EMDR Target Selection

For many new EMDR therapists, the challenge of target selection and sequencing can feel very tricky, especially when dealing with complex client cases. This is a recurring theme in my consultation sessions with EMDR therapists. Understanding where to begin, what to target, and in what sequence is never straightforward with complex clients, but I have some tips to help demystify this process.

The 'North Star'

One of the most effective ways to navigate the complexities of EMDR Therapy is by establishing a clear understanding of your client’s therapy goals. Think of these goals as your 'North Star,' a guiding principle that provides direction and clarity amidst uncertainty. It sounds straightforward, but it’s surprisingly common for therapists to lose sight of the core focus of a client's therapy, particularly the tangible goals a client aims to achieve by reprocessing their past trauma or painful life events.

Especially with longstanding clients, navigating complex situations can at times leave EMDR therapists feeling perplexed, making it challenging to discern the overarching therapy goals. In these circumstances, returning to basics can be invaluable. Reflecting on questions like “what specifically is the client hoping to change in their life by reprocessing their past trauma?” can serve as the North Star - providing a clear direction when uncertainty arises.

Reverse Engineering from Therapy Goals

EMDR targets should be meaningful in relation to the client’s presenting issues and therapy goals. I find it particularly helpful to reverse engineer from a client’s current therapy goals. This involves identifying the issues or symptoms that need to be addressed to achieve those goals, determining the current top priority among those issues, what core negative belief underpins this issue, and then working backward to identify which experiences in the client’s life are most relevant to the development of that core belief and resulting issue.

This process not only brings greater clarity and purpose to the work, but also enhances client buy-in and retention. It transforms the sometimes-daunting task of target selection into a structured and strategic process, equipping EMDR therapists to make informed decisions that align closely with their clients' therapy goals.

Embrace Complexity with Confidence

If you’re an EMDR therapist struggling with target selection and sequencing in complex cases, you might be interested in purchasing my ‘EMDR Therapy Case Conceptualisation and Target Selection’ on-demand webinar. This training provides detailed guidance on this topic, helping you to apply EMDR more effectively and confidently with your complex clients.

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.