Eliciting the underlying negative schema in EMDR therapy is crucial for targeting and changing emotional learning.
The core process of memory reconsolidation in EMDR therapy involves eliciting the schema, designing cognitive interweaves, and moving into the discomfort of the schema for unlocking natural healing mechanisms.
Disconfirming experiences and introducing contradictory knowledge can challenge and transform maladaptive schemas, leading to transformational change in EMDR therapy.
Deep dives
Unlearning negative schemas and schemas in EMDR therapy
In EMDR therapy, it is important to elicit the underlying negative schema or mental model thoroughly, aiming for specificity. This schema, which represents the emotional learning, is the target of change, rather than specific event memories. Cognitive interweaves can be used to bring the schema, the confirmation, into awareness. It is crucial to move into the pain or discomfort of the schema, rather than arguing against it, in order to unlock the natural healing mechanisms of the brain. Respecting the emotional brain's understanding that the schema is true until it is unlearned is key.
Understanding the core process of memory reconsolidation in EMDR therapy
The core process of memory reconsolidation in EMDR therapy involves three important steps. First, eliciting the underlying negative schema or mental model that is driving the symptoms. This helps to clearly define the target of change. Second, designing cognitive interweaves that bring the confirmation of the schema into awareness, allowing contradictory experiences to emerge. And third, moving into the pain or discomfort of the schema rather than trying to argue against it. This supports the unlocking of the natural healing mechanisms in the brain and facilitates the unlearning of the schema.
Using memory reconsolidation in EMDR therapy
In EMDR therapy, understanding the process of memory reconsolidation can guide practitioners to be more effective and consistent. By eliciting and defining the underlying negative schema or mental model, practitioners can design cognitive interweaves that bring the confirmation of the schema into awareness. It is important to move into the pain or discomfort of the schema, respecting the emotional brain's understanding until it is unlearned. This approach allows for the unlocking of natural healing mechanisms and supports the unlearning of the schema, leading to transformational change in EMDR therapy.
The Power of Disconfirming Experiences
One of the main ideas in this podcast episode is the importance of disconfirming experiences in the process of unlearning and reconsolidating emotional learning. The speaker discusses how our emotional learning system tends to maintain its intensity over time, but by introducing contradictory knowledge and experiences, we can challenge and transform maladaptive or pathogenic schemas. By guiding clients to recall past opposite experiences and holding both the original emotional learning and contradictory experiences in mind, therapists can facilitate the unlearning and rewriting of the target schema, leading to transformational change.
The MR Process: Juxtaposition and Unlearning
Another key point in this podcast is the description of the Memory Reconciliation (MR) process and how it relates to EMDR therapy. The speaker explains that the MR process starts with the emergence of the disconfirmation or mismatch between the original emotional learning and contradictory experiences. This initial unlocking or destabilization of the target schema sets the stage for unlearning and transformational change. The speaker emphasizes the importance of repeating the juxtaposition of the original emotional learning and the disconfirming experiences, allowing the client to hold both in mind. This repetition helps to drive the unlearning process and promotes integration of new contradictory knowledge.
What do we do as EMDR Therapists with new research? How should we protect the fidelity of EMDR while honoring and integrating new discoveries from the relational neurosciences? Listen in to hear Melissa and Bridger’s discussion with Bruce Ecker about the revolutionizing science of Memory Reconsolidation that can help us address symptoms and strategies of those we work with at the root.
