Anger, Imagination and EMDR

Transcription

1 Anger, Imagination and EMDR 2014 EMDR Conference September 21, 2014 Katie O Shea, MS, LCPC Anger calls attention to harm. (Katie O Shea,?a long time?) Trauma ( Threat we re not prepared to handle ) involves harm in some way. So Inability to feel anger can inhibit reprocessing. My Purpose To share my experience with EMDR What it has taught me about the nature of anger To share methods I ve found helpful to clients Enable them to feel more confident in their ability to release anger nondestructively. effectively reprocess experiences in which they and/or others were harmed 1

2 HANDOUTS On your USB A handout you can copy for clients, titled, Just because you could, doesn t mean you would. All about Anger In your hand -A one page handout, titled: Our Natural Sequence of Learning from Trauma Anger is one of our Basic Biological Circuits Jaak Panksepp Affective Neuroscience (1998) The RAGE System mediates anger. It energizes behavior when an animal is irritated or restrained. (page 54) Panksepp & Bevin, The Archeology of Mind (2012) Temple Grandin, Animals make us Human (2009) Holding Anger in, Hurts Our Bodies High Blood pressure Obesity Headaches Ulcers 2

3 Letting Anger Out Can Hurt Others (Effect on the person you re angry at) Rejects behavior Rejects the person Thoughts My behavior is bad. I m bad. (Paul Hauk, PhD 1975; Overcoming Frustration and Anger) So here s what I ve learned from watching EMDR Reprocessing since #1 Imagination and Dream Sleep Release Anger Nondestructively They enable us to: 1. Feel physically capable of protecting ourselves and/or others. lock the awareness into the body so we actually could, if we needed to in the future don t reflect intent 2. See what would be necessary to have an effect on the person doing the harm. 3

4 #2 An Imaginative Interweave works best if processing is blocked Imagine what you feel like doing. or Imagine what you need to do. #3 Releasing Anger in the Imagination Leads Directly to Compassion with Protection Some people call it forgiveness. Imagination provides the connection between the mind and the body. Katie O Shea

5 There s a Predictable Sequence to Learning from our Experiences Responsibility Safety Choices Francine Shapiro, PhD, 1992 (see handout) The Process: Review -> Release -> Repair ESCAPE RESCUE FLIGHT FIGHT DEATH The Result: Responsibility Safety Choices Francine Shapiro, PhD, 1992 (see handout) The Natural Sequence of Emotion DENIAL HELPLESSNESS/SHAME /SELF-PITY FEAR ANGER COMPASSION WITH PROTECTION RELIEF SADNESS GRATITUDE FOR WHAT WAS GAINED 5

6 If Barriers to feeling Anger exist: 1. Update Anger Circuits (during Preparation) 2. Teach how imagination releases anger safely (e.g. via the handout ) 3. Target where they learned about anger (i.e.. the sources of blocking beliefs) if needed before beginning other trauma reprocessing. Origin of Resetting Emotional Circuits Spontaneous imagery when accessing parts of myself (2001) I d found affect management ineffective Still no formal research, but Why this methodology works is explained by Panksepp s emotional operating systems Presented at EMDR Europe 2003 and 2008 Part of Preparation for the Early Trauma Protocol (EMDR Europe 2006, EMDRIA 2003 and 2007) EMDR Friendly Preparation Methods in EMDR Solutions II, Robin Shapiro, ed. (2009) 1. Reset Anger Circuits (after containing all that still needs to be reviewed and accessing a Safe State ) Ask, What does anger look like? Tap until it stops changing 6

7 2. Teach: How to use Your Imagination to Release Anger Read the Handout, All About Anger Let your imagination work spontaneously or Ask yourself, What do I feel like doing? Keep imagining until you feel compassion (If it doesn t release within a minute, let it be set aside until we re together.) 3. Target Where they learned about Anger Identify experiences that taught them - Not to feel anger - To use anger Reprocess using the Standard Protocol -If they get stuck, use the Interweave: Imagine what you feel like doing. Emphasize the Sequence DENIAL HELPLESSNESS/SHAME /SELF-PITY FEAR ANGER COMPASSION WITH PROTECTION RELIEF SADNESS APPRECIATION 7

8 Emphasize FEELINGS BECOME FACTS. TEACH: WHAT TO DO IF IT S NOT RELEASING IN THE IMAGINATION Get help to identify and resolve barriers -older trauma needs to be identified and reprocessed first - action (physical, verbal, facial) is needed and something s keeping you from it. Problems with Anger 8

9 Beliefs make a difference Subjective Units of Disturbance I want my way I have to have my way Anger may cover more vulnerable feelings It may not be/have been safe to feel more vulnerable feelings (hurt, fear) because of unresolved trauma cultural/family beliefs/instruction Formal Modeling (mirror neurons-iacoboni s Mirroring People Why it s best to update all the emotional circuits. In Summary Anger only becomes a problem when it s ignored or suppressed it s the only way to feel strong perceived threat is greater than actual threat If our anger circuitry is working, we will Allow it to call our attention to harm Release it nondestructively Take firm action when needed Feel greater empathy 9

10 Anger has personal family societal and worldwide impact. Hopefully, attending this workshop will assist you in your contribution to world peace. Thanks so much for your attention. I m honored to be part of these incredible world-wide organizations! Katie 10