Recent Events

Recent Events

  • Memories of events that occur 90 days or less are fragmented and not completely consolidated into one memory of the entire event
  • These events require “frame-by-frame” processing, targeting each scene as a separate target, using Phase 3 to access and activate the experience
  • Short sets, like taking small bites, can make the processing more manageable / tolerable
    • Obtain a narrative of the event
    • Target the worst part of the experience per the client’s definition
    • Target the remaining frames in chronological order
    • Have the client visualize the entire experience, eyes closed, and reprocess as any disturbance surfaces
    • Repeat until the client is able to visualize from start to finish without any distress
    • Have the client visualize the entire experience, eyes open, and install positive belief
    • Do a final body scan
    • If needed, follow by processing any present stimuli

Additional Protocols for Processing Recent Events

  • New protocols have evolved in recent years
    • R-TEP – Recent Traumatic Episode Protocol (Elan Shapiro & Bruit Laub)
    • EMDR-PRECI – EMDR Protocol for Recent Critical Incidents (Ignacio Jarero & Lucina Artigas)
    • A-TIP – Acute Traumatic Incident Procedures (Roy Kiessling)
  • Common themes
    • Screen for appropriateness
    • Insure the client has access to state-change resource tools
    • Have client give narrative of experience
      • The narration may be erratic and stilted, based on over-accessing and activation of sympathetic nervous system
      • Use of resource speed, tactile / auditory BLS during narrative may have grounding / resourcing effect
        • NOTE: even slow BLS may be activating, while at the same time client may begin to integrate elements of the memory fragments
    • Have client identify the worst part of the experience and process using Phase 3 questions to access and activate. Process through Phase 5 to enhance positives
      • Process to as close to 0/7 as is reasonably possible, given the circumstances
      • Useful to reframe 0 as “ability to talk about it calmly”
      • DO NOT use a body scan, it will activate other memory elements
    • Continue in this pattern, identifying the remaining worst part of the experience, until all frames / targets have been processed
    • Finally, have the client do Phase 3 for the entire experience and process through Phase 6
      • Process to as close to 0/7 as is reasonably possible, given the circumstances
      • This time, the client WILL do a body scan to identify any residual disturbance
    • Take special care to do as much future template work as possible to prepare the client to handle the upcoming consequences of the traumatic event
  • Consider using this approach for poorly resourced clients with complex histories
    • For some clients, though an event occurred several years ago, it may feel like it happened yesterday

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