Since its inception as a treatment for PTSD, EMDR has been applied to a range of affect-based psychological problems. Despite its physical roots, chronic pain also comprises a significant affective component as well as being associated with a range of psychological problems, including PTSD. Compared with other psychological problems, chronic pain presents unique challenges including physical injury, disability, a prolonged course and high co-morbidity. This workshop aims to present information, skills and strategies concerning the application of EMDR to the treatment of chronic pain. Participants will learn how EMDR can facilitate reduced physical and emotional distress associated with various pain conditions. It will also be demonstrated that EMDR both integrates with and extends many established methods in this field. Finally, although EMDR is a protocol-based treatment with a strong research basis, it continues to evolve according to the unique demands of different applications, and innovations born of clinical experience, and this will be seen to be the case with chronic pain.

Participants will learn;

• How to use EMDR to relieve pain including;
  • Trauma related pain (pain associated with physical or emotional trauma)
  • Stress-related pain (headaches, gastrointestinal pain, TMJ etc)
  • 'Medical' pain (pain associated with injury and illness)
• Techniques for reducing both the sensory and emotional distress associated with pain.
• How to empower clients to control their pain themselves

Contents:

• Review of linkages between stress, trauma and pain
• Reconceptualization of pain as a sensory-emotional problem
• EMDR as a treatment for pain
• History and research review
• EMDR protocol for chronic pain
  • Assessment issues
  • Treatment rationale (client version)
  • ‘Targeting’ pain
  • ‘Processing’ pain
  • Resource creation and installation
  • Managing unresolved pain
• EMDR treatment of trauma-related pain
  • Case-study 1; EMDR treatment of Trauma-related pain
• EMDR treatment of stress-related pain
  • Case-study 2; EMDR treatment of Stress-related pain
• EMDR treatment of ‘medical’ pain
  • Case-study3; EMDR treatment of Medical pain

Plus;

• How to use DAS/Bls as a device for non-traumatic affective change
• How to use DAS/Bls as a device for enhancing mindfulness and attention
• How to use DAS/Bls to change pain memories
• How to facilitate client self-use of DAS/Bls for pain and stress relief
• How to deal with resistance and defenses
• How to deal with emotional aspects of pain (fear, anxiety, depression etc)
• Some new ideas for managing sleeping problems
• How to deal with identity self-esteem issues associated with pain
• How to build resilience
• Caveats and cautions
  

The learning process will be driven by a combination of didactic information, video examples, live demonstrations and practical exercises.

Mark Grant (MA) is a clinical psychologist with over 20 years experience in the treatment of stress, trauma, and pain. After graduating from the University of Sydney in 1989 he worked for the public service for three years before going into private practice at a medical centre on the outskirts of Sydney.

In addition to his clinical work, Mark has developed and researched the use of EMDR in the treatment of chronic pain leading to a publication in the Journal of Clinical and Consulting Psychology. Currently he is researching the contribution that DAS/Bls makes to the treatment effects produced by EMDR. Mark is also the author of ‘Change Your Brain Change Your Pain,’ ‘Pain Control with EMDR’ (treatment manual) and several self-help CD’s based on EMDR. He also authored a chapter of Marilyn Luber’s EMDR scripted protocols (Springer, 2009). His ideas about chronic pain have been cited in the New York Times.

Mark has been active for many years in professional development including numerous presentations regarding stress and pain at workshops and conferences in Australia and internationally. He was the chairman of the EMDR Association of Australia from 2000 – 2008.

Website: www.overcomingpain.com