When Does Emdr Not Work

Researching the Effectivity of Emotional Freedom Technique On Combat Post ...

(ROCHESTER, N.Y.) - For the last 3 years, I have been involved in some of the most important research to date on reducing the effects Combat Trauma/PTSD with Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT.  Up until the inception of EMDR and then EFT, trauma treatment of any type was at best futile. 

Medication and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) may be helpful; however, research has demonstrated that less than half the clients treated with CBT benefit from the process, and medications are not helpful at all. 

There are recent reports of veterans dying in their sleep because of drug cocktails that contain Klonapin, Paxil, and Seroquel.  Vietnam Veterans are still suffering the effects of PTSD because of the insufficiency of treatment methods currently used.  Most of them are still scoring well over the VA threshold for PTSD on the PCL-M, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Check List, (Military).

Currently, the VA seems invested in expensive technology, such as computer aided virtual reality programs that re-expose the veteran to similar traumatic scenes.  The problem with this type of technology is that the likelihood of re-traumatizing the veteran is very high.  Additionally, Dr. Roger Callahan developed the grandfather of EFT, Thought Field Therapy, because he was frustrated with using exposure therapy for phobias.  It was clear to him that exposure therapy was slow and ineffective.  One of the veterans I treated had been through the virtual reality program and did not receive any benefit from it.  The VA has recently released an application for Smart Phones, aptly named The PTSD Coach, in an effort to allow a traumatized veteran instant access to coping skills.  EFT is more than a coping technique.  It actually releases the energy imprint of the trauma.

EMDR has its challenges too.  No one that dissociates should use EMDR.  The clinician has to be highly skilled to avoid abreactions or leaving the client in a dissociated condition.  Additionally, EMDR cannot be self-applied.  A clinician must administer EMDR.  I am not saying EMDR is bad, just that it has limitations.  Moreover, as best as I can tell, most VA centers are not using it even though it is DOD approved.  There is recently published research from the UK that compared EFT to EMDR and found it equally effective .

Many EFT practitioners have attempted to introduce EFT to the VA.  Many of us have been shunned, brushed off and some escorted off the premises because the VA does not want to acknowledge that something as simple as EFT can be so effective.  I personally have handed VA counselors’ research data to show their supervisors, only to hear back from them that the supervisors still maintained that either there is not any research, or it is insufficient.  I get the impression that the VA is more concerned with research than with saving lives or improving the quality of life of combat veterans.  EFT cannot do any harm and does not have adverse side effects or abreactions.

Love. Learning. Liberty.: How Things Are Going These Days...

So, my husband and I went to see his parents the weekend before last. I was expecting trouble afterwards, because clearly his parents are the source of much of his childhood trauma and seeing them is a huge trigger. The last time we had trouble serious enough to ask him to leave the house for awhile, we had been to see his folks three weeks earlier. The tension had been building over those three weeks, and when everything came to a head I was not surprised. The visit was much better than any previous visit, as my husband was able to talk freely with me about his feelings. This is a huge improvement. In the past, denial and a desire to defend his parents (imho indefensible) actions would pop out of nowhere on these trips. The day before, he would express his own disillusionment with his folks, but once he laid eyes on them, he would make excuses for them and get rather irritated at me for expressing any disapproval of them in any way. The night after we left, things were going very well when out of nowhere, my husband's attitude toward me changed. This led to me confronting the change, and quickly discovering he was "in his reptile brain". Not good. I offered to do some home EMDR with him and he agreed. Five minutes later he was again his normal self, and very appreciative for the help.

I'm so glad that book was helpful. I'll have to move it off my wishlist and into my shopping cart. I've been procrastinating, hoping someone would buy it for me but it hasn't happened yet. And I've been kinda stalling in my own healing--just keep getting intuitions of needing to release trauma but my previous methods aren't working.--so maybe this book will break the wall and I will keep moving ahead. Carpal tunnel is often well-mediated by macro-minerals (calcium, magnesium, zinc), a Vitamin B complex (but especially B-6, or pyridoxal-5-phosphate if the B6 makes your trips to the bathroom a fluorescent yellow--sorry if that was TMI), and some essential fatty acids (fish oils or DHA capsules or such). Also, lots of antioxidants--Vit ACED. Food sources are wild cold-water fish, dark green leafy veg and berries of all kinds.

Introduction to Psychology

20/20 Thinking, 1,000 Powerful Strategies to Sharpen Your Mind, Brighten Your Mood, and Boost Your Memory

The Corsini encyclopedia of psychology and behavioral science

Handbook of Psychology: Educational psychology

Small Wonders, Healing Childhood Trauma With EMDR