Because as EMDR therapists we use the AIP model to guide our treatment approach, it helps to have a basic understanding of it and how it works. While the neurology behind EMDR processing can be very complicated, even a simple understanding of it can help guide the processing.
I came up with this diagram while I was playing with the EMDR Standard Protocol and trying to find a way to sketch it out. Starting with the target event, that is, the life experience that will be processed, we see that the Image, Emotion, and Body Sensations are all attached to it, or come out of it. Those are the memories that are stuck or frozen – not metabolized – in the limbic brain that need to be processed because they are under the surface activating and/or dysregulating the autonomic nervous system (NS).
It is interesting to consider how negative cognition (NC) is developed and when it gets linked to memory. Because it is a thought that comes from the neocortex, and because the neocortex is offline during the activating event, means it must be determined by the unconscious mind, after the fact. In turn, it must be based on the Image, Emotion, and Body sensation, that is, the “Felt Sense” that is stimulated by the event.
The diagram shows that the memories from the event, that is, the Image, Emotion, and Body Sensations, are stored, or better yet “linked in” – in the limbic brain. That means they are below the level of thought (unconscious) and easily activated. In addition, they are stored in “neural networks” that, on the maladaptive side, are stuck or frozen in time, which is what makes them maladaptive.
It makes sense that the maladaptive network and adaptive networks work the same way in that they link memories – images, emotions, and body sensations. One difference is that the maladaptive networks are dysregulating and the adaptive networks can be regulating – that is, used to calm and settle the NS.
So, the chart shows that the target memory is located in the maladaptive neural network, and then with EMDR processing the memories are resolved, metabolized, or digested, that is, no longer stuck or frozen, linked to time and space and in this way are linked into the adaptive neural networks.
A final note is that I developed this chart to show to clients as a way to explain how EMDR works. Some like it and understand it and some don’t care but in any case, it helps to explain what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.
The Adaptive Information Processing model is the framework used in EMDR to conceptualize how experiences are stored and how unresolved memories may contribute to present symptoms. In the article’s chart, maladaptively stored memories include interconnected images, emotions and body sensations.
The article describes maladaptive networks as containing memories that remain “stuck or frozen in time.” Because these memories have not been fully processed, they can be easily activated and contribute to nervous-system dysregulation.
Adaptive networks contain memories, images, emotions and body sensations that have been processed and integrated. The article contrasts them with maladaptive networks by explaining that adaptive networks can have a regulating rather than dysregulating effect.
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 bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work and a master’s 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.
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.
Dr. Jose Carbajal, a U.S. Army veteran, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work and a master’s 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.
