Step Three - Details

Discovery & Beyond:

Two Day IFS-Informed EMDR Advanced Experiential

This is our most advanced experiential IFS/EMDR integration course.

This advanced 13 hour live online course dives deeper in exploring the Discovery process outlined in previous IFS-Informed EMDR workshops, and moves all the way through healing (desensitization/reprocessing, retrieval, unburdening). 

It combines strategies and perspectives from Coherence Therapy derived from memory reconsolidation research, IFS, and EMDR in a gentle, organically unfolding way.

Workshop learning is supported by a cohesive team of talented consultants who guide practice sessions and engage participants continuously via chat discussions simultaneous to Bruce's didactic presentation and live demonstrations.

Prerequisite:

You qualify to take this course only if you've taken our Step Two (or Bruce's) IFS-Informed EMDR 2-Day Experiential Workshop.

Limited spaces! Register early.

These workshops are limited to 30 participants due to the highly experiential practice-focused nature of the course. There is a 1:3 staff-to-learner ratio with highly qualified Guides supervising/coaching multiple practice sessions. It is anticipated they will sell out.

Registration $600

$100 discount for repeaters!

If you have taken this 2-day course already, you qualify for a $100 discount. The registration form will allow you to indicate that you have taken this course before and then you will pay only $500.

  • Description

    The Discovery process works like a centrifuge. A burdened & blended internal system led by a protector is a solution, both in the sense of solving a problem and in that it is like a mixture containing dissolved components. A centrifuge unblends the solution into its separate components. In a blended internal system, these components are Self, Protector, and Exile. Bilateral stimulation and attuned, informed curiosity, along with opportunistic and spontaneous Self-resourcing results in increasingly clearer differentiation of these components until a critical mass of Self-Energy flips the system into healing.

    At this point, functional dual attention is obtained and sustainable, leading to rapid and powerful healing processes commonly observed in the most successful and effective EMDR or IFS sessions; desensitization/reprocessing, retrieval, unburdening, etc.

    Learn the details, observe the process being set up and carried through into healing with live volunteer demos, and practice the skills you will bring into your sessions with clients.

    Discovery is a term taken from Coherence Therapy (Unlocking the Emotional Brain [2012], Ecker, et al). It means uncovering the emotional truth behind a symptom derived from implicit memory. It will make sense given the original context. Implicit memories are unconscious and reflexive, and they are at the heart of most of the symptomatic behavior and reactions we see in our clinical practices.

  • (continued)

    Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy guides us to understand that in healing work, we are almost certainly going to encounter protectors. These parts are responsible for what might otherwise be seen as resistance, acting out, etc., but they always have underlying positive intentions. They are embedded within an entire protective system of parts.

    When we select a trauma target in EMDR, we necessarily activate this protective system, which can very often be complex and vigorous. Often, pushing forward with processing our selected target makes things worse. But backing up and doing intensive resourcing delays productive processing, sometimes indefinitely. This is the dilemma EMDR therapists routinely face.

    These ideas from Coherence Therapy and IFS intersect at one point in the EMDR process, on the verge of the Assessment Phase. It is here that we can utilize sets of alternating bilateral stimulation in a new way to process protectors. A way that is in-between resource installation and desensitization, and has advantages of both.

    The Discovery process is a bridge from the Preparation Phase of EMDR to the Assessment Phase and BEYOND. It will clarify the protector's positive intention, uncover the original problems the symptom is designed to solve, and stimulate emerging Self-Presence. All this clears the way for a conventional Assessment Phase and Desensitization with Functional Dual Attention. This culminates at the point where continued bilateral stimulation and attuned, informed curiosity, along with opportunistic and spontaneous Self-resourcing results in increasingly clearer differentiation of these components until a critical mass of Self-Energy flips the system into healing, as described above.

  • Learning Objectives:

    After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:

    1. Explain the difference between the conventional EMDR Assessment Phase target elements and the Discovery target elements.

    2. List two beneficial by-products of the Discovery process.

    3. Describe two primary tasks of the therapist during Discovery.

    4. Identify two ways Discovery employs Onno van der Hart’s suggested modifications of EMDR processing for complex clients.

    5. Describe the effect of processing protectors (defenses) on the level of emotional intensity of underlying trauma material.

    6. Explain the relationship between protectors (defenses), implicit memory & memory reconsolidation.

    7. Explain what is meant by "flipping the protector."

    8. Explain the difference between Discovery and Desensitization.

Discovery & Beyond Bibliography 

 

Ecker, B., Ticic, R. & Hulley L. (2012). Unlocking the Emotional Brain: Eliminating Symptoms at Their

Roots Using Memory Reconsolidation. New York: Routledge.

Fisher, Janina. (2017). Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors: Overcoming Internal Self-

Alienation Taylor and Francis.

Forgash, C. & Copeley, M. (Ed.s) (2007). Healing the Heart of Trauma and Dissociation with EMDR and

Ego State Therapy. Springer: New York.

Gomez, A. M. & Krause, P. K. (2013). EMDR Therapy and the Use of Internal Family Systems

Strategies With Children, In A. M. Gomez, (Ed.), EMDR Therapy and Adjunct Approaches with Children

(pp. 299–345). New York, NY: Springer publishing.

Knipe, J (2018) EMDR Toolbox: Theory and Treatment Methods for Complex PTSD and Dissociation.

(Second Edition). Springer, New York.

Steele, K. Boon, S., & van der Hart, O. (2017) Treating Trauma-Related Dissociation: A Practical,

Integrative Approach. New York: Norton.

The content of this course is evidence-based.

There is no known commercial support nor conflict of interest for this program. 

Continuing Education Information

EMDRIA

This SYZYGY INSTITUTE course is approved by EMDRIA for 13.0 EMDRIA CE for those who have completed basic EMDR training (EC Provider #: 22005).

IFS-Institute

This SYZYGY INSTITUTE course is approved by IFS-Institute for 13.0 recertification CE.

Massachusetts LMFT CE's approved through NEAFAST

This activity has been certified by NEAFAST on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health & Human Services Professions, for LMFT professional continuing education.

Individuals needing only EMDRIA, IFS, and NEAFAST proof of attendance will receive certificate by email after completion of course evaluation.

ASWB ACE

Discovery & Beyond 2-day IFS-Informed EMDR Advanced Experiential, #4268, is approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program to be offered by SYZYGY Institute, LLC. as an individual course. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE course approval period: 09/09/2022 - 09/09/2024. Social workers completing this course receive 13 Clinical continuing education credits.

Many state boards accept ASWB ACE approval for counselor, MFT, or addiction professionals continuing education hours. Check with your state.

Accommodations for the Differently Abled

This workshop is held in a facility and/or delivered in a manner that is in compliance with the Americans Disabilities Act. Please contact hello@syzygyinstitute.com, if special accommodation is required.

Cancelation Policy

Registration fees will be refunded minus a service fee of $60 if canceled 30 days or more before the workshop start. After that, no refunds.

Registration may be transferred to a specific later offering of the same workshop, if space is available, for a $60 service fee until 30 days prior to workshop, and thereafter is $100.

Grievance Policy

All grievances must be in writing to hello@syzygyinstitute.com, and will be replied to within 5 - 10 business days.

Schedule

Day One

9:00-10:00                Welcome, Introduction

10:00-10:30              Nature of Parts

                                    Nature of Memory

10:30-10:45              break

10:45-11:15              EMDR Phase One

                                    EMDR Phase Two

                                    Crucial Role of Self & Protectors in Phase Two

11:15-11:45           Demo/ Exercise One: GPS & Biggest Part in the Room

11:45-12:30           Practice/ Exercise One: GPS & Biggest Part in the Room

12:30-1:00                Lunch

1:00-1:15                  Practice Debrief / Q&A

1:15-1:45                  Processing defenses (Protectors)

                                    Discovery Contract

                                   Functional Dual Attention

1:45-2:30               Demo/ Exercise Two: Best Possible PPI: Solution & Problem

2:30-2:45                   break

2:45-4:15               Practice/ Exercise Two: Best Possible PPI: Solution & Problem

4:15-4:30                   Debrief / Q&A

Day Two

9:00-10:00               The Centrifuge, Butterfly Effect

                                    Therapist Tasks in Discovery

Discovery is a Preparation Phase Tool

Flipping the Part

10:00-10:30           Demo/ Exercise Three: Dual Tasks: Informed Curiosity & Resourcing Emerging Self

10:30-10:45              break

10:45-12:15              Practice/ Exercise Three: Dual Tasks: Informed Curiosity & Resourcing Emerging Self

12:15-12:30              Debrief / Q&A

12:30-1:00                Lunch

1:00-1:30                  Shifting to Desensitization and/or Healing in IFS

1:30-2: 30               Demo/ Exercise Four: Shifting to Desensitization/Healing

2: 30-2:45                 break

2: 45-4:15                 Practice/ Exercise Four: Shifting to Desensitization/Healing

4:15-4:30                  Wrap-up, Q&A, Evaluations