Highlight changes in the client’s life resulting from processing
Assess
Client’s general progress
Changes in symptoms
Changes in behaviors and reaction to triggers
Specific target memory and relevant associations
Thoughts, insights, information
Dreams – these are great targets for processing
The unconscious brain processing what the conscious brain is unable to digest – REM sleep
Did the SUD remain at their previous level?
Add any new targets to treatment plan – remember once it’s begun, processing continues
Determine remaining targets
Four factors to address
Resolution of the individual target
Any activated associated material has been processed
All targets have been processed allowing the client to feel
• At peace with the past
• Empowered in the present
• Able to make choices for the future
There is satisfactory integration within a balanced social network
How to Resume Processing Completed Target
As part of Phase 8 Reevaluation, ask the client to reflect on the processed target from the last session
Whatever s/he reports, add a set of reprocessing BLS
If positive, it will enhance integration into the adaptive memory network
If negative, it will start processing
Occasionally, when client reports 0/7/clear, after time “away” from it, other dysfunctional elements may become available – archeological dig
Unfinished Target
If the last session ended in incomplete processing (SUD > 0, VoC <7, or incomplete body scan) begin by reactivating the memory
Based on AIP, the memory processing continued on some level and the memory is now changed / transmuted
Use an abbreviate Phase 3 to access and activate the memory as it is currently stored
When you bring up the memory now, what’s the worst part of it (sensory elements)?
What emotions are you experiencing now?
On a scale of 0 – 10, how disturbing is it?
Where do you feel it in your body?
NOTE: it is not necessary to access the NC/PC or VoC
You just need to “finish cooking the meal or reheat it before serving”
Resume processing with Phase 4
Focus on the experience, notice where you feel it in your body and follow the back-andforth
Continue with reprocessing sets of BLS until Phases 4 – 6 are complete
SUD = 0, VoC = 7, clear body scan
Check target plan to see what to target next
After identifying the next target, use Phases 3 – 8 to process and reevaluate
Continue processing targets sequentially until all targets have been reprocessed
Completing the Second Prong of Three-Pronged Protocol – Present
Disturbance level of present triggers may have decreased due to processing
• AIP predicts adaptive gains from processing will generalize to other targets
• Some processing of triggers may have occurred while processing other targets
• If any disturbance remains in present, the triggers will need to be targeted and processed
Due to processing, current experiences may now activate other maladaptively stored experiences that were previously unavailable and/or unidentified
Second-order conditioning may be activating current triggers
Current life experiences can result in dysfunctional responses that need to be processed
• These experiences can be identified throughout the course of therapy during processing phases and reevaluation
Bring up the [name the trigger] and notice what you get now.
• If client reports disturbance, target it using Phases 3 – 6 until 0/7/clear
Completing the Third Prong of the Three-Pronged Protocol – Future Templates
Includes psychoeducation, modeling and imaginal rehearsal
This is still processed using reprocessing speed BLS
May spontaneously occur throughout processing
Set the client up for successful living in the future
• Emphasizes adaptive and flexible responses in future situations that would be reminiscent of past disturbing experiences
• AIP facilitates integration of adaptive behaviors and experiences from processed memories
• Create mental models for adaptive responses that promote positive life experiences
Targets may include:
• Developing and strengthening skills, behaviors and emotional responses
• Future-oriented anxiousness and anticipatory fears
• Trouble-shooting future challenges
• Specific targets involving significant people and situations
Make sure that you’ve done a future template for every target before termination
• AIP may result in the client spontaneously doing a future template while processing the original target
• Sometimes it will be important to do a future template at the end of each target
• This strengthens the positive networks while reducing the possibility of additional potential disturbances in the present
• Final option is to wait until all past targets and present triggers on the treatment plan have been processed before doing future templates
Blocking beliefs, feeder memories and fears may still arise at this point
May be appropriate to use it as a resource by inverting the protocol for poorly resourced clients
• For these clients, use resourcing BLS at first to maximize an adaptive response and build resources
• If processing goes well, consider gradually speeding up the BLS to reprocess disturbance
Method for the Future Template
Designed to help client
View adaptive goals for the future
Uncover developmental or informational gaps or skill deficits
Develop resources to fill in the gaps or deficits
Have the client run a movie, seeing her/himself behaving or handling things in an adaptive way
Adding continuous reprocessing speed BLS will catalyze the potential of any disturbance arising
Should disturbance arise, target and process it
Address any issues that might come up
If there is no disturbance, add PC, emotions and body sensations and enhance the positive networks with sets of reprocessing speed BLS
Next, have the client run the movie with challenges, and see her/himself handling the “hiccups”
Should disturbance arise, target and process it
Address any issues that might come up
If there is no disturbance, add PC, emotions and body sensations and enhance the positive networks with sets of reprocessing speed BLS
Continue exploring challenges until the client is able to adaptively handle worst case scenarios