EMDR Therapy Skills
with Jennifer Sweeton
In this session from the Wisemind.com EMDR Therapy Skills Series, Dr Jennifer Sweeton introduces the first phase of EMDR therapy, with an emphasis on Target Sequence Planning. She clearly outlines the key tasks involved in Phase 1 and explains how to identify appropriate targets for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. Participants gain practical guidance on organising trauma memories, symptoms, and experiences into a coherent treatment plan that supports effective processing. This webinar equips clinicians with foundational skills for EMDR case conceptualisation, strengthening confidence and precision when preparing clients for successful trauma-focused therapy.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores the neuroscience of trauma, highlighting five key brain areas impacted by trauma: the amygdala, insula, hippocampus, cingulate, and prefrontal cortex. She explains their roles in PTSD and shows how understanding these changes can normalize experiences and foster hope for neural recovery.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores the history of bilateral stimulation and its role in neural integration. She reviews tactile, visual, and auditory bilateral stimulation methods, explaining how each works and why bilateral stimulation is central to effective EMDR therapy.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores the neuroscience of explicit and implicit memories, examining how they are stored and retrieved in different brain regions. She explains why understanding these memory systems is crucial for effectively using memory reconsolidation tools in trauma-focused therapy.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores stabilisation strategies for complex trauma, a critical yet often under-emphasised skill in EMDR therapy. This session provides practical guidance on building and maintaining client stability, equipping clinicians to navigate complex trauma safely and effectively.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores EMDR as a flexible set of skills that can be integrated with other evidence-based therapies, such as Cognitive Processing Therapy. This session provides practical tips for combining EMDR with CPT to enhance trauma treatment outcomes.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton offers guidance for conducting EMDR with survivors of sexual trauma. She addresses common barriers clinicians may face and provides practical strategies to overcome these challenges, helping ensure safe, effective, and trauma-informed treatment.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores Target Sequence Planning (TSP) for trauma and demonstrates how to complete it efficiently in session. By walking step by step through the TSP worksheet, this session brings clarity and confidence to a process often difficult to learn from theory alone.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores Phase 2 stabilization and resourcing in EMDR, demonstrating how imaginary people can serve as therapeutic resources. This session shows clinicians how to help clients access nurturing figures, protective guides, and supportive committees to strengthen safety, regulation, and readiness for trauma processing.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton demonstrates Phase 4 of EMDR desensitisation, focusing on “restricted desensitisation.” This session provides clinicians with a clear, practical example of this method, highlighting how it can be applied to guide clients safely and effectively through trauma processing.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton demonstrates EMDR Phases 3–7 in a single session, showing clinicians how to integrate skills from each phase seamlessly. Divided into two parts, this webinar provides a clear, practical model for combining EMDR techniques effectively in clinical practice.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores PTSD as a memory disorder, focusing on the hippocampus—the brain’s “memory centre.” She explains how trauma disrupts hippocampal functioning, leading to core PTSD symptoms, and offers practical strategies for strengthening the hippocampus and supporting neurogenesis to improve memory integration and trauma recovery.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores Phase 1 of EMDR with a focus on Target Sequence Planning. She outlines the core tasks of this phase and demonstrates how clinicians can identify effective targets for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing therapy.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores the complexities of working with implicit memories, including preverbal trauma. She provides broad recommendations and strategies to help clinicians navigate these often nonverbal, deeply held memories safely and effectively in therapy.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores recognising and managing dissociation during EMDR’s desensitisation phase. She highlights how dissociation can disrupt trauma processing, especially in complex or developmental trauma, and provides practical strategies for clinicians to anticipate, address, and safely manage dissociative responses in session.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores how EMDR can be integrated with Prolonged Exposure therapy, an evidence-based approach with strong PTSD outcomes. This session explains the principles of Prolonged Exposure and provides practical guidance for combining it with EMDR to enhance trauma treatment effectiveness.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores the connection between pain and trauma, highlighting overlapping brain regions involved in both. She provides practical strategies to help clinicians support clients in managing psychological and physical pain, bridging trauma therapy with pain regulation techniques.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores bilateral stimulation (BLS) and resource tapping for enhancing therapeutic attunement in EMDR. This session demonstrates practical techniques for integrating resource tapping with Phase 2 resourcing strategies, helping clinicians strengthen client connection, regulation, and readiness for trauma processing.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores Phase 2 stabilization and resourcing in EMDR, demonstrating how “real life” external resources can support clients. This session shows clinicians how to help clients identify and use everyday people, places, or activities to maintain stability between therapy sessions.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton demonstrates Phase 4 of EMDR: desensitisation, with a focus on the classic approach of unrestricted desensitisation. This session offers a clear, practical demonstration of how to guide clients safely and effectively through this critical phase of EMDR therapy.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton demonstrates EMDR Phases 3–7 in one continuous session, showing clinicians how to integrate skills from each phase seamlessly. Divided into two parts, participants are advised to view Part One first for a clear, step-by-step understanding of combining EMDR techniques effectively.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores the loss of self in trauma, focusing on the brain’s insula or “interoception center.” She explains how trauma dysregulates the insula, leading to dissociation, and demonstrates practical ways to reconnect with the body and self, supporting regulation and rebuilding of neural pathways.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores Phase 2 of EMDR, teaching two essential resourcing techniques that calm the brain’s fear centre and promote present-moment grounding. These practical tools can be used within EMDR therapy or as daily practices to reduce stress and anxiety.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton provides clear, step-by-step guidance on selecting and using somatic targets in EMDR. This session focuses on working with implicit traumatic memory, helping clinicians deepen trauma processing by skillfully integrating body-based awareness into EMDR treatment.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton introduces interweaves in EMDR, explaining what they are and when to use them. This session demonstrates how interweaves can help clients feel safe, navigate stuck points, and progress more effectively through trauma processing.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores adaptations of the Standard 8-Phase EMDR protocol for children. She explains how children process single-incident traumas more quickly and demonstrates how art and interweaves can be used as effective tools to support trauma processing in young clients.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores adaptations of the original 8-Phase EMDR model for clients with chronic pain. She shares practical recommendations from Maggie Phillips, PhD’s “Pain Control for EMDR” protocol, helping clinicians integrate trauma-focused therapy with effective pain management strategies.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores stabilization and resourcing in Phase 2 of EMDR, demonstrating the classic butterfly breathing technique. This session shows clinicians how to teach clients this foundational skill, enhancing emotional regulation, safety, and readiness for trauma processing.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores the 8-Phase EMDR model and demonstrates how completing phases in a different order can sometimes enhance treatment. She presents an alternative “order of operations” for the exposure phases, offering clinicians practical strategies to optimise trauma processing for diverse client needs.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton demonstrates Phase 6 of EMDR, the body scan, focusing on desensitising residual physical sensations linked to trauma. This session offers a clear demonstration of the classic EMDR body scan and its role in completing trauma processing effectively.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton provides a recap of the previous session and shares practical tips for navigating common challenges in EMDR Phases 3–7. This session equips clinicians with strategies to manage obstacles effectively and maintain smooth, safe trauma processing throughout these critical phases.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores the workings of neural networks and their role in trauma recovery. She explains the differences between adaptive and trauma networks, why traumatic memories get “stuck,” and how EMDR helps restore flexibility, integrating traumatized networks into adaptive ones to support healing and resilience.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores Phase 3 of EMDR and introduces a fast, accessible meditation to activate neural networks. This technique can be used to access distressing networks for reprocessing or pleasant networks for stabilisation, regulation, and resourcing within EMDR therapy.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton highlights a common pitfall in EMDR practice: selecting an incorrect negative cognition. This session offers practical guidance on how to recognise this mistake, correct it effectively, and bring EMDR therapy back on track with confidence.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton introduces simple yet powerful adaptations to the original 8-Phase EMDR model, tailored for complex and developmental trauma. This session equips clinicians with practical strategies to enhance safety, effectiveness, and flexibility when working with challenging trauma presentations.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores the use of EMDR with first responders, including firefighters and police officers. This session highlights unique challenges clinicians may encounter and provides practical guidance for effectively addressing trauma in this high-risk, high-stress population.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores a key neuroscientific distinction between uncomplicated and complicated, including traumatic, grief. This session highlights how differences in brain processing shape grief responses and offers important insights for tailoring clinical interventions with greater accuracy and compassion.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores stabilization and resourcing in Phase 2 of EMDR, demonstrating Autogenic Training, a body-based technique for building client stability. This session provides step-by-step guidance on teaching this skill, helping clients develop grounding, emotional regulation, and readiness for trauma processing.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton introduces Phase 3 of EMDR, guiding clinicians through its key steps. She demonstrates how to present the Subjective Units of Distress (SUDs) scale and Validity of Cognition (VoC) to clients, laying the foundation for effective desensitisation and trauma processing.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton demonstrates an alternative approach to Phase 6 of EMDR, the body scan. This session expands clinicians’ understanding of how to assess and desensitise residual somatic activation using flexible, protocol-informed methods.
Why do trauma survivors avoid reminders that feel overwhelming—and how does this avoidance keep PTSD alive? In this session, Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores the neuroscience of trauma-related avoidance and offers practical, gentle steps toward non-avoidance that can create powerful shifts in brain functioning and everyday life.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton reviews Phase 4 of EMDR, examining desensitisation and neural integration. She explains the goals and methods of this phase and provides strategies for promoting adaptive neural integration, helping clients process trauma and achieve lasting emotional and cognitive change.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores the final two phases of EMDR, providing case examples from her clinical practice. This session demonstrates the effectiveness of EMDR in real-world therapy, offering clinicians practical insights into applying Phases 7 and 8 to consolidate and maintain therapeutic gains.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores the role of attunement in EMDR, highlighting its heightened importance in trauma treatment. This session offers practical strategies for deepening therapeutic attunement throughout the EMDR process to support safety, regulation, and effective trauma processing.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton highlights several EMDR protocol variants that clinicians can incorporate into their practice. This session provides practical guidance on expanding EMDR tools to enhance flexibility, effectiveness, and adaptability in trauma-focused therapy.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores using EMDR with soldiers and veterans affected by combat trauma. This session offers practical strategies for enhancing treatment engagement, compliance, and outcomes while addressing the unique challenges faced by military populations.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton presents a clear, step-by-step roadmap for treating complicated grief. This session integrates EMDR with complementary therapeutic approaches, offering clinicians practical guidance for navigating grief-related challenges with greater structure and confidence.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores stabilization and resourcing in Phase 2 of EMDR, demonstrating the “container” technique. This session provides clinicians with practical guidance on teaching clients this cognitive resourcing skill to enhance emotional regulation, safety, and readiness for trauma processing.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton demonstrates Phase 3 of EMDR, Access and Activate, guiding clients to access their trauma network. This session shows clinicians how to prepare clients effectively for Phase 4 desensitisation, ensuring a safe and structured start to trauma processing.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton demonstrates Phase 5 of EMDR therapy: Installation. This session shows how positive cognitions are fully integrated using slow bilateral stimulation, offering clinicians a clear, start-to-finish demonstration of this essential phase in the EMDR protocol.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton introduces the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) Model, the theoretical foundation of EMDR. She explains the hope inherent in this model and how PTSD can trap individuals in maladaptive information processing, keeping traumatic memories “stuck” and unresolved.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores using EMDR to treat alcohol and substance use, highlighting the strong link between trauma and addiction. Drawing on findings from the ACE Study, she demonstrates how EMDR can target addiction-related neural networks to reduce cravings and prevent relapse.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores Phase 5 of EMDR, demonstrating how this phase facilitates memory reconsolidation and promotes neural changes that support healing. This session offers clinicians a clear understanding of how installing positive cognitions can guide the brain toward adaptive, healthy functioning.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores stabilization and resourcing in Phase 2 of EMDR, demonstrating the classic “secure place” technique. This session shows clinicians how to teach clients this foundational skill to enhance emotional safety, grounding, and readiness for trauma processing.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton demonstrates the setup for Phase 4 of EMDR, desensitisation. She guides clinicians through key considerations to ensure the process is smooth, safe, and comfortable for clients, providing practical strategies for preparing clients effectively for trauma processing.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores Phases 7 and 8 of EMDR, guiding clients to summarise and maintain therapeutic gains. This session provides practical tips and strategies for clinicians to ensure lasting results and consolidate progress effectively in EMDR therapy.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores how EMDR restores healthy brain functioning by reducing arousal and reactivity, supporting memory reconsolidation, strengthening sense of self, building dual awareness, and transforming frozen, maladaptive neural networks.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores treating combat trauma with EMDR, highlighting its effectiveness and the potential for generalised healing in veterans. She discusses strategically combining EMDR with other evidence-based PTSD therapies to optimise outcomes and enhance trauma recovery for those who have experienced combat-related stress.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores the importance of body scanning after EMDR’s desensitisation and installation phases. She demonstrates an easy-to-use body awareness technique that helps clients (and clinicians) connect physical sensations with emotions and thoughts, enhancing regulation and insight both within and beyond therapy sessions.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton provides an overview of the original eight phases of EMDR, summarising the purpose of each phase. She explains why, despite many adaptations, the traditional eight-phase model remains foundational to EMDR practice and helps clinicians understand what to expect in treatment.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores treating depression with EMDR, examining how depressive neural networks form. She highlights the role of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) and its connection to the default mode network, providing a neuroscience-informed framework for understanding and addressing depression in therapy.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores complementary therapies that can be integrated with EMDR, including Brainspotting, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), and neuromodulation. She shares practical insights from her clinical experience, demonstrating how these approaches can enhance trauma treatment and support client regulation and processing.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores using EMDR to address sleep difficulties. She outlines Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBTI) and demonstrates how EMDR can be integrated to target clients’ beliefs about sleep, enhancing insomnia treatment and improving overall sleep outcomes.
Dr Jennifer Sweeton explores the neuroscience of addiction, highlighting trauma and PTSD as underlying factors. She explains the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway, the role of the nucleus accumbens as the brain’s reinforcement centre, and how its activity shapes addictive behaviours, offering clinicians a neuroscience-informed understanding of addiction.
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