Utilizing EMDR therapy with the Dissociative Child and Teen

Utilizing EMDR with the Dissociative Child and Teen
Annie Monaco, LCSW, RPT & Ann Beckley-Forest, LCSW, RPT-S
Buffalo, New York, USA

Description & Aims:

It is imperative that children with complex trauma receive effective treatment early in their lives before their symptoms reach an apex necessitating hospitalizations, residential placements, or ruptured home placements. A child’s use of dissociative strategies has a profound influence on attachment, affect regulation, behavior control, and cognitions. This workshop will use extended case examples including transcripts to illustrate core symptoms of dissociation, and offer some strategies for managing the impact of these symptoms as we move the child towards healing. We will demonstrate how to use play techniques to help children describe their inner life of self-states to lay the groundwork for processing. An example of how to manage self-states effectively with playful EMDR interventions will be described during the phases of EMDR treatment with children with dissociation.

Learning Objective: Participants will be able to describe core dissociative symptoms and case conceptualization strategies during the phases of EMDR.

Learning Objective: Participants will be able to distinguish self-states in the preparation phase and use developmentally appropriate ego-state language through play therapy with a specialized dissociation doll and other playful techniques such as puppets, sandtay or art.

Learning Objective: Participants will be able to initiate internal communication and cooperation among parts in to work towards resolution of perpetrator memories with a titrated approach to Phase 4.

Time: 3 hours

Method, powerpoint, video, demo and extended case example including transcript

Ann Beckley-Forest, LCSW, RPT-S, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice in Buffalo, New York, and co-founder of Playful EMDR, an online hub for training and consultation in treating trauma-exposed children.  Her specialties include attachment and child and adolescent trauma, and she also works with adult survivors.  She is certified in EMDR and is an EMDR Approved Consultant and Trainer and a faculty member of the Child Trauma Institute, as well as a Registered Play Therapist and Supervisor and Approved Provider of play therapy continuing education through the Association for Play Therapy.   She provides consultation in person and remotely, and gives trainings across the US and internationally. Her primary interest is in the intersection of play therapy and EMDR and has published on this topic including as contributor and co-editor of EMDR with Children in the Play Therapy Room: An Integrated Approach (2020).

Annie Monaco, LCSW-R, RPT is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist and a faculty member of the Child Trauma Institute & Trauma Institute and of University at Buffalo School of Social Work. Annie travels throughout the US and internationally providing a multitude of trauma-informed trainings and agency and therapist consultation. Annie is an EMDRIA approved trainer of EMDR, Progressive Counting and STAR (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resiliency). Annie also provides specialty trainings on attachment, dissociation, and EMDR with Teenagers and with younger children. Annie was a Director of Restorative Justice programs at a non- profit agency where she oversaw juvenile and adult offender programs for over 10 years. Presently her private practice includes a multitude of behaviors and issues including foster care, out of country adoptions, juvenile justice and dissociation. Annie is the co-editor and contributor of chapters for EMDR with Children in the Play Therapy Room, an integrated approach (2020)

3 CPD points have been approved for this event.