Video 023 Targeting Positive affect
Use this solution
With co-dependency and other situations holding both negative and positive affect. The positive affect is the initial target through which the underlying traumatic memory and its negative affect can emerge for processing with the standard EMDR protocol.
Originator:
Dr Jim Knipe
Video production
Matthew Davies Media Ltd, Llanidloes, Powys. www.matthewmedia.com
Take-Away Section
What this covers
Many clients come to therapy with a problem that includes both positive and negative affect components. In terms of Shapiro’s Adaptive Information Processing Model, it’s as if there are two entry points to stored memory networks. Normally we target the memory of the negative experience, but sometimes the positive affect is more accessible. When this happens the negative affect and the associated memory may remain hidden, or if targeted, processing may stall.
Lily had come to therapy because she was struggling with her relationship with her mother and felt overwhelmed by her mother’s demands. However, Lily was unable to stand up for herself and constantly gave in to her. It was a very co-dependent relationship and this is what was targeted directly through the positive affect.
How long
10.00 minutes
Related videos
See Video 005, 014, and 018.
Go to ‘Take-away’?
Wrap –up For examples of other situations where this approach is helpful. See Aide mémoire for step-by-step guide to using this protocol.
+ Wrap up
Here are some examples of targeting positive affect. Typically positive and negative affect co-exist when there is an issue of avoidance or one of unrealistic or destructive positive emotional investment (e.g., in an image of self or of another person, in righting a perceived wrong)
- Here are some examples of targeting positive affect. Typically positive and negative affect co-exist when there is an issue of avoidance or one of unrealistic or destructive positive emotional investment (e.g., in an image of self or of another person, in righting a perceived wrong)
- Getting over client resistance to processing a difficult trauma event. What’s good about feeling numb when you think of that event? So you feel a sense of relief. Right now, how strong, from 0-10, is that feeling of relief?”
- Getting over a relationship that was ended by his lover. ”Hold in your mind the most loving time spent with her. Right now, how much, from 0-10, do you want to hang onto her?”
- Getting over a sense of injustice and pursuing action against the Police in regard to his perception of wrongful arrest regardless of consequences. “How much, from 0-10, do you want to go to the Police Station and protest against your arrest?”
- Client cheating on her partner. “Get an image of the time you cheated on your partner and felt good about getting away with it. How strong, from 0-10, is that feeling?”
+ Aide-mémoire
- Explain the process of targeting ‘positive affect (see Video for explanation).
- Identify with the client the positive feeling urge that is holding them in a destructive or dysfunctional situation or relationship.
- Get a measure of the strength of the urge (0-10).
- Have the client identify where in their body the feeling resides
- Explain the ‘Stop signal’ if he client wants to stop processing. Address any fears/anxieties.
- Have the client focus on the feeling in their body and do BLS at normal (fast) speed as for desensitization. Start with 20 plus sweeps and adjust as necessary to match client’s ability to cope.
- After each set, ask the client the strength of the feeling (0-10)
- Sometimes it’s useful to ask questions like: “What’s changed to have it move to a 7 (say from 10)? Or what makes it a three rather than a zero?” Follow by “Notice that.” or “Go with that.” or “Think on about that.”
- Reduce the positive feelings to zero or to whatever level allows the client to have full access to the underlying trauma and its affects/cognitions/body sensations.
- Use the full EMDR protocol to address the underlying trauma