful. You mentioned that you have a transcript of talking to Ego States. Where can I find that please?

[@EMDRMasterclass]

Hello Maryann, That transcript isn't available now. You might find this useful though (Forgash, 2005) emdrmasterclass.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/EMDR-and-Ego-state-Therapy.pdf

[@christineb6392]

Hello Dr. Patterson,
I recently used the techniques you describe on a blocked client. He is blocked by his perfectionism. When I tried to get him to focus on the sensation and identify it's color, shape.....he struggles to even answer my questions about describing it and reporting his perfectionism shuts him down. Assuring him that this is a learning process with no right answer. He also has some positive associations with perfectionism. He reports difficulty visualizing. Any thoughts??

[@EMDRMasterclass]

Hello Christine
I've found something similar happen from time to time. I then consider, "What is it about having the sensation that prevents it from processing further?". I ask the client to, "Focus in on that sensation and ask it the following question: What do you want from me? Notice whatever answer you become aware of". I try to challenge the view held where it is preventing the sensation from shifting, adding in BLS at the same time. This exercise might only take a few minutes but when it doesn't bear fruit, I consider that an ego-state / alter / part is preventing progress. If so, I then switch to working with the ego-state(s) to clear the block.
A good book to learn more about using ego state interventions (usually done in the Preparation Phase) is Watkins & Watkins (1997) Ego States: Theory and Therapy - see www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0393702596/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0393702596&linkCode=as2&tag=emma0a-21

[@alstroemeria5623]

I’ve been trying to find answers and this is the closest thing I have found on the internet to what I’m experiencing. One day after emdr therapy I lay down to take a nap and started experiencing spontaneous reprocessing as soon as I closed my eyes. For 35 minutes I experienced rapid eye movement, and after 35 minutes I started experiencing uncontrollable body spasms as well. I looked like I had a sever case of Tourette’s. This lasted for 5 hours before I received clonazepam at the ER. The following morning the spasms started back up again. It’s been 3 days of this, and no one I’ve talked to has ever heard of this - this is supposed to be impossible. I’ve always experienced emdr somatically but never to this degree. Any suggestions?

[@kathkath9250]

Sounds like conversion disorder

[@kenerrich]

Hello would you mind giving an update. I’ve had experience with these symptoms before emdr just randomly having spams all over and now I’m going into emdr and I would like to know what happened if you don’t mind

[@alstroemeria5623]

I went to my chiropractor and the adjustment helped for awhile. Spasms resumed after about half an hour so I went back to him. Second adjustment calmed everything down. I followed that with massage therapy and took it easy for the rest of the week and over time it went away.

[@ootenba5910]

I have had something similar happen! Eyes kept switching too.
Could be related to dissociating & being too far out of window of tolerance.
Accupuncture mat, ice packs, minty candy etc can help + in further sessions spend more time at "coming down".

[@adelafajuri]

What if the sensation is on the chest? Collabone?

[@MichaelPatersonOBE]

I would try the same steps I described, using these for sensations anywhere in the body. If, however, the sensation is in the throat or jaw, and it is not shifting spontaneously, try asking firstly if there are words that feeling needs to say.