[Download Now] EMDR for Fear of Public Speaking – Laurel Parnell

The client in this video is a therapist. She would like to present publically, but she is very anxious and avoids situations where speaking is required. She said that when she speaks, she can’t think and can’t sleep because of her anxiety. She wanted to be confident that she could handle whatever happened so she could think. She wanted to be able to give presentations and speak publicly.

The client used pulsers for bilateral stimulation in the session. We bridged from a recent example of her speaking anxiety to find a target from the past. We returned to the incident to check on our work after processing that target to completion. She felt better, but still found another area with a charge. We bridged a second time to find another target from her childhood. We went back to check our work after that was done. She felt better in that situation. She thought about future scenarios of speaking. New concerns came up that she hadn’t been aware of before. We decided to end the session with the understanding that these could be targeted in the future. I summarize the session at the end of the video.

1. Recognize the installation of resources
2. Apply the bridging technique to find targets linked to the presenting problem
3. Outline use of the three-part protocol (past, present, future)
4. Recognize when and how there can be multiple contributors and multiple targets linked to an issue or problem

• Explore the presenting problem, symptoms and triggers
• Create and install resources and metaphors for nurturing, wisdom and peace
• Establish a signal for stop and keep going
• Set up a bridge from a recent example of anxiety to find a target
• Develop the target using the modified protocol
• Refine the picture or scene
• Check the target
• Check the Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale (SUDS)
• Install a positive cognition (PC)
• Check the trigger scene that we bridged from
• Explore to see if there is another target to process
• Target the anticipatory anxiety directly (without a bridge)
• Check the trigger scene again and the SUDS
• Bridge back from new feelings and beliefs
• Recognize the negative cognition
• Begin bilateral stimulation
• Focus on the body
• Check the SUDS
• Process the trigger scene with positive cognition
• Check the original scene
• Check the imagined future scenarios for change
• Closing and debriefing