Video 078 (pt 1.1) - Imagination Interweaves - Two handed

Use this solution

This interweave can be used:

  • as a preliminary to the standard protocol to bring up formally unknown traumatic material that can be targeted with the standard EMDR protocol

  • in case of looping, or at the end of a session, when a two choice dilemma arises in order to provide a clear differentiation

  • in any discussion involving a  choice or differentiation, whether or not you are planning to use EMDR processing.

Originator:

Robin Shapiro

Video production

Matthew Davies Media Ltd, Llanidloes, Powys.
www.matthewmedia.com

What this covers

Client was a young female executive caught in a dilemma over whether to focus on her career or on having a baby.  This dilemma came to light after having EMDR to deal with stress related to some difficulties she was having with one of her staff. 

Looking carefully at the pros and cons of this choice between career and baby did not help resolve it, so the therapist suggested the two handed interweave.

How long

9.33 minute

Related videos

See Video 070

Go to ‘Take-away’?

See Aide mémoire for examples of different types of choices that can be resolved with this technique.


Take-Away Section

+ Aide Mémoire

You can copy and paste this text into a Word document, and can edit it, adding any additional text you might find helpful.

Steps in the process:

  1. Client anchors one conflicting feeling, thought, choice, belief or ego state in one hand (client chooses which hand holds this)
  2. Client anchors another feeling, thought, choice, belief or ego state in the other
  3. Therapist commences eye movements, tapping, or client can alternate opening and closing hands. Therapist says, “Just notice.”
  4. After a BLS set (15-24 passes) therapist asks “What difference do you notice?”
  5. Often, the client will report, “One hand is feeling light (or heavy).” Therapist says, “Go with that.” plus BLS; Or may ask, “What does that mean/say to/about you?”, then says, “Go with that.”
  6. Repeat step 4: BLS, followed by “What difference do you notice?” or What’s come up?” and so on until resolution is achieved.
  7. The process often leads to existential breakthroughs – as in this Video
  8. Sometimes, the client will highlight distress in one or both choices. This can be cleared with the standard EMDR protocol (see Use this protocol, point 1 above). Then recheck both hands.

Examples of differentiating between decisions or choices:

  • Hold your future if you take the new job in one hand and your life without the job in the other.
  • Hold the future if you have a baby in one hand and your life without a baby in the other.
  • Hold the love you have for your partner in one hand and the anger you feel at what he does to you in the other.
  • Hold wanting to stay with your partner in one hand and your desire for a different life in the other.
  • Hold the feeling that you are incompetent in one hand and the facts demonstrating your true competency in the other.
  • Hold shame in one hand (ask what age it corresponds to); put your actual situation right now in the other hand.
  • When you get home feeling lonely, notice how good does it feel to view pornography. Put that in one hand. In the other hand put the consequences of viewing that pornography. (Addiction)
  • Put yourself as you are now in one hand and what your older, wiser self will be able to do later in the other.
  • Hold the worry that makes you repeatedly check you’ve locked the car door in one hand and the risk that somebody will break in and steal your car in the other. (OCD)
  • Put the fear that someone will set your house on fire when you go to sleep in one hand and the risk that this will happen in the other. (OCD)
  • Hold the thoughts of suicide in one hand and the consequences for your family and friends in the other.

+ Wrap Up