Throughout these 14 years of experience in clinical, educational, community, and organizational psychology, I have learned that all approaches are alike in wanting to resolve psychological conflicts by different paths, with other names and theories; that’s why now my practice is more integrative, but with orientation in Neuroscience for a long time from Cognitive Behavioral models, but as part of the need of the consultants themselves.

I use many other techniques and theories such as Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Contextual Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Somatic Experience, Sensorimotor Therapy, Ego States Therapy, Brief Therapy, Clinical Hypnosis, Time Limited Therapy, Dialectical Therapy Behavioral, Brainspotting, the Parental Safety Circle, the Polyvagal Theory to name a few.

I always try to use theories and therapeutic systems based on evidence but with an enriched unique cultural contribution tailored to the client and his context. I am also aware that I am not, nor do I want to be, “everything” if I do not have the expertise, I will suggest colleagues or approaches of my complete confidence.

Some people who still think that EMDR is just a bilateral stimulation technique (including the same professionals in psychology and psychiatry) may say this because they have not read enough. Still, you can search on your own or click on EMDRIA, and EMDR Institute, among others.

EMDR is perhaps one of the therapies with the most outstanding clinical research in the entire history of scientific psychology and is recognized as an integrative therapy from the third wave of Psychotherapies, Neuroscientific psychotherapy, and as Evidence-Based Psychotherapy. You can look up your symptoms and see if they fit with the EMDR treatments available.

No, they are very different approaches; however, some of the exercises used in some phases of therapy may be similar. But relaxation will not be the essential part of the treatment. And always, the person will be aware and in control.

Trauma is a difficult experience lodged in the body; all body cells have a memory. A traumatic experience can be anything, real or imagined, life-threatening.

So, trauma can be an earthquake, a flood, a shooting, a surgery gone wrong, a car accident, etc. But it can also be neglect by the family in childhood, continued sexual abuse, domestic violence, intrafamily violence, poverty, developmental deficiencies, and bullying, among many others; the underlying issue is that it has affected the person enough so that it has been a before and after in its personality.

As in all therapy, it is variable and depends on your reasons for taking therapy this time. Some people reprocess quickly and also have fewer traumatic experiences. But you can ask your therapist to be clear about this; From the first or second session, a work plan is created on the issues that will be addressed primarily; although new things can always arise to deal with as you improve, becoming more aware and empowered.

A recent traumatic event, for example, can end in one or two days or even in several hours on a single day in intensive care mode.

As in all the therapy models, it is variable and depends on your goals of taking therapy currently. Some people reprocess quickly and have fewer traumatic experiences. But you can ask your therapist to be clear about this; From the first or second session, a work plan is created on the issues that will be addressed primarily; although new things can always arise to deal with as you improve, becoming more aware and empowered.

A recent traumatic event, for example, can end in one or two days or even in several hours on a single day in intensive care mode.

Yes, there are specific protocols for working with a recent trauma. For example, a traffic accident or a sexual violation, the objective of this is not to allow the memories of what happened to become Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, or Generalized Anxiety.

Yes, there is no problem; always under strict medical supervision, working together so that you take the medication only if necessary and within a time established by you and your psychiatrist. In agreement, I refer to Psychiatrists or Neuropsychiatrists with whom I have worked over the years with very successful results, especially for their focus on Human Rights and knowledge about working with trauma and EMDR.

Some diseases may require closer work between specialists, such as Epilepsy and Lupus.

I recommend that you see a specialist and not just a General Doctor. Some psychoactive and antiepileptic drugs can have specific side effects that make reprocessing a bit more tiring, but that should be consulted with the specialist beforehand if necessary.

No. It has been shown that EMDR can be used safely with children by adapting the Standard Protocol to Play psychotherapy. And precisely, the objective is that problems in childhood and adolescence do not develop as Mental Disorders or Illnesses in adulthood.

But I´m not currently taking reference of children, only after 11 years old.

Yes, it is equally effective, plus many technological applications can help the process. In addition, it saves time and transfers, and you can do it wherever you are; you only need privacy, a good internet connection, a computer, and headphones.

Which disorders, problems, or diseases have good evidence that EMDR can be worked on?

•   Posttraumatic stress
•   Generalized anxiety
•   phobias
•   Panic attacks
•   Depression
•   Postpartum depression
•   Duel
•   Perinatal and postnatal grief
•   Chronic pain
•   Phantom limb pain
•   migraines
•   Post-surgery problems
•   Relationship problems (or Attachment Disorders)
•   Self-harm and suicidal behavior
•   addictions
•   Schizophrenia, Psychosis
•   Dissociation, depersonalization, derealization
•   Sleep disorders
•   Personality disorders

So also, affectations such as:

•   Post-surgery problems
•   Marital or interpersonal relationship problems
•   sexual desire problems
•   Memory problems
•   Difficult behaviors in boys and girls
•   sexual violence
•   traffic accidents
•   School Bullying
•   Workplace Harassment

Other problems related to compulsions, such as Hypochondriasis, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Tourette's Disorder, among others, do not have EMDR as one of the most optimal treatments; this is in part because many of these symptoms respond better to medication by more neurological than traumatic issues; however, it is important to clarify that this cannot be known a priori because each case is different and in the same way, along with these specific symptoms, there may be traumatic or peri-traumatic experiences that make it more challenging to adapt to daily life, even with medication. Then you can work on reducing the symptoms, knowing that they will not disappear completely, but will improve the experience of daily life, as has been shown with the successful work with chronic pain and associated pain.

Some people feel great about the bond that already exists with their therapist, and while extensive research has shown that it does indeed help improve clients’ moods, it can't be the only thing that keeps them in therapy. Therapists are professionals and scientists; the therapeutic bond is part of what teaches us to do, or at least that should be the standard.

Although sometimes the person can bring a very concrete and unique situation such as a traffic accident, an assault, or a post-surgery problem, and these experiences are generally easier and faster to work with the Intensive EMDR model or in a standard way; always the good therapeutic relationship that has to be developed will prevail and also the capacity for self-regulation that the consultant has already developed throughout its life.

If the consultant does not have fully developed this capacity for self-regulation in a somatosensory way and not only from rationality, it is not possible to advance to do Bilateral Stimulation; EMDR is a treatment of phases, and it is not possible to jump to the Bilateral Stimulation phase if the consultant does not trust enough in the Therapist. And you may also have some concerns about therapy because of what you have read or what other people have told you about EMDR. In any case, a priori, without a prior evaluation of each patient in a particular way, it isn’t easy to give an assertive and ethical response.

For clients who want to work only on a traumatic experience in relational issues (Relational Trauma, Developmental Trauma), the answer is that it is probably not a good option to have two therapies simultaneously. Neural networks related to early traumas are not generally easily accessible; there are natural emotional defense systems that are probably not going to allow progress as quickly as expected by the consultant. For these cases, ethically and responsibly, it is better to answer honestly; the consultant must decide between trying a new therapy or a new therapeutic process and therefore commit to further changes in their behavior and the self-management of their context, or they should stay with their old therapist; At best, your former therapist will know what other recommendations offer you.

No, the first steps into Bilateral Stimulation (what we use to "move or speed up" the different types of memories in the brain hemispheres that refer to the senses, sight, the first one that was initially developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro and her predecessors, tactile stimulation (small soft taps on certain parts of the body) and auditory stimulation (bilateral sounds).

Many other times, we will use different somatic ways to "move" that information stored in memory networks. Some studies derived from the pandemic instead seem to show that one way to make the consultant remain regulated is for the same consultant to do Bilateral Stimulation and not the therapist. The use of one or another will be evaluated within the same therapy.

No, at all. First, they are not directly hooked to the electric current and generate a slight vibration; the headphones are like ordinary headphones, and you don’t need to touch the light bar. They are very safe to use and meet specific quality standards for use in human health.