I was reading the chapter in Jim Knipe’s book, “EMDR Toolbox” on “EMDR with Avoidance” in which he talks about using the “What’s good about _________” intervention, where the blank is theย avoidance behavior.
I’ve also been doing more self-EMDR. ย One of the modules in the trainings is on self-EMDR and so I’ve been doing more of that, mainly so I’ll be able to have some experiences to talk about. ย So far, my experience doing self-EMDR hasn’t been very productive but I think that may be changing.
So, in thinking about my avoidance strategies while reading Knipe, I remembered my two recent candy binges – like yesterday and the day before. ย These weren’t the silly little indulgences like, “I think I’ll have a candy bar.” ย They were more serious like, “I’m eating this bag of Classic Mini Mars Party Pack candy bars plus some peppermint Life Savors left over from the last training, handful-after-handful.”
To do the self-EMDR, I pictured sneaking my hand into the bag, time after time, and asked myself, “What’s good about binge eating this candy?” ย I then started the beeping and let my “mind go where it goes and do what it does.”
After a few sets, two realizations came to mind: ย One was, I couldn’t remember or figure outย what triggered the binges, which surprised me. ย The other was, I have no idea what the underlying, unresolved maladaptive neural template (aka trauma net) was being triggered, because I was so engrossed in stuffing the candy.
Interestingly, this strategy – binge eating – has been “working” for years, because I’ve been binging for years and am still unable to resolve it. ย The self-EMDR helped me see that is because the bingeing was blocking access to healing the trauma, whatever it might be, and even blocking awareness of the triggers. ย Oh, I have some ideas about why I eat like this, but it’s not resolved.
My intention is to keep doing this, the self-EMDR, that is – the bingeing will happen on its own. ย The intention now is to weaken the strength of the defense – the urge to non-hunger eating – anytime, really, not just in binge mode, so that I can finally sit with discomfort of what’s really coming up, and maybe beep on that.
Amanda Martin holds a PhD in Family Therapy and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor, and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. With over 14 years of experience, she specializes in trauma therapy for individuals and families in residential and outpatient settings. Amanda also provides supervision for EMDR certification, EMDR consultants-in-training, and LMFT-Associates. Her mission is to help people find a healthy, joyful, and fulfilling path in life. Her warm, supportive, and interactive counseling style incorporates Symbolic Experiential Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, HeartMath, Animal-Assisted Therapy, Neurofeedback, and Collaborative Problem Solving.
Dr. Jose Carbajal, a U.S. Army veteran, earned his bachelorโs and masterโs degrees in social work and a masterโs in theological studies from Baylor University, and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. With over 15 years of clinical experience and extensive teaching experience, Jose specializes in trauma, sexual abuse recovery, domestic violence, and substance abuse. His research focuses on trauma interventions, neuroscience, and faith. He is EMDR Certified, an Approved Consultant, and an EMDRIA Approved Trainer, with numerous publications and professional presentations to his name.
Amber holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in both Texas and Oklahoma and holds Supervisor credential for Texas. Amber is an EMDRIA consultant and trainer. She has over a decade of experience in the trauma field in work with uniformed services, domestic violence, childhood trauma and abuse, and recent mass trauma events. Amber provides consultation for EMDRIA certification, for consultants-in-training, and supervision for LPC-Associates. Amber continues to research the benefits of EMDR therapy with a variety of populations. Her goal is to help build strong clinicians who are well versed in trauma interventions to better support their clients. Amber sees a limited number of clients with a focus on trauma work, she is also a Certified Career Counselor and Certified through EAGALA to provide equine-assisted therapy.ย
Amber holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in both Texas and Oklahoma and holds Supervisor credential for Texas. Amber is an EMDRIA consultant and trainer. She has over a decade of experience in the trauma field in work with uniformed services, domestic violence, childhood trauma and abuse, and recent mass trauma events. Amber provides consultation for EMDRIA certification, for consultants-in-training, and supervision for LPC-Associates. Amber continues to research the benefits of EMDR therapy with a variety of populations. Her goal is to help build strong clinicians who are well versed in trauma interventions to better support their clients. Amber sees a limited number of clients with a focus on trauma work, she is also a Certified Career Counselor and Certified through EAGALA to provide equine-assisted therapy.ย
Dr. Jose Carbajal, a U.S. Army veteran, earned his bachelorโs and masterโs degrees in social work and a masterโs in theological studies from Baylor University, and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. With over 15 years of clinical experience and extensive teaching experience, Jose specializes in trauma, sexual abuse recovery, domestic violence, and substance abuse. His research focuses on trauma interventions, neuroscience, and faith. He is EMDR Certified, an Approved Consultant, and an EMDRIA Approved Trainer, with numerous publications and professional presentations to his name.
Amanda Martin holds a PhD in Family Therapy and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor, and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. With over 14 years of experience, she specializes in trauma therapy for individuals and families in residential and outpatient settings. Amanda also provides supervision for EMDR certification, EMDR consultants-in-training, and LMFT-Associates. Her mission is to help people find a healthy, joyful, and fulfilling path in life. Her warm, supportive, and interactive counseling style incorporates Symbolic Experiential Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, HeartMath, Animal-Assisted Therapy, Neurofeedback, and Collaborative Problem Solving.
