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​​​​Workshop Description​

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This clinically focused workshop provides therapists with practical, immediately applicable interventions

for working with trauma-related dissociation and EMDR Therapy.

 

Trauma-related dissociation can significantly complicate EMDR therapy, often disrupting processing, limiting access to affect, or leading to destabilization if not properly addressed. This workshop is designed to help EMDR clinicians recognize, assess, and effectively work with dissociation across all eight phases of EMDR therapy, while intentionally integrating top-down and bottom-up strategies (somatic, sensory, and nervous system–informed). 

 

Participants will learn to recognize dissociative responses as they emerge throughout the 8 phases of EMDR, differentiate dissociation from resistance or disengagement, and adapt clinical communication through pacing, grounding, and explicit interventions. Emphasis is placed on phase-oriented, trauma-informed decision-making and flexibly shifting strategies between top-down and bottom-up approaches based on moment-to-moment assessment of client readiness, capacities needed, and nervous system cues. Recognizing and understanding these signals is essential to strengthening the therapeutic alliance and supporting integration.

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During this workshop, Kathy Steele will discuss the following:

 

1. History Taking – Identifying trauma-related dissociation and treatment readiness.

2. Preparation – Strengthening stabilization, resourcing, and nervous system regulation using both top-down and bottom-up approaches.

3. Assessment – Modifying target selection and negative/positive cognitions when dissociation is present.

4. Desensitization – Maintaining dual attention and preventing shutdown or flooding during bilateral stimulation.

5. Installation – Supporting integration of adaptive beliefs when parts or dissociative barriers interfere.

6. Body Scan – Working somatically with dissociative responses and incomplete processing.

7. Closure – Ensuring containment, grounding, and client stability at session end.

8. Reevaluation – Assessing integration, dissociative symptoms, and treatment progression over time.​

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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:​

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• Explain how dissociative processes may present across the eight phases of EMDR therapy.

• Compare between top-down and bottom-up interventions and explain the clinical rationale for integrating both approaches when working with dissociative clients.

• Apply at least three (3) phase-specific modifications to the EMDR protocol to enhance safety, stabilization, and dual awareness for clients experiencing dissociation.

• Demonstrate at least two (2) strategies for maintaining engagement and preventing shutdown, flooding, or fragmentation during desensitization and body-based processing.

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The Envision Difference

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100 % online:  Develop your skills from the comfort of your home or office via Zoom.

Live Q & A:  Ask questions during the live Q & A with the presenter and participants.

1 YEAR access:  Can't attend live?  Watch later. 1 YEAR of access to the workshop recording and materials and receive a certificate of attendance for home study learning.