Robert Tinker, Ph.D., P.C., is a EMDRIA Certified Psychologist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. His experience and preparation will provide guidance and stability on your own journey.
Schedule a consultation to take control of your life!
In our office, (today virtually) we schedule a one-hour intake appointment where you (the client or caregiver) can provide information about the reasons for seeking therapy. In addition, you can provide pertinent background histories, such as developmental, trauma, work and social histories as needed.
We provide information about EMDR in that session, so that you can be fully informed about EMDR or other forms of treatment. Following that first appointment, we schedule three EMDR sessions (90-minute sessions for adults, or 60-minute sessions for children or adolescents). In those three sessions, we can determine whether EMDR is going be effective. EMDR is not a form of therapy where you have to attend for months and wonder if it is going to work.
If EMDR is effective, but therapy is not complete at the end of the three sessions, it continues until the desired results are achieved. If a person has been multiply traumatized, EMDR can still be effective, but it is likely to take a longer treatment plan than for a single trauma (just as going to the dentist with ten cavities would take longer than treating only one).
Now that your child is starting psychotherapy, you may be concerned about the process and about how you will be involved. Therapy varies depending on the child and the therapist, but some elements are likely to be similar for all.
Wilson, S. A., Becker, L. A. & Tinker, R. H. (1995). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) treatment for psychologically traumatized individuals. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63, 928-937.
The effects of 3 90-min eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) treatment sessions on traumatic memories of 80 participants were studied. Participants were randomly assigned to treatment or delayed-treatment conditions and to 1 of 5 licensed therapists trained in EMDR. Participants receiving EMDR showed decreases in presenting complaints and in anxiety and increases in positive cognition. Participants in the delayed-treatment condition showed no improvement on any of these measures across the 30 days before treatment, but after treatment participants in the delayed-treatment condition showed similar effects on all measures. The effects were maintained at 90-day follow-up.
Wilson, S. A., Becker, L. A. & Tinker, R. H. (1997). Fifteenth-month follow-up of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for posttraumatic stress disorder and psychological trauma. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 65, 1047-1058.
The present study is a 15-month follow-up of the effects of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy on the functioning of 66 participants, 32 of whom were diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prior to treatment. PTSD participants improved as much as those without the diagnosis, with both groups maintaining their gains at 15 months. At 15-month follow-up, the three 90-min sessions of EMDR previously administered (S. A. Wilson, L. A. Becker, & R. H. Tinker, 1995) produced an 84% reduction in PTSD diagnosis and a 68% reduction in PTSD symptoms. The average treatment effect size was 1.59; the average reliable change index was 3.37. Implications of the maintenance of EMDR treatment effects are discussed.
Wilson, S. A., Tinker, R. H., Becker, L. A. & Logan, C. R., (2001). Stress management with law enforcement personnel: a controlled outcome study of EMDR versus a traditional stress management program. International Journal of Stress Management, 8, (3), 179-200.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) has been shown to be effective for treating posttraumatic stress disorder, but its efficacy as a stress management tool for normal individuals in highly stressful occupations has not been demonstrated. Sixty-two police officers were randomly assigned to either EMDR or a standard stress management program (SMP), each consisting of 6 hours of individualized contact. At completion, officers in the EMDR condition provided lower ratings on measures of PTSD symptoms, subjective distress, job stress, and anger; and higher marital satisfaction ratings than those in SMP. The effects of EMDR were maintained at the 6-month follow-up, indicating enduring gains from a relatively brief treatment regimen for this subclinical sample of officers who were experiencing some level of stress from their Job.
Robert Tinker, Ph.D., P.C.
CO License Number 392
18 E Monument St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: (719) 630-8212