Understanding information processing involves the interplay of cognitive and non-cognitive aspects, shaped by trauma and attachment styles.
EMDR therapy distinguishes between recalling (cognitive retrieval) and remembering (activation of past experiences).
Physical symptoms and bodily regulation can be influenced by primary processes targeted in EMDR therapy.
Deep dives
The Complexity of Adaptive Information Processing
Adaptive information processing is a multi-systemic function of our integrated, minded body that involves the organization of qualitative sensory and perception data (qualia). It encompasses primary processes related to homeostasis, sensory affect, and emotional affect, as well as secondary and tertiary processes that involve emotional learning, conscious activation, and intention to act. Understanding information processing requires considering the interplay of both cognitive and non-cognitive aspects, and how they impact the way we make sense of our internal and external experiences. Trauma and attachment styles can shape information processing, leading to fragmentation and prioritization of certain experiences based on safety and survival. When using EMDR therapy, targeting primary processes can have far-reaching effects, influencing not only emotional experiences but also physical symptoms and bodily regulation.
The Importance of Remembering and Recalling
EMDR therapy involves both recalling and remembering past experiences. However, it is crucial to understand the difference between the two. Recall refers to cognitive retrieval, while remembering involves activating the past experience and bringing it into the present through embodied, sensory, and affective dimensions. Trauma and attachment history shape the way these processes occur, as individuals may prioritize certain aspects of the experience based on safety and their perception of the world. Therapists can observe and support the integration of both recalling and remembering in EMDR therapy, understanding that change occurs not only at the cognitive level but also at the deeper, sensory, and embodied levels.
Understanding Physical and Emotional Adaptivity
When considering adaptive information processing, it's important to recognize that the body's response to energy and information is strategic and adaptive, even if it manifests as physical symptoms like headaches, inflammation, or rashes. The body must do something with the energy it receives, and it often holds it in certain areas or systems for self-protection. While these physical manifestations may be debilitating, they serve as a way to prevent deeper harm or danger. It is necessary to honor and respect the adaptive function of these responses, recognizing that they are the body's attempt to store and process the energy that was not safe to release. In EMDR therapy, targeting primary processes can lead to shifts not only in emotional experiences but also in physical symptoms and regulation.
The Tripartite Distinction of Mind, Brain, and Body
The podcast discusses the importance of understanding the mind, brain, and body as interconnected systems in information processing. It emphasizes that maladaptive information processing is a problem of the mind, not the brain, as it is influenced by past experiences and present interactions.
The Role of Somatic Intervention and Parts Work in EMDR
The podcast highlights the significance of somatic interventions and parts work in EMDR therapy. It emphasizes the need to address deep processes and fragmented information in the body to promote integration and adaptive information processing. The hosts discuss how therapy should focus on creating a safe and open space for clients to fully access and process past experiences in the present.
Listen in to hear Jen and Melissa talk with the hosts of the Evidence Based Therapist Podcast as the two podcasts from Think Beyond join forces to dive into information processing in the brain. This episode is a commentary on the 2nd chapter of Francine Shapiro's seminal introduction to EMDR entitled, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures. Notice That will continue their Back to Basics journey through the book but we wanted to share this episode as a means of organizing our experience of AIP as a foundational theory of EMDR.
