Building a Bigger Boat: The AIP Model in EMDR Therapy
In EMDR therapy, the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model helps us understand how disturbing experiences become stored in a way that continues to cause symptoms. But it also offers a roadmap for how healing can take place - through identifying where adaptive processing has been interrupted in the client’s life (what’s ‘gone wrong’), and where it’s already present (what’s ‘gone right’).
This dual focus helps EMDR therapists identify which unresolved traumatic memories that may need to be reprocessed, and also the internal resources and strengths already available to the client. It informs EMDR case formulation, target selection, and treatment planning - essentially, what to reprocess, when to reprocess it, and how much preparation might be needed before doing so.
The ‘Boat’ Metaphor
Thomas Zimmerman (2021) offers a helpful metaphor: trauma memories are like fish, and a client’s adaptive information - their capacity to safely process distressing experiences - is their boat. We can’t land a fish that’s bigger than the boat.
For clients with complex trauma or early attachment wounding, their ‘boat’ is often smaller. This isn’t a reflection of weakness, it’s an adaptive response to what was missing in their early environment: validation, emotional attunement, safety, or a consistent caregiver presence. These experiences - or rather, their absence - shape how a person views themselves and relates to the world. As a result, some clients struggle with self-soothing, self-compassion, a sense of safety, tolerating emotions and body sensations, and trusting others. This can make it difficult for them to reprocess their painful life experiences.
So before we ‘go fishing’ and start trauma reprocessing in EMDR therapy, we often need to help the client build a bigger boat.
Building a Bigger Boat
Phase 2 of EMDR therapy - the Preparation Phase - is where we assess and strengthen a client’s adaptive information. This isn’t about simply teaching quick coping strategies. It’s about fostering a deeper internal sense of safety, connection, and capacity.
Some of the ways we do this include:
Developing internal resources: This might involve guided imagery or installing nurturing, protective, or wise figures - internal representations that provide comfort and strength.
Using the therapeutic relationship: A warm, attuned connection with the therapist can itself be reparative. Co-regulation in therapy sessions models a new kind of relational safety.
Exploring positive memories: Gently recalling times when the client felt safe, cared for, or capable helps build a foundation of adaptive information.
Increasing self-compassion: Working with parts of self - particularly younger or vulnerable parts - can help reduce shame and self-blame, and foster a more compassionate internal dialogue.
This kind of resourcing work is especially important for clients with developmental trauma. It’s not just preparation for reprocessing, it can be healing in its own right.
Pacing is Part of the Process
Sometimes EMDR therapists worry about moving too fast. Other times, we might unknowingly avoid reprocessing because we’re anxious about the client’s readiness. It’s a delicate balance.
When clients show signs of emotional regulation, curiosity about their inner experience, and increased cohesion in therapy, it’s usually a good indicator that their boat is getting bigger. But not every client needs extensive resourcing - and overdoing it can unintentionally reinforce avoidance. The key is thoughtful assessment, and tuning into what each client needs at that particular moment.
Key Takeaway
Working with complex trauma often means we need to pause and consider whether the client has a big enough boat to safely process their memories. EMDR therapy isn’t just about targeting trauma—it’s about understanding the whole person, including what strengths and supports they bring into the room.
By focusing on both what the client needs less of (unprocessed trauma) and what they need more of (adaptive resources and relational safety), we can pace the work in a way that feels safe, respectful, and effective.
Further Learning
If you’d like to hear more from Thomas Zimmerman about the boat metaphor and the AIP model, I’d recommend his episode on The EMDR Podcast. You can listen to it at this link.
I'm Caroline Burrows, an Accredited EMDR Trainer and Consultant. I’m passionate about bridging the gap between EMDR training and clinical practice. If you're looking to learn EMDR therapy for the first time, enhance your EMDR skills, or navigate challenges in your EMDR clinical work, I offer training workshops, on-demand webinars, and consultation. I would love to support your EMDR learning journey.
