EMOTIONAL HEALING AT WARP SPEED: THE POWER OF EMDR is the most up-to-date book on EMDR written for the general public. It is a valuable resource for ongoing and prospective EMDR clients as well as a wonderful marketing tool to hand to potential referral sources. EMOTIONAL HEALING also presents the wider scope of EMDR treatment including longer-term EMDR, panic and mood disorders and dissociation. It is a valuable read for every EMDR therapist addressing clinical innovations, performance and creativity enhancement, humanitarian activities and the future of EMDR.

"In this book, David Grand Ph.D. invites us on a journey where one is able to learn, feel and witness how the healing power of EMDR works. He leads with care, sensitivity and skillfulness into the sacred mystery of the healing process. There, like in a reflection of multiples mirrors, one can experience the fascination of confronting the infinite levels of images, never being the same but always part of the same being." Maria Elena Lesmi, Ph.D., EMDR Facilitator, Argentina, Board Member of EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs

"Emotional Healing At Warp Speed: The Power Of EMDR is the most up-to-date book on EMDR. It clearly explains the workings of EMDR for those interested in finding out if this wonderful therapy would help them. Although written for the general public, it is a must read for every EMDR therapist. Going far beyond healing PTSD, this groundbreaking text addresses clinical innovations, performance and creativity enhancement, humanitarian activities and the future of EMDR." Richard Mitchell, President of EMDR Europe

This book is an invaluable resource for anyone looking for state-of-the-art information on EMDR treatment. Some of the gems found in EMOTIONAL HEALING are a multitude of moving case illustrations, information on longer-term EMDR treatment, the interplay between EMDR and the body, and performance ,creativity and acting coaching accelerated by EMDR. Throughout, David Grand shares his personal journey with EMDR including healing a personal trauma. This book is so well written you may read it in one sitting." Dr. Isabel Fernandez, Sponsor of EMDR in Italy

ONE AND TWO DAY SEMINARS GIVEN BY DAVID GRAND PH.D.:

A) THE NATURAL FLOW EMDR MODEL

Since its origins as a trauma treatment with structured protocols and procedures, EMDR has been expanded to other conditions with innovation and integration from other treatment approaches. This presentation will comprehensively examine an integrated conceptualization - THE NATURAL FLOW EMDR MODEL. During my development as an EMDR therapist, facilitator and lecturer I have developed a variety of ideas that I have presented in specialty presentations, workshops and writings. From these I have developed an integrated model of these ideas that both reflect theory, clinical technique and an overall philosophy which I call THE NATURAL FLOW EMDR MODEL. This can be presented in a one or two day workshop format - with or without performance enhancement and EMDR Acting Coaching.

THE NATURAL FLOW EMDR MODEL: Since its origins as a trauma treatment with structured protocols and procedures, EMDR has been expanded to other conditions with innovation and integration from other treatment approaches. THE NATURAL FLOW EMDR MODEL is a no assumptions model that entails the following components: essential listening, titration (modulating intensity of the process), extended (or continual) bilateral stimulation, locating and targeting positive body sensations and pendulating (guiding a flow back and forth between positive resources and activators of distress). Essential listening entails the therapist accepting that all potential answers reside in the clients system. This information and the ensuing healing process is supported by the therapist suspending all assumptions and carefully attending to all in the moment verbal and meta-communications emanating from the client. Following this procedure, combined with the targeted information of the protocol activated by bilateral stimulation, allows the client to process information until they arrive at their essential truth(s).

THE NATURAL FLOW EMDR MODEL is characterized by longer sets and/or ongoing auditory stimulation, natural protocol development, following or flowing along with the client in the moment, listening for the information that only they can give you about their issues and their healing, creative use of ego state work, body sensations using color and sense memory and active mirroring techniques. Innovations include eye movement, called paint brushing applied with varied pace, direction, pausing and distance, healing, flowing auditory stimulation and tactile stimulation using tapping, pressing and mechanical activation. Natural Flow EMDR also encompasses part protocols (a form of titration), multiple protocols, parallel protocols, targeting of present mood states and self-questioning interweaves.

Recent discussions in the EMDR community have been pulling at the thread of dealing with EMDR’s power to activate, especially in dealing with the emotionally vulnerable. Although many approaches have been developed for helping those clients who may be deemed too fragile or potentially dissociative for the standard EMDR protocol (RDI, Ego State, Kitchur, etc.) my sense is that an overarching philosophical approach to healing is needed.

Although modifications have been made in the training content and approach, the need to move slowly and gently when healing the soul has been overshadowed by technical considerations. This can be illustrated by the focus on rapid eye movements, with less emphasis on teaching the modes of sound and tactile stimulation which can be for some less agitating. It is my belief that the question of how fast eye movements should be, how wide the sweeps, how far the hand should be from the clients face, as well as who should determine when to end the set should be developed further and presented as options in the EMDR training. The concept of guiding slower, gentler processing (titrating down) has efficacy, not only for our vulnerable clients, but for all who come to us for our wisdom and healing.

The issue of continuous stimulation has not yet found its way into trainings, even though BIOLATERAL SOUND PRODUCTS, and mechanized tactile stimulation has led many to experiment and incorporate it into their treatment approach. As far as I know, no factor analysis or cross comparison of these modes has been made as yet, ergo we are still working with anecdotal material derived from clinical observation. I tend to use sound stimulation most of the time, switching when I want to employ very slow eye movements with brief sets so as to minimize abreaction and dislocation with the most vulnerable of clients. I often use these to help deepen the positive body sensations that are searched out in the face of distressing bodily experience.

I have also been giving increased attention suspending all assumptions to foster the most attentive of listening and observation processes, essential listening following the client as they find their way to their own essential truths. This is derived from Francine Shapiro’s postulation that the system holds its own self-healing mechanisms and that given the right set of circumstances they will come to the fore. This is fostered by staying out of the way of a clients processing, even when, in fact especially when you don’t understand it or know where it is going. This takes relinquishing of control for us, as well as faith in the human potential for healing of the client and all humans. Essential listening is a balancing act between the power of a client's internal processing and their need to tell their story, especially where it is at for them in the moment. Our close observation and attunement to facial expression, body movement (especially those of the hands), voice inflection and cadence as well as choice and timing of use of words and metaphors necessitates our de-emphasizing our own internal processing, intuition, clinical orientation and experience - to the degree they tend to be assumption based and so interfere with our flowing with the client toward their own ultimate answers (Oh, I know what it is!) and resolution. This presents a challenge to ourselves to accept that we cannot have the answers for another person. At our best we are structuring guides and witnesses who subordinate our own needs and control and so provide the respect, complete acceptance, and holding required for the clients self-healing. Our wisdom lies more in knowing what we don’t know than what we do know.

A caveat to novice EMDR therapists do not take my ideas as a suggestion to abandon your development of basic, sound EMDR skills, both technical and conceptual. Focus on developing the feel and confidence that can only come by learning and relearning the basics. You may, however, benefit by seeing EMDR as different from other clinical approaches as it is built on an ethos healing and change is possible even where it hasn’t been before.

This approach will be illustrated in lecture and demonstration format. This will include live demonstrations, mini-practica and role-playing of challenging case situations. Extensive handout material will be used to support theoretical and practical background.

B) THE GRAND SYSTEM-EMDR Acting Coaching: The Healing Art Form

Acting is a process which has many parallels to the therapeutic process, including EMDR. Acting entails activation of emotional memory, use of body experience and movement including imagery and sense memory. From early in its development, EMDR has been applied to performance and creativity enhancement, including addressing stage-fright.

This presentation will address the innovative use of EMDR protocols and bilateral stimulation to help actors face the many challenges they confront. This includes audition anxiety, role preparation, relaxation, going into character (enrolling), creating bodily, unconsciously held character memory, leaving character (derolling), and management of career stress. Actors encounter traumatic experiences not only in terms of constant self-rejection but with coaches and directors who attempt to evoke emotion by stripping away needed defense mechanisms. In contrast, the approach of EMDR acting coaching provides simultaneous enhancement and healing by gently addressing and processing the emotional aspect of creative blocks.

This approach will be illustrated in lecture and demonstration format. This will include a live demonstration by professional actors of before and after scene work and monologues enhanced by EMDR acting coaching as well as mini-practica. Extensive handout material will be used to support theoretical and practical background.