The Ultimate Screening Checklist For Client Suitability In EMDR
It’s crucial to establish a client's readiness before starting processing in EMDR, but with so many variables to consider it’s difficult to cover all bases.
My screening tool provides a complete checklist to ensure your treatment plan covers all eventualities.
“The EMDR Screening Tool by Dr Alex Button is an amazing clinical tool. It has become an essential part of my clinical decision making around client suitability for EMDR. The tool is presented with the clarity and professionalism that has come to be the hallmark of Dr Button’s practice. It is a ‘must have’ in all EMDR clinicians toolbox and worth every penny - Thank you”.
Dr Marsha Taylor, Clinical Psychologist and Accredited EMDR practitioner.
Assessing a client’s suitability for EMDR, and being able to spot warning signs that someone isn’t ready for processing is one of the first things you go over in Basic training.
But going over all the preparation needed in Phase 2 to ensure your treatment plan is as safe as possible is easier said than done.
With client work, there are so many different settings, populations and lifestyle variables to take into account during an assessment, which your Basic training can never fully cover or prepare you for.
In over 17 years’ of EMDR experience as a practitioner and supervisor, I’ve come across many unforeseen factors that make a client’s processing far more complex than originally anticipated.
Factors which could have been flagged in the assessment stage, but weren’t because they weren’t screened for.
Which is why I’ve compiled nearly two decades of data into one checklist to provide a comprehensive screening tool for assessing clients’ readiness for processing.
INTRODUCING
The EMDR Screening Tool
A one-stop-shop questionnaire to screen your clients’ readiness for EMDR processing, so that you avoid challenging complications further down the line.
This tool will help you to:
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Uncover complications that potentially undermine your clients’ progress
Each client presents a unique set of characteristics and circumstances that may fall outside the standard protocol. A more thorough assessment reduces the likelihood of running into difficulties while processing later.
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Anticipate areas of possible concern so you can raise them with your supervisor in advance
With better preparation you have the opportunity to get more guidance on a treatment plan that is well thought-through and effective. More targeted help and input mean you increase the chances achieving success with your client more quickly and comfortably.
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Rapidly deepen your understanding of how to approach processing
By covering more ground in your client assessments you remove blindspots more quickly from your EMDR practice. You get the benefit of 17 years’ experience in one simple checklist to fast track your practice. -
Boost your confidence in helping clients under more complex circumstances
The tool provides a guide that allows you to approach different populations and circumstances with extra confidence. As you work with clients under a greater range of conditions you acquire more experience and confidence.
Testimonials
Alex's EMDR screening tool is accessible, nuanced, and extremely comprehensive. A
huge advantage of it (compared to other tools) is that you can simply run through each section, ticking and commenting where necessary to support yourself to complete a thorough and accessible screening assessment.
The layout naturally starts to organise your thoughts towards the key support and treatment needs. The suggested questions are a handy prompt to enquire after key areas. I cannot recommend it highly enough to anyone looking to make their screening assessments more robust and systematic
Dr S
I have found Alex’s screening tool to be an invaluable addition to my practice.
It offers crystal clear guiding principles which help me assess the suitability of all new clients for EMDR therapy.
Highly recommended.
Jayne Ritchie
BACP Senior Accredited Supervisor and Psychotherapist EMDR Accredited Practitioner
Hi, I'm Alex
I've been a qualified clinical psychologist since 2006 and an EMDR therapist since 2008. I have been supporting EMDR therapists in the NHS and private practice since 2014 when I became an Accredited Consultant.
I’m a huge advocate of EMDR - time and again I’ve seen how it transforms the lives of people who are really struggling with trauma.
Undoubtedly, there’s quite a steep learning curve when starting out as an EMDR practitioner, and among the many supervisees and therapists I’ve worked with I’ve seen how confidence grows with each successful client session.
But I’ve also seen really great therapists who needed extra help dealing with clients who weren’t making progress because they were stuck in a loop with difficult material.
And as a therapist, confidence in the EMDR methodology and your ability to apply it can erode without access to the right information - which is why I’ve provided a simple solution for therapists needing support with their practice.
The idea behind my booklet is to remove common areas of uncertainty and confusion surrounding the use of cognitive interweaves.
Once you have clarity on how to help clients process more complex trauma, your scope as a therapist will develop and grow - and more people will benefit from your work.
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