Hello Experienced EMDR Therapist,
Are you looking to elevate your EMDR practice and take healing to the next level? Then you have found the right link.
As an experienced Certified EMDRIA Therapist, who loves the outdoors and lives in the great state of Wyoming, I developed a protocol that incorporates the outdoors and physical movements, with the five senses. This protocol does not deviate from Francine Shapiro's work and stays true to the standard 8 phases of EMDR. My protocol also involves adding in two more senses from the standard five (see, smell, hear, taste, and touch), which are emotion and action, therefore called 7S-EMDR. The idea of adding in action, includes activities in outdoor settings, such as trails, parks, lakes, rivers, etc.. Moving the body serves as the BLS movements, along with tactile vibration bracelets. These activities include various types of exercise and sports, and are highly desirable to clients. This is where the emotion comes in as the 7th sense.
7S-EMDR protocol can also be used via indoor settings with gym equipment or pools. It can also be done remotely in the telehealth setting, with the use of gym equipment and the right EMDR remote platform.
Clients of all ages and backgrounds, who have engaged in the 7S protocol, have cleared their targets and have successfully reduced their pathology. Most report liking this method over the standard office visit, like they have engaged in the past.
The benefits of 7S-EMDR is that it allows for the client to integrate the seven senses (see, hear, touch, feel, taste, action, and emotion) into the positive neuro pathway, along with a more rapid way of desensitizing due to the calming nature of the outdoors or moving the body to release stress hormones. Although I have not done studies, I have noted that clients engaging in 7S-EMDR process much quicker than standard in-office, stationary processing. It also allows for the seven senses to be integrated with the positive cognition and future template, which only strengthen it with its own cue (sound, smell, feel, etc.). This is extremely powerful to the person and can align with many other therapy approaches and theories. Especially, when interweaves are done well and grounded in the moment. The seven senses become reinforcers for the positive cognition and future template, as the client moves towards self-actualization and finding meaning and purpose from their trauma.
In my experience, most insurance companies do not cover extended session; anything over the standard 53 minutes with the code of 90837. However, there are exceptions. Here are some examples:
- Inpatient settings with no cap on time or locations in the building.
- School settings, with no cap on time or location in the building.
- Telehealth, where the client is visible on screen, but utilizing their own gym equipment at home.
- Other therapist have reported utilizing a location code of 99 (mobile unit) and can bill for a 53 minute session, but beyond the hour, it is usually not covered. (Chime in here if you have experience with this).
I utilize 7S-EMDR in my day job as a counselor at a behavioral school, and this has been very successful. Students really enjoy this method as it allows them to move their bodies and be in nature, while also addressing traumas in a less threatening manner. Like being confined in an office and having a therapist/counselor staring right at you.
The clients that are self-pay are ideal, as there is no cap on time or location. The majority of my 7S-EMDR clients are paying for sessions this way. Care Credit is also another way to fund this treatment when needing to waive insurance.
If you are ready to elevate your healing practices, please contact me to get on the list for the first group training for 7S-EMDR. I will be collecting a list of therapist that are eager to learn, and I will be coordinating a live, remote training later this year. 7S-EMDR is in the process of being presented to EMDRIA.org for CEUs. Price has yet to be set for this training, but it will include and in-depth PowerPoint Presentation, video demonstrations, handout outs, links for products used, and time for Q&A.
Email me at Freedommountainemdr@gmail.com to sign up! The only requirement is that you need to have been trained through an accredited EMDR training organization such as The EMDR Institute, Parnell Institute, etc.. I can't wait to hear from you.
Make today great!
